“Gorgeous,” she breathed.
Reagan walked over and squatted down next to me, wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “It’s nice to see you on your feet again, Mrs. Hadden.”
“Thank you…for everything.”
“That’s what family is for.” He winked.
I glanced over his shoulder as Sawyer approached. “I hope you didn’t get in too much trouble when Sawyer found out you kept it from him.”
“Nah,” Reagan said with a smile and stood as Sawyer wrapped an arm around his waist. “Jackson’s the one in trouble. He’s the one who made me keep the secret.”
I moved my gaze to Sawyer. “Does that mean I’m in trouble too?”
Sawyer bent down and kissed the top of my head. “Nope, you’re too sweet to be in trouble. Jackson, on the other hand…”
“Of course she’s not in trouble,” Jackson said.
Heath came over to give me a hug. “Hey, we still invited you to the party. We could’ve just had it for Megan.”
Jackson gave him a light shove to the shoulder and they both laughed.
“See? See what I did?” Monty said, pointing to himself with his thumb and then around the room.
Allana crossed her arms over her chest. “What you did?”
Monty’s head whipped around. A deep rumbling laugh left Sawyer. “I think you better start kissing her ass now, Monty, or all those sexcapades are going to be on hold for a while.”
Monty darted over to Allana, begging for forgiveness.
Jackson’s body shook with laughter as he wheeled me over to the couch and helped me out of the chair. “Love you,” he said as he stood to move the chair.
“Love you too.”
“Married life looks good on you.” Cole walked up and gave Jackson a one-armed hug.
Jackson glanced down at me and back up. “It does, doesn’t it? I think it’s gonna look pretty good on you too.”
Cole smiled. “I couldn’t agree more.”
He turned toward the kitchen, likely in search of Mari. A few minutes later Jenna appeared with a plate full of food. “Thank you.”
“Welcome. And don’t worry about Jackson leaving. Allana and I are going to stay in town to help you with anything you need. You can even come and stay with me and Mia if you want.”
The back of my throat burned as I looked at the women, at a group of people who months ago had been complete strangers, offering to stay home, away from their husbands, just to help me. “Thank you.”
I watched as everyone filled their own plates and took seats around the room and at the counter in the kitchen and realized how lucky I was. Not only had Jackson and I found our way back to one another, but I inherited a family, too. I might be leaving my military family behind, but I couldn’t be happier with the one I found to replace it.
Epilogue
Jackson
Six months later
“We have to leave in ten,” I yelled down the hall.
“Are you sure the sandals look okay?” Megan called from the bedroom.
“They’re perfect. No one is going to care what’s on your feet.”
She appeared at the end of the hall looking like a goddess in the jade green dress that matched her eyes perfectly. “I care. There’s going to be reporters everywhere taking pictures, and every other woman is going to be in some type of crazy gorgeous heels.” She sighed and dropped her head back. “This is so frustrating.”
All of her injuries had healed over the last few months, but she still had pain in her leg every once in a while. The physical therapy helped, but even they recommended she stick to flat shoes for a few more months. I didn’t give a shit what she wore on her feet. The fact she was alive and healthy was all that mattered. She could wear slippers and I’d still be happy. Not that I would’ve told her that.
I stood from the couch and walked over to her, wrapping my arms around her waist. “You look absolutely stunning. Not a single person is going to notice what you have on your feet and even if they do, everyone is going to know why.”
It didn’t take the gossip blogs long to get the pictures of us on our flight home, a few zeroed in on our hands and the wedding rings we’d been wearing. A little digging and they figured out exactly what had happened and why some of our tour dates had been canceled. Our fans were tremendously supportive, sending well wishes through all of our social media platforms. It felt good to know that others cared about Megan and her recovery. She’d taken to her own page to keep people up to date. Her followers were rabid. Any mention of something negative about Megan and they attacked. They were fiercely protective of her and the media learned quickly to say nice things or say nothing.
“I think the better question is whether or not you’re packed for our honeymoon. Hot naked nights on the beach, drinks in hammocks. It all sounds pretty perfect to me. Let’s skip the wedding and leave now.”
She smacked me on the arm. “You’re the best man. Aiden is expecting you to be there and be there on time.”
We had a two-week break in the middle of the tour and somehow Reagan had convinced them not to take it away to reschedule the canceled dates. Those would be added to the end of the tour. Once Megan had healed enough to get around without crutches, she along with Allana and Jenna had flown out to join us. Mia was more than happy to get to see her daddy play again.
“Fine.” I gave her a fake pout. “But just so you know, I’m going to be thinking about you naked on the beach all night.”
She pressed her lips to mine, my cock hardening in a rush. When her tongue slipped out to tangle with mine, I lost control over my desire and tightened my grip around her waist, pulling her closer.
I broke the connection of our lips when I knew the choice became to step away and calm down before the wedding or take Megan back to our room and skip the wedding. But she was right, Aiden was waiting on me and I wouldn’t let my best friend down.
I adjusted myself and moved around Megan. “I’ll get our bags.”
A smirk lifted the corner of her lips as she backed farther into the living room. “I’ll be waiting right here.”
“Jesus, I’m never going to make it through today.”
But somehow I did. The wedding had been gorgeous and our flight smooth. We dropped our bags, and Megan insisted I change first. Even under the twinkling lights of the night sky, the water was warm as it lapped on my feet. The beer in my hand, refreshing in the humid air. Monty’s suggestion of this secluded island retreat had been perfect. There was no one around for miles. We had the small beach and hut to ourselves.
It had been a choice between waiters bringing me drinks on the beach and having Megan anywhere and everywhere I wanted to. I’d get my own damn drinks. The sound of the sliding glass door caught my attention. I turned and the bottle slid from my fingertips, hitting the sand.
“Holy fuck.” My dick went rock-hard in seconds.
The small red bikini, if you could call it that, left very little to the imagination. There were strings holding up the two triangles that barely managed to cover her nipples. The bottom wasn’t much bigger. A smile curved the side of her mouth as my eyes wandered down her body. She turned and exactly as I had suspected, there was nothing to the back of the bathing suit except for the two strings holding them up.
“You like?” she asked, an innocent smile on her face.
I took a step forward and so did she. “Like? I fucking love.”
As she came closer, I made out the small tattoo of a guitar with a camo face, covering the small scars from the spleen surgery. A blend between the two of us. She still had some from the surgeries on her shoulder and leg, but they all served as reminders of how far we’d come and how lucky she’d been.
I wrapped her in my arms, taking possession of her lips in a heated kiss. Her hands slid up my chest, her nails digging into the skin. Needing air, I broke the connection.
“But do you know what I love even more?”
She quirked a brow. “Me not wearing anythin
g at all?”
I chuckled. “Yes, there’s that, but I love you more than anything in this world.”
Her gaze softened. “Even more than your guitar?”
“Even more than my guitar.”
She slipped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer. “I love you too,” she whispered in my ear, then sucked on the skin behind it.
Unable to take it anymore, I lowered her to the beach. Tonight we started a new chapter in our lives. We may have lost seven years, but it seemed to disappear in an instant. It was like I couldn’t remember a time we weren’t together. And now we had the rest of our lives to enjoy every moment together. Moments we almost lost, but we finally got our second chance.
Also By Rebecca Brooke
Jaded Ivory Series
Rock Me
Ride Me
Cover Me
String Me
Traded Series
Traded
House Rules
Taken
Letters Home Series
Letters Home
Coming Home
Just Once
Forgiven Series
Forgiven
Redemption
Healed
Acceptance
Second Chance Duet
Ryder
Second Chances
Folstad Prophecies
Twin Runes
Elemental Runes
With S. Moose
Beautiful Lessons
With Brandy L Rivers
Pine Barrens Pack
Cursed Vengeance
Vengeance Unraveled
About the Author
Rebecca Brooke grew up in the shore towns of South Jersey. She loves to hit the beach, but always with her kindle on hand. She is married to the most wonderful man, who puts up with all of her craziness. Together they have two beautiful children who keep her on her toes. When she isn’t writing or reading (which is very rarely) she loves to bake and binge watch Netflix.
www.rebeccabrooke.com
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Play Me (Jaded Ivory Book 5) Page 27
