Never Say Never, Part Four (Second Chance Contemporary Romance, Book 4) (11 page)

Shock bowled her over, and she sat staring at him, speechless.
 

“That’s another detail Amanda imparted to me. Don’t get me wrong, I was already on my way out the door when she told me the full story. I’d come for you either way. Whether you’d killed them or not. Whether you’d betrayed me or not.”
 

Emily didn’t have an answer for that. Only questions
 

“Why?”
 

Chase broke out that perfect smile and love for him overwhelmed her. He stepped up and wrapped his strong arms around her, folding her into his chest. “Why do you think?”
 

“Tell me, please.”
She desperately wanted to, no, needed to, hear it from his lips. Hope had built within her, and she was past the point of return with him.
 

It was Chase or bust. This was the man for her. She’d known it long ago, she’d dealt with her demons for this.
 

She needed him.
 

“Because it’s always been you, Emily. I’ve been in love with you from the first moment I saw you in that strip club.”
 

“When you pinched my nipple.”
 

His eyes glazed over, remembering it in detail, no doubt.
“Those were the days.”
 

Emily didn’t have the strength for a playful punch, and she was tucked tight against his chest anyway. She went for a laugh, instead.
 

The mirth settled and permeated her soul. The darkness was a shroud, retaining the light, a mystery which would be solved when the sun rose in the morning.
 

“I missed you,”
she whispered.
 

“You never lost me,”
he replied, and kissed her, parting her lips to taste the sweetness of her mouth.

EPILOGUE

“You look amazing.”
Amanda stood nearby, holding a bouquet of flowers. She had one hand on Becci’s shoulder and both of them smile wide.
 

Emily stroked the fine white fabric and admired herself in the full length mirror.
 

Her wedding day.
 

She’d never thought she’d have another chance at this. The first time, with Brian, had been a total disaster. Today she was happy.
 

There was a man downstairs, waiting for her, ready to profess his love in front of their friends and family. Though, that numbered few –
less than thirty people.
 

Amanda moved forward and embraced her, eyes shining with tears. “I can’t thank you enough, Emily, you’ve changed my life. You’ve changed who I am as a person.”
 

“You did that on your own, Amanda, you’ve grown so much, but it’s got nothing to do with me.”
 

Her friend laughed out loud. “Don’t delude yourself, Em, you’re a fantastic person and you deserve everything that’s happened to you this past while. I mean, barring the whole stripper thing and vicious ex-husband.”
 

Emily squeezed her hand. “I’m so happy for you too.”
 

“Thank you,”
she grinned.
 

“Is he waiting for you downstairs?”
 

“Yes,”
Amanda replied, grinning with that typical ‘cat-who-got-the-cream’
expression.
 

“And you’re still going ahead with the plan?”
 

“I figure that a year is long enough to wait. I’m going to ask him before he can ask me.”
 

Amanda had never been forward in her life, not like this, so proposing to Joseph was a big thing for her. She’d introduced the pair of them shortly after the incident with Brian, because Amanda had needed representation to get the divorce and make the assault charges stick.
 

A year had passed since Brian’s arrest and Amanda’s nose had healed admirable. There was a tiny crook in it, but the imperfection added to her friend’s beauty. She’d let her hair grow out to its natural brown.
 

Brian was locked up tight and wouldn’t go anywhere soon. Along with the assault and attempted murder, he’d racked up a count of perjury and a two extra manslaughter charges. Emily’s name was totally clear.
 

They’d locked up her ex-husband in a psychiatric ward. She didn’t know what was going on there and didn’t want to, but they’d splashed it all over the news.
 

Brian had been close to senator, and a few steps from running for president. They liked to keep tabs on him –
it made for good news. The last she’d seen, he’d been in for counselling but they’d made no progress.
 

Apparently he thought he was entitled to freedom.
 

Emily shook thoughts of him from her mind. He had no control over her or her family anymore.
 

“I love you, mommy,”
Becci said, and Emily dropped down and hugged her daughter tight.
 

“I love you too.”
 

“Are you ready? They’re going to start soon.”
Amanda gestured to the door.
 

“I’ve never been more ready in my life.”
Emily led the way, out of the upstairs bedroom of the house by the beach, the one they’d bough together to get away from the city, and glided downstairs.
 

She was on cloud nine today. This was what love was, this was what her future would be. The halls of their home were decorated in Arum lilies, the bridesmaids –
Amanda and Becci –
wore pale cream dresses of lace.

Emily’s open-backed wedding dress was the star, but she’d made sure the girls looked perfect as well. She wanted to complement those around her. They’d played such a major role in helping her reach this day.
 

She walked to the back door and inhaled.
 

There he was, standing at the end of the long alleyway in front of the open ocean. There was a trellis arch over his head, and the priest stood beside him, waiting. Jared was his best man, looking dashing in a plan black suit and tie with a lily pinned to his lapel.
 

In the months since they’d moved in together, Chase and the kids had formed an amazing bond. Jared was his best friend.
 

The two men she was most proud of stood before her. She could barely contain her happiness. She dabbed at her eyes. Thank God she’d worn waterproof mascara –
today was bound to be full of tears, but the best kind.
 

The string quartet struck a note, and the Wedding March began. Amanda walked past her and out, closely followed by Becci.
 

This was it. Her day. The start of the rest of her life.
 

Emily walked down the aisle, gaze glued to Chase. He smiled, then blinked, then smiled again. There was so much emotion in him, that it flowed over and filled her up to capacity.
 

She wanted to run, not walk. So she did.
 

Emily dashed down the aisle towards him and he opened his arms wide. She run into them and he lifted her up, swinging her around, laughing softly. He set her down gently, and stared into her eyes.
 

“I love you, Emily McDonald,”
he murmured, and she beamed up at him.
 

Chase lowered his lips to hers and kissed her, before the ‘I do’s’
or vows, before the rings or anything else.
 

But the truth was, they were already married.
 

They’d been married to each other since the very beginning, set on the path to free each other.
 

“Please,”
she said, “call me Mrs. Newman.”
 

The small group of people applauded them, whooping and cheering, but it blurred to white noise.
 

They were lost in each other, in another time and place, joined forever in eternity.
 

Frozen in their love.
 

Emily placed her hand on his chest. “Forever.”
 

Chase warmed the spot over her heart with his palm.
 

“Forever.”
 

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About the Author

Melissa Shaw lives in the land of Prince Hamlet in a gorgeous suburb of Copenhagen, and uses the surrounds to craft romances which touch on the truth behind humanity. She likes strong female characters, flawed men, and strong bourbon. When she’s not hunched over her laptop, she’s wandering the streets searching for inspiration or sipping coffee at the local shop. Mostly she’s just writing. That’s what she does best.

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A SNEAK PEEK AT BRAVE

Here is a sneak peek at the first chapter of my romantic suspense serial
Brave
.

Real estate agent Chloe Sheldon has a secret. On the run from a painful and abusive past, she has stayed away from love and focused on making the most of her new life, tucking the darkness away. But her new boss Jonathan Maynard seems like everything she ever wanted in a man: intoxicating and brimming with charm, reminding her there is more to life than fear. In spite of everything, Chloe feels a strong attraction and a desire for something more.
 

As Chloe tries to let go of her worries, she sees cause for both hope and caution. Getting to know Jonathan on a deeper level shows he has a darker side of his own--enough to make her question if he can be trusted as anything but a colleague, if even that. And the untimely arrival of a person she has tried to forget, stalking her every move, proves that the nightmares of her own past aren't ready to let go of her yet.

* * * *