“So help me God, if you move, I’ll kick your ass. Don’t. Breathe,” Hailey muttered behind me, my hands resting on my waist. I stood as still as possible, staring out the window at the beautiful landscape. The sun lay golden-soft over the huddle hills.
Hailey pulled the ribbon of my corset tight, cutting off my air supply for a moment.
“Okay, on the count of three, exhale… One…two…three!”
I breathed out, bending forward as much as the gown allowed me to. A robin danced past the window, and I followed it with my finger, watching it fly higher and higher toward the nonexistent clouds of the day. The sky was completely blue in all directions.
Turning around to face Hailey and Mom, I listened to them inhale deep, but a following exhale never came.
“I look fat!” I cried, running my hands across the lace material.
Mom’s eyes watered over as she walked closer to me and placed her hands in mine. “You look like the most beautiful bride.”
My lips turned up. “It’s a good day to get married, isn’t it?”
Hailey clapped her hands together and poured champagne. “It’s a perfect day for a wedding!”
There was a knock at the door, and I moved a curl of hair from my face. “Come in. Unless you’re Daniel. Then you stay out.”
The door knob turned and two people walked in with boxes in their hands. Jace and Bentley. They were in suits and looked extremely dapper. When they turned to me, I blushed because of how their mouths hung open. I shifted around at the silence, begging them to speak.
“Ashlyn, you look…” Bentley smiled, showing his deep dimples.
“Perfect,” Jace finished, his blue eyes brighter than the day. “Um, sorry. We’ll leave you to finish getting ready. We just had a few things to give to you.”
Bentley walked over to me and opened the first box. “Something old and something new. Gabby’s favorite guitar pick placed on a new diamond necklace.”
My eyes glossed over as Hailey lifted my hair and Bentley placed the necklace around my neck. I thanked him with a kiss on his cheek.
Jace stepped up next with a smaller box. “And something borrowed and something blue.” The box opened and I gasped. “It was our mom’s favorite pair of blue diamond earrings. You don’t have to wear them. I just thought…”
His worries were taken away because I removed the studs from my ears and quickly replaced them with the beautiful earrings.
Jace wrapped me in a hug and held on tight. “He’s one lucky bastard.”
“Is he nervous?”
Jace gave me a wicked smile and reached into his back pocket. Pulling out an envelope, he placed it in my hands. “He told me to give it to you.”
My fingers traced over the letter and I smiled, knowing that it was his letter he’d written years ago about where he wanted to be in five years. I’d already had Henry deliver my letter to Daniel.
Mom smiled to everyone. “How about we give the bride-to-be a few minutes to read?” Everyone agreed and left the room.
I sat in a chair, opening the letter.
My Sweets,
You asked me where I saw myself in five years, and the only answer I can come up with is with you. We’ll be so deeply in love that the world will envy us. We’ll be so ridiculously happy that the flowers will grow from our laughter. In five years from now, you will be mine, and I will be yours.
If things go the way my heart is begging them to go, you will be my wife. I don’t know if we will have children by that point, but there will be children in our future. I will wake up every morning with your sweet smile and emerald eyes on me. I will fall asleep to your touch, your heat. So on the day we say ‘I do,’ just know how much I do love you. There is no question to the truth of the words, no doubt that fills me inside. From this day forth, the only thing I ever want to do is love you.
Always Always,
Mr. Daniels
His words were embedded into my soul. Daniel Daniels was now a part of me. But truth be told, I thought he’d already been there before I was even born.
After a while, Mom and Henry came back to get me. The sweet, romantic music began to play. The church doors opened slowly. Henry wrapped his arm around mine. All of our loved ones stood up, staring at me.
Yet I couldn’t notice them.
My eyes were glued to the handsome man standing at the end of the aisle. He was grinning, giving me the kindest smile in the universe, and I couldn’t help but smile back as I stared into those eyes of his.
Beautiful.
Breathtaking.
Brilliant.
Blue eyes.
And for the first time in forever, I knew that, no matter what—no matter the obstacles in life, no matter the challenges—we would make it. He was my golden, and I was his.
Forever forever and always always.
We were more than okay.
The End
Thank you for reading Loving Mr. Daniels! It means so much to me! If you have a minute and get the chance to leave a review on Amazon or Barnes and Noble, that would make you a super rockstar!
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Thanks for all of the love and taking a chance on these characters of mine, and thanks for taking a chance on me! XoXo
There have been so many authors, bloggers, and readers who have helped me along the way with this novel. From reading, to sharing, to a simple ‘like’ on a teaser, I am so honored to have such a great team of people supporting me. Words cannot thank you enough for the love.
The world of writing and publishing is an exciting and terrifying world. If it were not for my author support groups, I truly do not think I would be able to keep pushing publish! Thank you for all of the laughter, the tips, tricks, and fun times. I truly value each and every one of you.
To my bad ass ladies. I look up to each of you so much! I love you and am blessed to have you all in my life! Your talent inspires me and your amazing support is unworldly.
To my outstanding PR team at Read and Tell Promotions, beta readers, and amazing formatting fairy godmother Tami—thank you! If it weren’t for all of you, my book wouldn’t be anything! Seriously, you all are so much a part of this story and I thank you for the time you put into it!
To my friends: Thanks for still loving me even though I disappear for months at a time. I hope you know that your friendships are so important to me!
There’s no doubt in my mind, I have the most amazing family standing beside me at all times. They remind me of my strength when I feel weak, they bring me laughter when I’m on the verge of tears. When it comes to family, I win.
To Kristen: For telling me to keep writing and to believe in this story when I wanted to toss it to the side. You’re one of my best friends and I’m so happy we found each other on this crazy journey!
Last but not least: To Mickey. Not only are you the most amazing editor, but you have a heart of gold. You go above and beyond to make sure my work is the best it can be. Thank you for not only going above and beyond with your skills, but also for being such a kind, wonderful individual. You’re the best!