Chasing Forevermore by J.D. Rivera Page A

eyes and shook my head. I was being silly. “It’s nothing.”
    He spun me around to face him. “I said tell me. We can’t start a marriage by keeping secrets.”
    “It’s stupid,” I said, staring at his chest and letting my fingers feel the muscles underneath his shirt. “I just…I always dreamed of having a real wedding. You know a church and an aisle with a big, beautiful dress.”
    “Babe, did you really think I wouldn’t give you that?” He hooked his thumb under my chin, making me look at him. “You’ll get your big wedding and dress. And Brad will walk you down the aisle. I promise.” He smiled gently and it warmed me to know that he understood I would want Brad to fill that role for me. “You are way too beautiful not to marry in front of everyone we know. Today is just about peace of mind between us.”
    I smiled and blinked back the tears so I wouldn’t ruin my makeup. “Thank you.”
    “How about you thank me by going downstairs and getting in the car? Mom is putting Harley in right now.”
    “Sounds good to me,” I replied, and he placed a small, lingering kiss on my lips before leaving and allowing me to dress.
    Two hours later, after stopping by the clerk’s office for a marriage license, Hayes and I were standing in front of his dad. Rose was holding Harley off to the side and Carson was standing beside Hayes. Hayes had a face splitting grin and I hoped I looked as happy as I felt. Because the truth was, I had never been happier. I was finally getting a real family. A family where you weren’t afraid of each other and didn’t have to worry about being punched.
    I bit my lip as Lucas said the words that meant so much. “I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.” I was now, and forever would be, Mrs. Hayes Morgan.
    Hayes grinned and pulled me closer before placing both hands on my cheeks and giving me a kiss so deep, he stole my soul, and I stole his, connecting them together in a way that could never be undone. He had never kissed me like that before, and I never wanted it to stop. But we were in the presence of his family and our daughter, so we finally broke apart.
    “Yes!” Hayes shouted. “Finally!”
    We all laughed and even Carson gave me a hug. “Congratulations. Take care of him.”
    I pulled back. “I will.”
    “Good.” He then gave Hayes’ a man hug and I embraced my new in-laws.
    “Welcome to the family,” Lucas whispered, and Rose kissed my cheek, telling me, “Hayes couldn’t have found a better wife. We are so happy to have you as our daughter.”
    I teared up at her remark. “Thank you. You have no idea what that means.”
    Hayes pulled me back into his arms and I began crying. “Thank you for loving me,” I whispered to him.
    “Forevermore.”
     
    The End

Acknowledgements
     
    These acknowledgements are a little hard for me to write (I’m a little teary eyed). I probably have an abnormal attachment to these two characters. I have loved them since the moment they started talking to me and I typed Chapter one on Chasing the Stars . I will always love them (they will probably always be the favorite characters I have written), and I’m so glad they got the ending they did.
    Thank you so much to all of you who picked up this novella and took the time to read it. I appreciate it more than you know.
    As always, I have to thank my husband, Carlos, and my two sons. They are my biggest supporters and I couldn’t write anything if I didn’t have their support.
    Thank you so much to my amazing editor, Monica Black. You are seriously the best, and I am so lucky to be your client!
    A huge thank you to Erin and Southern Belle Book Blog for putting up with me and helping me share. You rock! And thank you to Amie from We Stole Your Book Boyfriend. You are one of the kindest people I know and I am so grateful to know you and have all your help.
    And to one of my best friends. She started as a reader who reviewed my first novel and has quickly