“Juliette,” he muttered into her hair.
“Yes?”
“Stay.”
She pulled away from their embrace and looked him in the eye. “Stay?”
His throat tightened. “Here. In Lantern Beach. With me.”
“You know I’m planning on being here through Christmas.”
“I mean after that.” What was Jack doing? Was he crazy? Yes, he was. But he didn’t care right now. “Stay here . . . always.”
“What are you saying, Jack?”
He brushed his fingers over her cheek. Her hair. Her shoulder. “I know this sounds crazy. And fast. Too fast. I never thought I’d get a second chance at love, Juliette. But you’ve shown me what it means to have faith. You make me a better person. And I can’t imagine my future without you.”
“So you want me to move to Lantern Beach?”
He let out a little breath. Based on the sparkle in her gaze, Juliette knew exactly what he was getting at but wanted to tease him.
“I want you to move to Lantern Beach. It would be a great place to write.”
“My muse has suddenly returned over the past couple of days.”
He lowered his voice. “And I want you to marry me.”
Juliette sucked in a breath, all the teasing gone as she peered at him with wide, warm eyes. “Yes.”
She said the word so softly, Jack couldn’t be sure he heard correctly. “What was that?”
“I said yes. Yes. And yes again!”
Joy exploded inside him. He pulled her closer, and their lips met—but only for a moment when Juliette pulled back.
“When?” she asked.
“When should we get married?” Jack clarified.
“Yes, when should we get married?”
“You pick the time.”
Juliette didn’t think long. “Tomorrow.”
His eyes widened. “Christmas Eve?”
“Right after the service at church. You said the former pastor at the church was coming into town, right? He can do the ceremony for us.”
“You’re sure you’re okay with that? I’m not pressuring you.”
“I’m positive.” She leaned closer, her hands cupping his face. “I know with 100 percent certainty that I only want to be with you. Forever. And always. You’re my happy ending, Jack Wilson.”
People might say that they’d lost their minds. That it was too quick. That they needed to get to know each other more.
Jack didn’t care.
He knew a good thing when he saw it—and Juliette was a good thing. They hadn’t known each other long, but it was long enough for him to clearly see what he wanted.
As a commercial began to play in the background, “All I Want for Christmas Is You” crooned through the speaker.
Yes, Jack was getting exactly what he wanted for Christmas—Juliette, a gift he’d treasure forever.
Epilogue
The Christmas Eve Candlelight service ended, and the smoky scent of recently blown out candles lingered in the air.
It was beautiful. Not only were candles in the windows, but the congregation had held candles, as well. They’d sung hymns and listened to the Christmas story and worshipped together.
They’d celebrated the greatest story of all, and that story had been grounded in faith that went back for generations. The world had been given the greatest gift of all on that Christmas so many years ago.
Jack had reminded everyone that, though faith wasn’t always easy, it was always a choice.
Just like love.
As most of the congregation left, departing for their homes to spend time with their families, Juliette stood and approached the front of the church where Jack stood, chatting with the Pastor Stephens, the former minister at the church.
As soon as Jack saw Juliette, he reached for her, and his arm slipped around her waist. “You ready for this?”
She nodded. “I am.”
“You’re sure?”
She smiled. “I’m sure.”
“Then let’s get this party started.” Pastor Stephens grinned at them. “Jack tells me you’ll celebrate with your families later.”
“That’s right,” Juliette said. “They were all understanding.”
Juliette glanced behind her and saw a handful of people still lingering—by invitation. Cassidy and Ty. Lisa and Braden. Austin and Skye. Serena. Another of Jack’s friends named Mac.
Carter Denver sat with his guitar on the stage, quietly playing “What Child Is This?”
It wasn’t your typical wedding song.
But this wasn’t your typical wedding.
There would be no walking down the aisle. No fancy celebration afterward.
But Jack and Juliette’s vows were honest and sweet and witnessed by people Juliette had come to care about.
When the ceremony ended, Jack pulled her close and whispered with deep conviction in his voice, “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
“I wish I could give you everything you deserve—starting with a nice honeymoon.”
Juliette ran her hand across his jaw. “Anywhere that I’m with you is just perfect.”
“I feel the same way.” Jack leaned down until their lips met.
Juliette looked forward to doing this for a long, long time.
Forever, in fact.
Also by Christy Barritt:
Other Books in the Lantern Beach Mystery Series:
Hidden Currents
You can take the detective out of the investigation, but you can't take the investigator out of the detective. A notorious gang puts a bounty on Detective Cady Matthews’s head after she takes down their leader, leaving her no choice but to hide until she can testify at trial. But her temporary home across the country on a remote North Carolina island isn’t as peaceful as she initially thinks. Living under the new identity of Cassidy Livingston, she struggles to keep her investigative skills tucked away, especially after a body washes ashore. When local police bungle the murder investigation, she can’t resist stepping in. But Cassidy is supposed to be keeping a low profile. One wrong move could lead to both her discovery and her demise. Can she bring justice to the island . . . or will the hidden currents surrounding her pull her under for good?
Flood Watch
The tide is high, and so is the danger on Lantern Beach. Still in hiding after infiltrating a dangerous gang, Cassidy Livingston just has to make it a few more months before she can testify at trial and resume her old life. But trouble keeps finding her, and Cassidy is pulled into a local investigation after a man mysteriously disappears from the island she now calls home. A recurring nightmare from her time undercover only muddies things, as does a visit from the parents of her handsome ex-Navy SEAL neighbor. When a friend's life is threatened, Cassidy must make choices that put her on the verge of blowing her cover. With a flood watch on her emotions and her life in a tangle, will Cassidy find the truth? Or will her past finally drown her?
Storm Surge
A storm is brewing hundreds of miles away, but its effects are devastating even from afar. Laid-back, loose, and light: that’s Cassidy Livingston’s new motto. But when a makeshift boat with a bloody cloth inside washes ashore near her oceanfront home, her detective instincts shift into gear . . . again. Seeking clues isn’t the only thing on her mind—romance is heating up with next-door neighbor and former Navy SEAL Ty Chambers as well. Her heart wants the love and stability she’s longed for her entire life. But her hidden identity only leads to a tidal wave of turbulence. As more answers emerge about the boat, the danger around her rises, creating a treacherous swell that threatens to reveal her past. Can Cassidy mind her own business, or will the storm surge of violence and corruption that has washed ashore on Lantern Beach leave her life in wreckage?
Dangerous Waters
Danger lurks on the horizon, leaving only two choices: find shelter or flee. Cassidy Livingston’s new identity has begun to feel as comfortable as her favorite sweater. She’s been tucked aw
ay on Lantern Beach for weeks, waiting to testify against a deadly gang, and is settling in to a new life she wants to last forever. When she thinks she spots someone malevolent from her past, panic swells inside her. If an enemy has found her, Cassidy won’t be the only one who’s a target. Everyone she’s come to love will also be at risk. Dangerous waters threaten to pull her into an overpowering chasm she may never escape. Can Cassidy survive what lies ahead? Or has the tide fatally turned against her?
Perilous Riptide
Just when the current seems safer, an unseen danger emerges and threatens to destroy everything. When Cassidy Livingston finds a journal hidden deep in the recesses of her ice cream truck, her curiosity kicks into high gear. Islanders suspect that Elsa, the journal’s owner, didn’t die accidentally. Her final entry indicates their suspicions might be correct and that what Elsa observed on her final night may have led to her demise. Against the advice of Ty Chambers, her former Navy SEAL boyfriend, Cassidy taps into her detective skills and hunts for answers. But her search only leads to a skeletal body and trouble for both of them. As helplessness threatens to drown her, Cassidy is desperate to turn back time. Can Cassidy find what she needs to navigate the perilous situation? Or will the riptide surrounding her threaten everyone and everything Cassidy loves?
Deadly Undertow
The current’s fatal pull is powerful, but so is one detective’s will to live. When someone from Cassidy Livingston’s past shows up on Lantern Beach and warns her of impending peril, opposing currents collide, threatening to drag her under. Running would be easy. But leaving would break her heart. Cassidy must decipher between the truth and lies, between reality and deception. Even more importantly, she must decide whom to trust and whom to fear. Her life depends on it. As danger rises and answers surface, everything Cassidy thought she knew is tested. In order to survive, Cassidy must take drastic measures and end the battle against the ruthless gang DH-7 once and for all. But if her final mission fails, the consequences will be as deadly as the raging undertow.
Lantern Beach Romantic Suspense
Tides of Deception
Change has come to Lantern Beach: a new police chief, a new season, and . . . a new romance? Austin Brooks has loved Skye Lavinia from the moment they met, but the walls she keeps around her seem impenetrable. Skye knows Austin is the best thing to ever happen to her. Yet she also knows that if he learns the truth about her past, he’d be a fool not to run. A chance encounter brings secrets bubbling to the surface, and danger soon follows. Are the life-threatening events plaguing them really accidents . . . or is someone trying to send a deadly message? With the tides on Lantern Beach come deception and lies. One question remains—who will be swept away as the water shifts? And will it bring the end for Austin and Skye, or merely the beginning?
Shadow of Intrigue
For her entire life, Lisa Garth has felt like a supporting character in the drama of life. The designation never bothered her—until now. Lantern Beach, where she’s settled and runs a popular restaurant, has boarded up for the season. The slower pace leaves her with too much time alone. Braden Dillinger came to Lantern Beach to try to heal. The former Special Forces officer returned from battle with invisible scars and diminished hope. But his recovery is hampered by the fact that an unknown enemy is trying to kill him. From the moment Lisa and Braden meet, danger ignites around them, and both are drawn into a web of intrigue that turns their lives upside down. As shadows creep in, will Lisa and Braden be able to shine a light on the peril around them? Or will the encroaching darkness turn their worst nightmares into reality?
You might also enjoy …
The Squeaky Clean Mystery Series
On her way to completing a degree in forensic science, Gabby St. Claire drops out of school and starts her own crime-scene cleaning business. When a routine cleaning job uncovers a murder weapon the police overlooked, she realizes that the wrong person is in jail. She also realizes that crime scene cleaning might be the perfect career for utilizing her investigative skills.
#1 Hazardous Duty
#2 Suspicious Minds
#2.5 It Came Upon a Midnight Crime (novella)
#3 Organized Grime
#4 Dirty Deeds
#5 The Scum of All Fears
#6 To Love, Honor and Perish
#7 Mucky Streak
#8 Foul Play
#9 Broom & Gloom
#10 Dust and Obey
#11 Thrill Squeaker
#11.5 Swept Away (novella)
#12 Cunning Attractions
#13 Cold Case: Clean Getaway
#14 Cold Case: Clean Sweep
While You Were Sweeping, A Riley Thomas Spinoff
Holly Anna Paladin Mysteries:
When Holly Anna Paladin is given a year to live, she embraces her final days doing what she loves most—random acts of kindness. But when one of her extreme good deeds goes horribly wrong, implicating Holly in a string of murders, Holly is suddenly in a different kind of fight for her life. She knows one thing for sure: she only has a short amount of time to make a difference. And if helping the people she cares about puts her in danger, it’s a risk worth taking.
#1 Random Acts of Murder
#2 Random Acts of Deceit
#2.5 Random Acts of Scrooge
#3 Random Acts of Malice
#4 Random Acts of Greed
#5 Random Acts of Fraud
#6 Random Acts of Outrage
The Worst Detective Ever:
I'm not really a private detective. I just play one on TV.
Joey Darling, better known to the world as Raven Remington, detective extraordinaire, is trying to separate herself from her invincible alter ego. She played the spunky character for five years on the hit TV show Relentless, which catapulted her to fame and into the role of Hollywood’s sweetheart. When her marriage falls apart, her finances dwindle to nothing, and her father disappears, Joey finds herself on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, trying to piece together her life away from the limelight. But as people continually mistake her for the character she played on TV, she’s tasked with solving real life crimes . . . even though she’s terrible at it.
#1 Ready to Fumble
#2 Reign of Error
#3 Safety in Blunders
#4 Join the Flub
#5 Blooper Freak
#6 Flaw Abiding Citizen
About the Author
USA Today has called Christy Barritt's books “scary, funny, passionate, and quirky.”
Christy writes both mystery and romantic suspense novels that are clean with underlying messages of faith. Her books have won the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Suspense and Mystery, have been twice nominated for the Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award, and have finaled for both a Carol Award and Foreword Magazine’s Book of the Year.
She is married to her Prince Charming, a man who thinks she’s hilarious—but only when she's not trying to be. Christy is a self-proclaimed klutz, an avid music lover who’s known for spontaneously bursting into song, and a road trip aficionado.
When she's not working or spending time with her family, she enjoys singing, playing the guitar, and exploring small, unsuspecting towns where people have no idea how accident-prone she is.
Find Christy online at:
www.christybarritt.com
www.facebook.com/christybarritt
www.twitter.com/cbarritt
Sign up for Christy’s newsletter to get information on all of her latest releases here: www.christybarritt.com/newsletter-sign-up/
If you enjoyed this book, please consider leaving a review.
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