“Those glasses are throwing you off, man. I bet she’s very naughty.”
“Your librarian fantasies are going to get you in trouble. Stay away from Saylor. I like her. More important, my fiancée likes her.”
“Yeah, yeah. I hear you.”
Shit. He doesn’t hear me at all.
The music changes, and suddenly the double doors in the back of the room open, and I don’t give another thought to whether or not Hayden is listening. Light blazes through the opening and there she stands, bathed in all white.
Evangeline’s dad holds out his elbow and she takes it, wrapping her fingers around it. They start to walk toward us and the blinding smile on her face is the most beautiful I’ve ever seen.
She takes my breath away, right then and there.
As she walks down the aisle, she waves and nods at everyone, then stops a couple of feet short of me. Letting go of her dad’s arm, she goes to my mother and hugs her.
“Thank you for your son,” Evangeline says.
If my mother didn’t already love Evangeline, that would have done it. However, we both know that Evangeline isn’t giving her some cheesy line. No, the woman I love means what she says. She knows how precious words are, how precious time is, and neither of us wants to waste any of it.
Evangeline turns her attention back to me, her face glowing as she is escorted closer. I take her small hand in mine.
“Hi,” she says.
“Hey, beautiful. Ready to get married?”
She nods, stepping closer. “Yes.”
Ignoring everything, I take her into my arms and whisper how much I love her. How all I can see, think, and feel is her.
For the rest of our lives.
To those who make it out, I wish you joy and happiness…and peace.
Acknowledgments
I’d like to thank so many people for helping bring Evangeline and Hunter’s story to life. First, my editor, Sue, who totally believed in this book and the power of it. Thank you so much for pushing me to go deeper.
I want to thank my crit partner, Andris Bear. Thank you for letting me pick your husband’s brain when it came to police procedures and for sharing what it’s like being a cop’s wife. You are an amazing person, lady!
Thanks to Autumn, my super amazing personal assistant/goddess for keeping me on task and encouraging me to stay the course.
Huge thanks to my readers, you’re the reason I write! Xo.
Last, I’d like to thank my family for putting up with me, as always, while I’m writing and getting so involved that I forget to do things like eat and take showers. Yeah, I know. Cleanliness is next to godliness, or people not holding their noses around you. Whatever. In any case, I love y’all to pieces.
BY MARQUITA VALENTINE
Take the Fall Series
Take the Fall
When We Fall
After We Fall
Hard to Fall
Boys of the South Series
Live for You
Only for You
True for You
All for You
Wish for You
Burn for You
Need You Tonight
Holland Springs Series
Drive Me Crazy
Driving to You
Twice Tempted
Third Time’s a Charm
His Christmas Wish
Just Desserts
Not over You
Be Mine
The Lawson Brothers Series
Love So Hot
Love So True
Love So Irresistible
Love So Tempting
Love So Perfect
Love So Unexpected
The Brides of Holland Springs Series
The Billionaire Bride
The Temporary Bride
The Forgotten Bride
The Christmas Bride
The Scottish Bride
Seducing the Billionaire Series
Seducing the Billionaire’s Wife
Seducing the Billionaire’s Secretary
Seducing the Billionaire’s Brother
PHOTO: MATTHEW WINSLOW
MARQUITA VALENTINE is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Holland Springs and Boys of the South series.
Since first taking the plunge in July 2012 to self-publish, Marquita’s books have appeared on the iBooks, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble top-selling eBook lists. She’s been called “one of the best new voices in romance” (Guilty Pleasures Book Reviews) and her books have been accused of being “a sexy, fun, and slightly addicting contemporary read” (Book Queen).
When she’s not writing about sexy heroes who adore their sassy heroines, she enjoys shopping, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. Married to her high school sweetheart, Marquita lives in a seriously small town in the South with her husband, two kids, and a dog.
Visit Marquita at the links below and subscribe to her newsletter through the contact link on her website.
marquitavalentine.com
Facebook.com/?AuthorMarquitaValentine
@marquitaval
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