by Hart, Taylor
“Wait!” Tom called out, glaring at Brett. “You’re the guy who stood the lady up.”
Brett looked confused, glancing from Tom to Emily and back. Then he shook his head and sat across from them. “You’re the Kent brother. The one she’s been obsessed with since I met her.”
Hearing that made Tom feel good, even if Brett was messing with his plans.
Emily glared at Brett. “Why are you here, Brett?”
“Are we going or not?” the pilot called out.
“Wait a sec, if you don’t mind,” Brett said. “Look, Emily, I don’t know what’s going on, but …” He slipped onto his knee. “I came because I want to marry you.” He pulled a box out of his pocket.
Tom threw his hands in the air. “What? No. No!”
Brett continued. “I haven’t been attentive or there enough, and I’ve been obsessed with my cases, but I do love you, and I want us to be together. Come back to New York with me and let’s get married.”
Emily gaped at him, speechless.
Tom turned to her, letting go of her hand. “What do you want, Ems?” His eyes were like daggers. “What do you want?”
It really wasn’t even a question. She shook her head at Brett and took Tom’s hand. “No, I don’t want you. I found the boy I’ve been in love with my whole life, and I’m not about to leave him behind again.” She peered into Tom’s eyes, overwhelmed by more love than she’d ever believed she could feel.
Tom reached out and gave Brett a little shove that had him almost toppling out of the helicopter. “When she kisses the other guy, it’s time to make your exit.”
“Well.” Brett made some noise, taking off his headset. “So that’s it, Emily?”
“Get off, Brett,” Emily said.
A security guy appeared next to the helo. “Come on, guy. Let’s get you out of here.”
Emily watched Brett go. He flung his head back and yelled, “I’m going to send you a bill for the helicopter!”
The helo took off, and she and Tom looked at each other and burst out laughing.
Tom sighed and held her closer. “Things are always interesting with you, Ems, aren’t they?”
Chapter 26
Tom couldn’t believe how amazing the rain forest was. As they climbed out of the helicopter and walked around, the pilot kept winking at him. It had been ridiculous to have her ex show up, but what could he say? Ridiculousness followed him around these days.
Emily seemed totally preoccupied with the natural wonders surrounding them. “It’s beautiful. It’s so beautiful.”
“Yes, it is.” But he didn’t mean the scenery.
She swung back to him, and her eyes fluttered. “I’m getting that crazy feeling. What’s going on, Tom?”
Pulling her into him, he looked down at her eyes and thought of all the past, all the present, and everything there was to look forward to. “I have to ask you something, but I need to make sure it’s something that works for you, too.”
Pressing her finger to his lips, she smiled. “You want to know what I was thinking when Brett so rudely interrupted us this morning?”
“What?” He hadn’t expected this, but he guessed this was part of more ridiculousness.
Gently, she pressed her hand to his cheek. “That I don’t even care about New York.”
“You don’t?”
She shook her head. “Or my new job.”
“What about all the money and all the time you’ve put into it?”
She blinked, and tears misted in her eyes. “Well, you see, I know this guy who’s kind of a dreamer, and he told me that we could figure out our lives together.”
He scooped her up in a bear hug like his brother Will would do and twirled her. “Wahoo! You’re finally listening.” He put her down gently, and then, as nervousness wound through his insides, he got down on one knee. “You know how we always said married by Christmas.”
“Oh my gosh.” She gasped, putting her hand to her mouth.
“Well, I worked it out with the pilot and found out he can actually marry us. Here. If we want.” He opened the box to the ring.
“Tom?” She said his name in that off-key way women have when they’re surprised.
With shaking fingers, he tugged the ring out of its box and held it out. “So what do you say? Will you marry me, Emily Ann Times?”
Another off-key cry as she took the ring. “A shell! I love it.” Her eyes fluttered. “I love you.” She threw her arms around him.
Relief washed over him, and he stood, taking the ring and gently slipping it onto her finger. “Enough to marry me right now?”
Even though she still looked like she would cry, a huge grin washed over her face. “Yes. Right now. Let’s start the rest of our lives here … married by Christmas.”
The pilot sauntered over, a twinkle in his eye and a grin on his face. “You two are gonna be great together. I can feel it.”
Tom kept her hands in his and went calm. It was the same calm he felt before running into those burning buildings. “Yes, we will.”
The pilot opened a Bible. “I’m rusty, folks, but here we go. Do you, Tom, take Emily to be your wedded wife? To have and to hold in sickness and in health as long as—”
“Yes!” Tom pressed his lips to Emily’s. She giggled against him.
“Okay.” The pilot grinned. “Do you, Emily, take this man, Tom, to have and to—”
“Yes!” She reached her arms around his neck and pulled him down for another kiss.
Tom only half listened as the pilot finished the ceremony through their first real make-out session as husband and wife.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the pilot said ceremoniously.
Tom picked Emily up and twirled her, grinning. Then he put her down and turned to the pilot. “We’re going to need you to get us back quick.”
She laughed, her arms looping around his neck. “ASAP.”
Epilogue
The helicopter ride back to the island was an embarrassing, jumbled mess of making out and Emily telling Tom again and again to keep his hands to himself until they got to the room. Before they departed, Tom shook the pilot’s hand, and they took a selfie with him where she kissed Tom as the pilot gave a thumbs-up. Then they were off, back to the resort.
When they got there, they ran into the lobby and were stopped by security. “Everything okay, Ms. Times?”
She laughed and met Tom’s eyes. Excitedly, he swung down and picked her up, pulling her back and swinging her legs into the air. “That’s Mrs. Kent now.”
The security guy laughed and watched them take off. “Congratulations.”
Tom kept holding her the whole ride up, and she laughed, kissing him, unable to believe that they were really married.
When he finally got the hotel room door open and carried her inside, his expression turned solemn. He set her down on the bed, and she could feel how important this was to him.
“Ems.” He softly put his hand on her shoulder. “I’ve loved you my whole life, and I’ll never stop. I promise. I’ll never leave you. I’ll never let you go. Never.”
Emily gazed up at him. This felt like more wedding vows. “Tom, I’ve loved you my whole life, and I promise I’ll never run away again. I’ll stay with you, by your side. I’ll love you. I’ll help you. I’ll restore that old house with you and hold our babies in the—”
Then his lips were on hers, and all the heat that had ever been between them blazed. “Speaking of those babies …”
She laughed and fell back, knowing she would love this man for the rest of her life.
Look for Grant Kent’s story...coming Soon! Her Fake Hollywood Fiancé!
Look for Will’s story…coming soon! The Betting Groom: Last Play Christmas Romances
Also by Taylor Hart
Texas Titan Romances
The Tough Love Groom
The Second Chance Groom
The Dream Groom
The Fake Fiance Groom
The Prince Charming Groom
Bachelor Billionaire Romances
The Football Groom
The Country Groom
The Unfinished Groom
The Barefoot Groom
The Masquerading Groom
The Christmas Groom
Rescue Me: Park City Firefighter Romance (A Bachelor Billionaire Companion)
The Lost Groom
The Undercover Groom
The LoneStar Groom
The Redeemed Groom
The Last Play Series
Last Play
The Rookie
Just Play
A Player for Christmas
Second String
End Zone
Hail Mary
Snow Valley Series
A Christmas in Snow Valley: The Christmas Eve Kiss
Summer in Snow Valley: First Love
Spring in Snow Valley: The Bet
A Return to Snow Valley: The Christmas Boyfriend
About the Author
Taylor Hart has always been drawn to a good love triangle, hot chocolate and long conversations with new friends. Writing has always been a passion that has consumed her dreams and forced her to sit in a trance for long hours, completely obsessed with people that don’t really exist. Taylor would have been a country star if she could have carried a tune—maybe in the next life. Find Taylor at:
www.taylorhartbooks.com │ Twitter: @taylorfaithhart │ Facebook: Taylor Hart
