He handed it to Garrett, who stood with Connor and Charlie.
Without a word but a whole lot of reverence, he handed me the box and something on their faces made me pause. Charlie’s smile looked a little watery and the boys swallowed hard. Carefully, I peeled away the wrapping paper, then lifted the lid to find a stack of legal papers.
“What are these?” My hands shook as I tried to make sense of the words on the page.
Garrett kneeled in front of me. “We want you to adopt us.”
Connor perched on the couch and Charlie slid in between Jack and me, her head on my shoulder. “You’re really good at being our mom.”
I looked to Jack who nodded, fighting tears of his own. “They’ve been working on this for the last couple months.”
The number of times I’d been shocked speechless could be counted on one hand. The day I found out I was pregnant, the day I found out I could never have kids, and the day I found out I was going to be a mom anyway.
“I…” I placed my hand to my heart, dropping my chin to my chest as tears flowed freely. “I’d be honored to adopt you. I can’t think of anything I want more.”
Life had a way of giving you what you wanted. It might not always come the way you expect, or as fast as you wished it would, but a little faith went a long way, and I was living proof.
My family wrapped me in a hug, and I sent a silent thank you to my spirit guides, my higher self, and the universe for bringing me here.
They’d been right after all.
I’d found my purpose in Wildrose Landing.
Thank you so much for spending time in Wildrose Landing with Jack and Amelia.
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Next in the Wildrose Landing series is Jude and Izzy’s story, RECKLESS. Turn the page for a sneak peek, or click here to grab it now.
Reckless sneak peek
Chapter One
Izzy
“This seat taken?” Jude Malone dropped into the empty chair beside me without waiting for a reply.
I swirled my gin and tonic, smiling at my brother’s best man. “It is now.”
His grin did things to me that should be illegal. Part of me was sure he knew it—that he’d known it for all the years we’d been friends—and just liked to watch me squirm. The more likely option was that he loved attention and would take it wherever he could get it.
Even from me.
But still, that smile should come with a warning label. Add in his blond hair doing that oh-so-hot swoopy thing and the fact that he looked like sin on a stick in a tuxedo and my urge to run, run, run away before I made a fool of myself kicked in hard.
I didn’t.
I should’ve; but I didn’t.
All around us, happy couples danced and talked while my brother Alex and his new wife Evie wandered around the reception hall, chatting with their guests. It seemed like all of Wildrose Landing had crammed into the building, so they’d be busy for a while. After turning down a handful of drunken advances from guys who’d heard too many rumors about bridesmaids, I’d retreated to a quiet table near the back for refuge.
“You look very pretty tonight. Red is definitely your color.” Jude threw an arm over the back in his chair and sipped his whiskey while I stared in shock. The two of us had been friends for so long, I was pretty sure he’d forgotten I was a woman.
“You too? I thought you were better than that.” I smoothed my dress over my thighs and cocked my head. “What is it about a wedding that has everyone so ready to get drunk and make mistakes?”
“That compliment wasn’t a mistake.” He upped the wattage on his smile and I tried not to melt. “I feel like you probably don’t hear that enough. You’re very pretty, even if you are Alex’s little sister.”
“Um. Thanks?” I sat back, shaking my head while I laughed. “I know there’s the whole wedding tradition of groomsmen sleeping with bridesmaids, but you and I both know that nothing’s gonna happen between you and me. Like ever. I suggest you look elsewhere if that’s what you have in mind.”
“Elsewhere doesn’t get me very far.” He smiled broadly, flaring his hands. “Amelia and Jack are basically engaged and have been eye-banging each other all night. Evie just married your brother. Poor Austin didn’t even have a bridesmaid to walk down the aisle with. That just leaves me and you.”
After a lot of deliberation, Evie had decided to go against tradition. She only wanted me and our friend Amelia in the wedding, while Alex couldn’t fathom not having his three buddies at his side. Austin thought it would be hilarious to be the mismatched man, in honor of his intention of staying perpetually single.
“Wow. Yeah. I definitely feel so much better about myself now.” I rolled my eyes and punched Jude in the arm. “Thanks for boosting my self-esteem.”
“Hey.” He puffed up his chest and threaded his hands behind his head. “That’s what I’m here for. Also, you know I’m joking about the whole me and you thing, right? There’s something else I want to talk to you about. You know, whenever you have the time.”
I’d known Jude forever. Somehow, when we were kids, I’d managed to tag along with my brother and his friends long enough to earn myself an honorary ‘one of the guys’ title. There’d been a couple months in high school when I thought Jude and I would be something more. I’d had a crush on him for years and for a heartbeat of time, it looked like the feeling was mutual. But oh, holy shit had I been wrong and I’d made an ass of myself. I’d been trying—and failing—to figure out how to be normal around him ever since.
I finished my cocktail and swirled the ice before scooting back my chair. “I’m gonna grab another. You?”
“I got you.” Jude tossed back his drink and stood, taking my empty glass. “Gin and tonic? Splash of lime?”
“Don’t think that knowing my drink order is gonna get you anywhere.” I waggled a finger his way. “Whatever you have in mind for tonight isn’t gonna work. Not on me. You forget I’m impervious to your charm.”
That was a down and dirty lie. When it came to Jude Malone, I was the opposite of impervious, but he didn’t need to know that.
“Isabelle Prescott.” He cocked his head. “That sounds like a challenge. You know I never back down from those.”
“It wasn’t a challenge, Jude,” I said with a roll of my eyes. “It’s just the truth.”
Jude chuckled to himself, arched an eyebrow, and headed towards the bar.
Three drinks and a whole lot of reminiscing later and I was helpless when he pulled me out of my chair and dragged me toward the dancefloor. “I don’t dance,” I murmured as he drew me close.
“That’s a shame, Iz.” Jude wrapped his arms around my waist as the music swooned and we swayed. “Someone like you should spend her whole life dancing.”
I stared into his eyes, helpless as he held my gaze.