Ready or Not (The Ready Series Book 4)(85)

“Let’s get married next week!” she’d announced minutes after our backyard proposal.

“Next week? Don’t you need to plan stuff? Isn’t there a girl code involved?” I’d asked.

Nope.

No plans. No waiting.

Liv had wanted to keep everything simple and small, so there had been no reason to wait.

Honestly, as I stood there, greeting guests dressed less formally than I had for work most days, I couldn’t agree more.

We’d only invited close friends and family.

When I’d called my parents the next day to inform them that I would be getting married—and oh by the way, it was next week—I was met with sheer excitement.

I was starting to wonder if they had been scared that this day might never come.

The topic of Liv’s parents hadn’t gone over nearly as well. She’d argued with herself over and over regarding the topic, and finally, she’d decided to send them a handwritten invitation. She hadn’t expected anything to come from it, and so far, I hadn’t seen them arrive.

The wedding was to take place where it had all started—home.

Chairs and twinkling lights had been beautifully arranged in my backyard, which was now ours. We’d decided if we were going to join households, we’d do it here. Leaving Liv’s house behind had been difficult, which was why we weren’t selling it. We were just waiting to find the right person to rent it to. Until then, we’d slowly move her things over and settle into our new life.

Besides, she wasn’t the only one moving. Next week, I would officially be moving my office next to hers. The old dentist was retiring, and I’d managed to swoop up the location for a steal. After a few long weeks of remodeling, I’d be in business for myself. Family law sounded hard, laborious, and completely awesome. The added bonus of a built-in lunch date and a sweet little garden to chill in didn’t hurt either.

The backyard sparkled, looking elegant and ethereal. Hanging plants dotted the walkway, and people sat on benches and wicker furniture that we’d borrowed from friends. A small dinner was planned afterwards. We couldn’t decide on what to cook, so I was firing up the grill, and we were calling in a large order of Thai food. Bets had been placed on whether either of us would venture out of our comfort zones.

The pot had grown pretty damn large. Even my own father had placed a bet. He wouldn’t say who it was against.

It was the perfect wedding and exactly what I’d envisioned when I thought of the day I’d marry Liv.

Now, all I needed was my bride.

Noah, standing in as my best man, walked behind me as we took our places in the front.

Mia would serve as Liv’s matron of honor, and that was as elaborate as our wedding party got.

The music started, and I saw the back door open.

Out came Senator Douglas, and as everyone rose, I saw him escorting the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen.

My breath caught, and my vision blurred at the mere sight of her.

My wife.

Our eyes met, and in their depths, I found the missing piece of my soul.

As our fingers touched and we spoke the words that would bind our souls together for eternity, I knew every decision in my life had led me to this moment and the path we were about to create together.

“You may now kiss your bride,” the minister announced.

Our new life had just begun, and it was time to start living it.





Happily ever after.

That was what we were supposed to have.

Pudding cups, sandy toes and a lifetime of making each and every one of our dreams come true—that is the future I’d promised her.

I could see it in my dreams, hold it in my hands, but then I watched as all of our hopes and wishes suddenly slipped through my fingers like sand.

I thought the worst was behind us, but what if we’d just delayed the inevitable?

They say love can overcome any obstacle. But can it survive death?

The breathtaking love story of Lailah and Jude concludes in Beyond These Walls.





Coming March 2015





Natalie – Bruno Mars

Not a Bad Thing – Justin Timberlake Latch (Acoustic) – Sam Smith Before I Ever Met You – Banks Stay With Me – Sam Smith

(You Drive Me) Crazy – Britney Spears She’s So Mean – Matchbox Twenty Daughters – John Mayer

Boom Clap – Charli XCX

Flowers in Your Hair – The Lumineers Lost Stars – Adam Levine

Aint Nobody – Jasmine Thompson





Right after I made the decision to move ahead with When You’re Ready, I came to my husband in a panic (this is normal in our household) and asked, “What if I can’t write another one? What if this is my only idea?” He pulled me into his arms (or at least that’s how I remember it now…he may have just looked at me strangely) and said, “Then make it a good one.”

Luckily, like most authors I know…the ideas didn’t stop after that first book. In fact, they just kept coming. Some are great, others are well—not so great. But, the point of this really long, seemingly pointless intro is that I followed a dream. And it led to such an amazing new life—one that I would have never imagined.

Like most dreams, I couldn’t have done it alone. So, let’s started with the acknowledgments!