Bedding the Bachelors Box Set (Books 1-3) (78 page)

“Was that what that was, Rachel?” Jamie asked. “Because it sounded more like a put down and if it was, you can leave right now.”

Rachel’s eyes widened and her face turned red. “No, it really was a joke, Jamie.” She turned to Lucy, “I’m sorry, Lucy, if I offended you.”

Lucy just smiled. “Have a good time, Rachel.”

“Let’s go find a seat,” Michael said, dragging her away.

Jamie squeezed her waist. “I appreciate all this more than I can say, Luce, but you have to know, life with me isn’t about you having to hang out with jerks and take it. If someone hurts or insults you in my presence, I certainly won’t let it go, and if I’m not there, you’re free to go all spunky pants on whoever you need to.”

Lucy giggled. Honestly, while she’d been tempted to roll her eyes at Rachel’s failed attempt at humor, it hadn’t bothered her beyond that. It was as if, with Jamie by her side and his ring back on her finger, she was made of Teflon.

A few minutes later, however, Lucy saw her own mother and father approaching and felt that old, familiar tickle of apprehension building in her stomach and chest. It settled when her mother grabbed her in a hug and held her tight. When she finally let go, she had tears in the corners of her eyes. “Thank you for including us, Lucy. This is beautiful. You’re beautiful.”

Lucy felt tears fill her own eyes. It had been over fifteen years since her mother had told her she was beautiful.

“Thank you for coming, Mom. We’re so glad to have you.”

Lucy’s father stepped up next. He didn’t look at her dress or her shoes or her hair. He looked directly into her eyes and said, “Thank you, Lucille. You have no idea what this means to us.”

Lucy stepped forward and hugged him, and after a few seconds he relaxed and hugged her back.

There were over two hundred people in attendance by the time the guests stopped arriving and the party got into full swing. Mason’s parents and his sister never showed, and Lucy hated that Milly wasn’t there, but Jamie’s entire family, Grace and Max, Melina, Rhys, and the twins, most of Jamie’s friends and co-workers and their dates or significant others, and at least a hundred others, both rich and not so rich, mingled together beautifully. When the sun went down and the pink, orange, and white lights came on over the dance floor, the band fired up and the real fun started.

And that was when Jamie took her into his arms and danced the night away with her.

Jamie stood at the altar waiting for his bride, his best man and groomsmen by his side. Across from him stood Brianne and (Jamie still couldn’t believe it) Rachel, who shock of all shocks, had become one of Lucy’s good friends during the past year.

Jamie looked across the expansive grounds of his father’s estate to the spectacular ocean view and marveled at how far he and Lucy had come.

After things between him and Lucy had been settled, she’d turned her focus on Milly. Since Mason’s family had continued to be rude and uncooperative, she’d taken them to court. Standing in front of a room full of people, including several who’d made her feel “less than” for a lot of years, she told the judge how much she wanted to honor her sister’s wishes by taking care of Milly. She argued she’d make a great guardian. She told the judge how much she had accomplished since she’d emancipated at sixteen years old, including putting herself through college to earn advanced degrees. She detailed her teaching achievements and provided letters of recommendation from almost a hundred co-workers, friends, and family, including Lucy’s mother and father. She admitted she liked to have fun, but said that made her well-rounded and an even better role model for Milly.

The judge granted Lucy full custody with the right to decide visitation with the rest of the family as she saw fit. When she finished kissing Milly and hugging Jamie, she told Mason’s family they could visit as often as they wanted.

Her parents were at the wedding, although Lucy had asked Melina and Grace to walk her down the aisle. Her father had rolled his eyes when he’d heard that news, but he was sitting in the front row and every now and again even had a hint of a smile on his face. He and Lucy would continue to butt heads, but at least they were trying. Willing to fight for a better relationship for a change.

Jamie heard the sound of the wedding march and turned to see his bride coming down the aisle. She wore a traditional white gown that had wide, satin straps over the shoulders, was fitted in the bodice and waist, was covered in lace, and had a huge skirt with a ten-foot train. On her head she wore a wreath of white orchids, and in her hands she carried a bouquet of the brightest red and purple roses he’d ever seen. They matched the six-inch heels she wore under the dress, and with each step she took everyone could see a flash of red or purple.

Jamie smiled. He’d been surprised she’d wanted to go the poufy white dress route, not at all surprised by her choice in flowers and shoes, and ultimately didn’t really give a fuck what she wore for clothes so long as she was happy and wearing her wedding band in less than thirty minutes time.

The woman who was about to become his wife was sweet. She was a feminist and a fighter. She cussed a lot. She was a wild woman in bed. And despite the fact she was working hard to overcome it, he knew she still cared far too much what other people thought about her.

And he wouldn’t change her for the world.

If you enjoyed spending time

with these characters,

be sure to read Ryan’s story in:

Bedding The Best Friend (Book #4)

Now available for Pre-Order

Thank you so much for reading the first three books in the Bedding the Bachelors Series!

I would love to ask you a favor and have you go back to wherever you purchased this boxed set and leave an honest review. Authors live and die by their reviews, and the few extra seconds it takes you really helps us authors out.

And if you enjoyed these books, be sure to read Annie and Ryan’s story in Bedding The Best Friend, Book 4 in the Bedding The Bachelors Series.

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Virna DePaul is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of steamy, suspenseful fiction. Whether it’s vampires, a Para-Ops team, hot cops or swoon-worthy identical twin brothers, her stories center around complex individuals willing to overcome incredible odds for love.
Bedding The Wrong Brother
, which begins the Bedding The Bachelors Series, is a #1 Bestselling Contemporary Romance and a USA Today Bestseller. Her PNR series with Random House includes
Turned
and
Awakened
. She loves to hear from readers at
www.virnadepaul.com
.

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