Consolation Prize (Forbidden Men Book 9)

by Linda Kage

  I’d much rather have woken up in Juli’s arms, much the same way I had for the past two and a half years with her lovely figure draped across me, but Sasha and Tyla would’ve had my balls on a platter if I’d dared to sneak a visit to my bride before I saw her in the church today. So yeah…getting the shit scared out of me on my wedding day worked too. It definitely woke me up, anyway.

  Lucy Olivia could only snuggle a few seconds before both she and Beau were tugging on my hands, urging me to follow them into the kitchen, where Noel and Aspen were at the stove together, talking quietly to themselves as they fried my favorite, French toast.

  “There’s the groom!” Aspen cheered when she saw me. “Are you ready for today?”

  She’d healed completely from her postnatal depression, and actually, she and Juli had attended group therapy together for a while. They’d gotten close over the past few years, but not quite as close and Julianna and Sarah had gotten. That friendship was what surprised me the most. Julianna and Sarah had grown as thick as thieves. Sarah was actually going to be a bridesmaid today.

  “Sure,” I answered, sitting at the table and yawning some more. It already felt as if Julianna were my wife. To me, this whole wedding business was just a formality. But I knew the women were making a big deal about it, so…okay. I’d be excited or whatever.

  Mostly I just wanted people to stop telling me I couldn’t see Juli until such-and-such a time, like when she was walking down the aisle. Fuckers. Life was better when I got to see her whenever I wanted. So I was just ready to get to that point again.

  My niece and nephew flanked me on either side, chattering animatedly, while Noel and Aspen served us breakfast. I smiled, thinking back fondly to when I’d lived here with them as their legal ward.

  I didn’t want to return to those days; I liked where I was now, and who I was with, who I’d become. But I still felt a bit sentimental, realizing this probably was the last time I’d ever eat breakfast with them as one of their immediate family. I’d been raised with them since I was eight, they were my secondary parents. I’d always remember the amazing foundation they’d provided for me. But after today, all that changed. I was no longer their responsibility. I’d just be their younger brother and uncle to their kids.

  It was about time things returned to how they were always meant to be.

  After breakfast, I showered and changed into my tux. I was standing in front of the mirror tacked to the closet door of Beau’s room cursing over my bow tie, when a voice asked, “Need some help?”

  I dropped my hands gratefully from my throat and spun toward Aspen. “God, yes, please.”

  With a smile and eyes sparkling as if she was actually honored to assist me, she stepped into the room and lifted her hands to my throat. I lifted my chin and bent slightly at the knees to make it easier for her.

  As she began to twist the material expertly, she said, “I feel as if I should say something important right now.”

  I chuckled. “Like what? That you can’t believe your little boy’s all grown up and about to get married?”

  She huffed out an amused sound and straightened the bow tie. “Well, you are. And I’m so very proud and pleased by the man you’ve become.”

  When she blinked rapidly, I had to clear my throat. Stupid dust in my windpipe.

  “Want to know something crazy?” I asked as she dropped her hands, finished with her task.

  “What’s that?” Her eyebrows arched as if she thought I was going to say something flirty and funny like I’d always wanted to marry her when I was eight or something.

  But what I said was, “I’m kind of glad my real mom sucked ass because it brought me here to you. I liked having you for a mom so much better.”

  “Oh… Dammit, Colton,” she muttered, waving a hand in front of her face before she burst into tears. “I promised myself I wasn’t going to get all nostalgic and cry today, but you’ve already ruined that. Come here.”

  As soon as she opened her arms for me, I stepped forward and folded her into a huge, encompassing hug. The top of her head fit perfectly under my chin.

  Sniffing, she pulled away to look up at me with a sad, but proud smile. “I know I wasn’t always there for you like I wanted to be—”

  Stopping her right there, I put my hands over hers and said, “Yes, you were. Even when you were sick”—and thank God she was finally and completely over that phase— “you were always still there, and you were always the best mother I’ve ever had.”

  “I love you,” she sobbed, tears spilling down her cheek as she reached up to cup my cheek. “You’ll always be my Colton.”

  I smiled back, really feeling the dust clog my throat now. “And you’ll always be my Aspen. I love you too.”

  “Hey, what’s all this?” Noel’s voice came from the doorway. “You moving in on my wife, little brother? I thought you were about to get your own today?”

  Ignoring his joke, I turned Aspen so that we were both facing him while one of my arms went around her shoulders. “Did I ever thank you for finding this woman right here and roping her into our lives?”

  “No,” he murmured thoughtfully. Then he winked at Aspen. “But I know I did good, anyway.”

  “Oh,” she muttered, blushing madly as she waved a bashful hand to stop us. “You two.” Easing out from under my arm, she went to Noel to hug him. “I think I’m the lucky one who found you guys.”

  I drove to the church not long after that without Noel’s family.

  Brandt, my best man, was already there, waiting outside for me.

  “About time,” he called as I strolled up the walk to the front doors. “Sarah’s been in there with the rest of them trying to doll your wife up for the past twenty minutes.”

  “Hey, I needed to make an entrance,” I told him with a wink, frowning when I spotted the boutonniere pinned to his lapel already. It just didn’t seem right that he got his flower before I did. I hated being second. “Where’d you get that?”

  He rolled his eyes but took my arm, leading me inside. “This way.”

  Inside, we found the wedding coordinator, and she got me all flowered up only for Julianna’s father to come storming my way.

  “Where the hell have you been, kid? We thought you were going to be a no-show.”

  I blinked at him, confused, before glancing at my watch. “I’m not even late. Why is everyone else so freaking early?”

  “Because we’re antsy and nervous. My baby girl doesn’t get married every day, you know.” He scowled even harder as he examined me from head to toe. “Why the hell are you so calm and collected? You’re about to commit yourself completely to someone else for the rest of your life. Are you sure you realize what all you’re signing up for?”

  “Of course I do,” I said, frowning at him. “But I committed myself to her completely a long time ago. Today is just a show for everyone else.”

  Juli and I had survived some big shit together, and we’d come out the other end stronger as a couple. I would never tell her this—since she’d spent the last year planning today—but this wedding just wasn’t as big a deal to me as continuing the rest of my life with her was.

  Mr. Radcliffe gazed at me a moment before shaking his head and slapping me companionably on the back. “Good answer, son. Good answer.”

  And so time progressed. Guests arrived, family and friends filing into the church. My two groomsmen, Ten and Noel, joined me and Brandt, and we were forced to pose for a crap load of pictures in between my big brothers teasing me about becoming an old married man.

  When it was time to line up at the front of the church, I finally started to feel my first stirring of nerves. My entire extended family sat on the groom’s side: Pick Ryan, his wife, Eva, and their four children, Brandt’s brother-in-law, Mason, his Reese, and their twins, Knox and Felicity and their two, Asher and Remy and their little tomboy, Quinn (or as Juli still called him: Dr. Melt Me), his wife, Zoey, and their two boys. Then Caroline and Aspen who stood at the back, wai
ting to help their kiddos Teagan and Beau walk up the aisle as flower girl and ring bearer, while Lucy O loudly begged to go with them.

  I grinned and winked at Julianna’s grandma Cicely, who’d insisted we add broom-jumping to the ceremony. She winked back, and I knew if she’d been close enough, she would’ve pinched my ass like she did every time I got too close to her.

  Sarah was the first bridesmaid to wheel down the aisle. I glanced at Brandt and had to roll my eyes at the lovesick grin on his face. Pathetic. No way did I look that dorky when I saw Juli. No way.

  Then Tyla and Sasha made their trip, followed by Beau and Teagan, who had a little too much fun throwing her petals straight up above her and Beau’s heads so they kept raining down on the two of them and causing him to scowl and snap at her to stop.

  Then everyone pushed to their feet in respect, the music changed, and the two ushers opened the back doors.

  Julianna stood in the entrance, holding on to her father’s arm in a glittering white dress that made her look like a Disney princess. Her gaze shifted to mine, and that’s when it all hit me full force in the chest.

  Suddenly, I understood.

  This was big. This was forever. This was…it was the most powerful moment of my life.

  I was marrying my best friend.

  I was honored. I was blessed. I was happy.

  THE END

  THANK YOU

  The Bestest Friends Ever

  Lindsay

  Lauren

  Ada

  I’m pretty sure you’ll never realize how much you mean to me. No matter where you go or what you do in your lives, a little piece of you will always be protected safely in my heart and cherished forever. I’m always happy to hear from you. Thank you for being you.

  My Family

  Kurt, Lydia, Sadie, and all the others!

  You guys are my home and my foundation. I couldn’t do anything or be anything without you. You keep me going and make me feel loved. Thank you.

  My Beta Beauties

  Lauren, Lindsay, Sasha, Ashley, Ciara, Tyla, Amisha (the blurb queen!), Amanda, Alaina, Shi Ann, and Ana.

  You took the time to read my story in its worst possible shape and give me your honest feedback. I can’t even properly express my appreciation for that! Thank you.

  Julianna Ratcliffe

  Thank you for letting me borrow your name for my heroine just because I liked it! And then thanks for not getting upset at all when I changed the spelling of Ratcliffe to Radcliffe in my book because I’m such a Harry Potter fan!

  The Editor

  Stephanie Parent

  Best editor ever. Enough said!

  Proofreaders

  Judy’s Proofreading

  Shelley at 2 Booklovers Reviews

  Melinda Lazar

  I’m so jealous of your eagle eyes. Thank you for catching what no one else did.

  Viner Inspirations

  Danny Gonzales

  (And Alaina for clueing me into the Vine Universe…because I was clueless before she told me about it)

  Bloggers

  Thank you to Lisa Filipe at Tasty Book Tours for always making time for me in the promotional department, and for putting together the most kickass release day blitz. And thank you to all the wonderful bloggers and reviewers who signed up and supported this story! Linda Kage would be completely unknown without you guys.

  And God.

  Thank you. You rule!

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Linda grew up on a dairy farm in the Midwest as the youngest of eight children. Now she lives in Kansas with her husband, two daughters, their nine cuckoo clocks, and a cat named Holly. Her life’s been blessed with lots of people to learn from and love. Writing’s always been a major part of her world, and she’s so happy to finally share some of her stories with other romance lovers.

  For more information, please visit her at her website:

  www.LindaKage.com

  Consolation Prize

  Copyright © 2016 by Linda Kage

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, businesses or establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  All rights reserved. No part of this book—except in the case of brief quotations in reviews—may be used, reproduced, or TRANSLATED without written permission of the author.

  Contact Information: linda@lindakage.com

  Publishing History

  Linda Kage, November 2016

  Credits

  Cover Artist: Kage Covers

  Editor: Stephanie Parent

  Proofreader: Judy and Shelley

  Published in the United States of America

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Blurb

  Dedication

  Author’s Note

  Colton’s Chapter 1

  Julianna’s Chapter 2

  Julianna’s Chapter 3

  Julianna’s Chapter 4

  Colton’s Chapter 5

  Colton’s Chapter 6

  Julianna’s Chapter 7

  Julianna’s Chapter 8

  Julianna’s Chapter 9

  Colton’s Chapter 10

  Colton’s Chapter 11

  Julianna’s Chapter 12

  Julianna’s Chapter 13

  Colton’s Chapter 14

  Julianna’s Chapter 15

  Julianna’s Chapter 16

  Julianna’s Chapter 17

  Julianna’s Chapter 18

  Colton’s Chapter 19

  Julianna’s Chapter 20

  Julianna’s Chapter 21

  Julianna’s Chapter 22

  Julianna’s Chapter 23

  Julianna’s Chapter 24

  Colton’s Chapter 25

  Julianna’s Chapter 26

  Julianna’s Chapter 27

  Colton’s Chapter 28

  Colton’s Chapter 29

  Julianna’s Chapter 30

  Julianna’s Chapter 31

  Colton’s Chapter 32

  Julianna’s Chapter 33

  Brandt’s Chapter 34

  Colton’s Chapter 35

  Julianna’s Chapter 36

  Colton’s Epilogue

  Thank You

  About the Author

  Copyright