After We Fall (Take the Fall, #3)(59)

“You can always disappear, you know,” Dwight says. “I know people.”

“Will you ever stop rubbing it in my face?”

Dwight considers my words for a moment. “Nope. I like a lateral promotion.” Last month, Dwight was selected for a special task force on combating a rising mafia crime ring. To imagine the mafia in a small town like Forrestville is almost laughable. But hey, the truth is always stranger than fiction.

“I’m sure the senator can afford to hire a new head of security,” Hayden mutters as he adjusts his cuff links.

I shake my head. “I’m good.”

“Wish I were.” Things between Hayden and his dad aren’t getting any better, and now that the political season is gearing up for the November elections, Senator Walker is putting a tremendous amount of pressure on Hayden to give up his job in order to run for a state office. Something about perpetuating the family name in politics. I’m not sure exactly, but I am sure I’m glad it’s not me.

“Maybe once he gets elected to Washington, he’ll leave you alone.”

“He won’t leave me alone until I’m married or he’s dead.” Hayden tosses back the rest of his scotch. “Probably won’t stop then, either.”

The wedding planner sticks her head in our room. “Time to go, gentlemen.”

“You heard the lady.” I gesture for my buddies to go ahead of me.

We walk as one to the main hall, where chairs are lined up in rows on each side. There’s a sign with the words PICK A CHAIR, NOT A SIDE by the door and I grin. That is all my bride. I guess that’s all me, too.

My mother’s relatives have traveled all the way from Tijuana while Evangeline’s traveled from the North Carolina coast, and they are all sitting together, with the only nod to tradition at the front—my mother and abuela are seated on one side and Evangeline’s parents on the other. The only family that is missing is Jake, but we left him snoring in his bed at home. Lately he’s not been much on crowds, so that’s fine with him.

Interspersed throughout are the friends we’ve made, as well as coworkers. I even spy some boys in blue seated on the end aisle.

As soon as we’re in place, the preacher nods at us and a lone guitarist begins to play. Piper Simmons walks up the aisle, her hands clutched tight around a small gathering of roses. Next is Saylor, the frames of her glasses matching the yellow bridesmaid gown.

Hayden leans in. “Who is she?”

“She’s a nice girl.” I give him a look, but he doesn’t see me. Hayden’s too busy staring at Saylor. “You don’t like nice girls, remember?”

“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.