Heart of Light (46 page)

She spun around on the vanity chair, her heart swelling with love when she saw Cam standing in the doorway to the bedroom in their suite. “Be there in a minute.”

“Don’t let me keep you,” Laney said. “I’ve booked my time off for December so I’ll be there for six weeks to lend you a hand, if you need it.”

“That’s great. Rosa is planning to come, as well. The timing is perfect because that will give her an opportunity to visit Marcie over the Christmas break. She’s doing great in college down here.”

“That’s wonderful to hear.” She paused briefly. “Well, you better not keep Cam waiting.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow, okay?”

“Call whenever you can.”

“Hey, Laney?” Jolene said, getting her attention.

“Yes?”

“Do you miss him?”

Sighing, she replied, “Even though he’s been gone for almost a year, not one second goes by that I don’t miss him or think about him. I’m just glad that he died doing what he loved doing, and that’s protecting you.”

Jolene nodded, processing her words. “Thanks, Laney. Love you.”

“Love you, too, Jolene.”

“Ready, peaches?” Cam appeared in the doorway again.

“Always.”

He helped her up and led her out of the suite.

“Where are we going?” she asked as they walked down the hallway of the hotel in Key West.

“To dinner.”

“Isn’t this the way to the beach, though?”

“Will you stop thinking and just let me surprise you for once, Jolene?”

She grinned, butterflies dancing in her stomach. “I like surprises.”

“I know you do.” Cam kissed her forehead and led her out to the small beach, his heart racing.

Jolene’s eyes settled on a table for two set in the sand. “Cam?” her sweet voice said. “What’s going on?”

“Have a seat, my love.” He beamed, taking in his fiancée’s beautiful eyes. His gaze traveled her body, his erection stirring at the little sundress that was becoming a bit too snug around her chest. He held out the chair for her and helped her sit down. His hand settled on her protruding stomach and he planted a gentle kiss on their child that was growing inside of her.

Remaining on one knee, he grabbed Jolene’s left hand in his, her engagement ring too small now due to the pregnancy. He couldn’t have planned it more perfect if he tried.

“What are you doing, Cam?”

“Jolene Bergio, do you have any idea how much I love you?”

She smiled sweetly at the man kneeling in front of her. “You tell me every day.”

“I’m never going to stop telling you how much I love you. Every day I fall even more in love with you. I never thought it was possible for me to have these feelings for someone, but I have them for you, Jolene, and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

“You got the girl. I already said yes.”

“Will you stop interrupting?” he asked, his voice heavy with exasperation.

“You got it. Mum’s the word.” She pretended to zip her lips and throw away the key.

Cam shook his head. “I know I already asked you to marry me, but I don’t quite think
that
proposal met your standard of being completely weak in your knees. I want a do over.” He took a deep breath, his gaze turning intense.

“Jolene, before I met you, I was living in complete darkness. I wasn’t me. I was angry and let my emotions get the best of me. I was letting everyone down. But, the moment I laid eyes on you and felt your spirit, I knew you would be the last and only woman that I would ever love from that point forward. You always say that I’m your light. Jolene, without you, my world would be dark. You taught me to love again when I never thought I would. You’re
my
light. Jolene Bergio, please marry me. Choose me. Be my light.”

Tears fell down Jolene’s cheeks as she listened to Cam’s sweet words, a combination of his heart-felt plea and the hormones from the pregnancy. “You’re too good to me,” she cried out, astonished at the gorgeous diamond solitaire that he slid on her hand with ease, despite her swollen fingers. “You know we’ll just have to get that resized once I pop this kid out, don’t you?”

Cam shrugged. “Not if we keep having babies. So is that a yes?”

She grabbed his face in her hands, bringing his mouth to hers, her lips poised on his. “Yes, Cam. I choose you. Always.”

“I love you.”

“I’ll never tire of hearing you say those three words to me.”

“Good because I plan on telling you every day for the rest of your life.”

“Well, you
are
older than me. How about the rest of
your
life and not mine. I don’t want Juan, the pool boy, to get jealous.”

“What?” he pulled back.

Jolene grinned. “Will you just shut up and kiss me already so we can seal the deal?”

A shooting star fell from the sky and into the ocean, and he lowered his lips close to hers once more.

“But I really like almost kissing you… Peaches.”

Knees of My Heart
- Jimmy Buffett

My Stupid Mouth
- John Mayer

Jolene
- Ray LaMontagne

One Life
- James Morrison

Toes
- Zac Brown Band

Wonder
- Lauren Aquilina

Falling In Love Again
- Rachael Yamagata

It’ll All Work Out
- Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Poison & Wine
- The Civil Wars

Never Is A Promise
- Fiona Apple
 

Fake Plastic Trees
- Radiohead

A Little Bit
- Tristan Prettyman
 

Grey Street
- Dave Matthews Band

Over and Over
- Rachael Yamagata
 

I Go To The Barn Because I Like The
- Band of Horses
 

Duet
- Rachael Yamagata and Ray LaMontagne
 

Stay
- Rihanna
 

Clear Blue Eyes
- Amos Lee, featuring Lucinda Williams
 

Breathe Again
- Sara Bareilles

Sister
- Dave Matthews
 

Once Upon Another Time
- Sara Bareilles
 

The Light
- Sara Bareilles
 

Try A Little Tenderness
- Otis Redding
 

Everything Has Changed
- Taylor Swift, featuring Ed Sheeran
 

Kiwi
- Maroon 5
 

Hallelujah
- Jeff Buckley
 

Take Me to Church
- Hozier

I’ll Back You Up
- Dave Matthews Band
 

Say Something Now
- James Morrison

Thistle & Weeds
- Mumford & Sons
 

Chill in the Air
- Amos Lee
 

By The Grace of God
- Katy Perry

Come Pick Me Up
- Ryan Adams
 

Love For A Child
- Jason Mraz
 

All I Want
- Kodaline
 

Romeo and Juliet
- Dire Straits
 

Bring Me To Life
- Evanescence

Let Me Go
- Avril Lavigne
 

One Moment More
- Mindy Smith
 

I Choose You
- Sara Bareilles
 

The Heart of Life
- John Mayer

Holy crap! Can I start my acknowledgements with that? Because I am. This year has been an absolute whirlwind adventure for me, and I hope it’s just the beginning. Every indie author dreams of success, but they don’t actually think it will ever happen to them. The same is true for me. Since I published my debut novel,
A Beautiful Mess
, last August, I never thought I’d have the following that I have today. I never thought my books would have hit any list and here I am a
USA Today
Best Selling author. It’s amazing and overwhelming and humbling at the same time.

I absolutely loved introducing all of you to Alexander and Olivia in my
Beautiful Mess
series. I loved writing their story. It will always hold such a special place in my heart because it was the first one that I had ever written. But… This journey that I just took you on in
Heart Of Light
still hurts my heart. I’ve been asked why I chose this subject matter for this story. The reason is simple. I wanted to bring attention to the issue of human trafficking in a more serious context. It is a truly horrific crime and, in fact, is one of the largest growing criminal enterprises in the United States today. We all like to think that something as horrible as kidnapping children, women, even men, doesn’t happen in our back yard, but it does. We like to think that it only occurs overseas in third world countries, but the sad reality is that it happens everywhere. No one is safe from being a victim. While Jolene’s story is simply a dramatization, the methods are real. Human and sexual slavery is cruel. It is inhumane. And it is most certainly not romantic. I wanted to give this issue justice and I hope that I’ve done so.

I know a lot of you are Team Alex, but Cam is so pure and innocent and loves unconditionally that I knew I could throw some dark events at him, as I did in this book. Cam’s journey was never an easy one (and you’ll be able to read more about his relationship with his sister, Marley, in
Heart of Marley
), but if anyone could navigate their way through rough waters, it’s him.

Now onto all the people I need to thank. (Why does this feel like an Oscar speech?)

I guess first and foremost, I should thank the one and only, Mr. Alexander Thomas Burnham, for popping in my head one spring day in 2013. If it wasn’t for him, and for all you falling madly in love with him (as much as you wanted to smack some sense into him at some points), I don’t think I would have the following I do now. So, Mr. B., I salute you.

Thanks to my parents, Don and Linda Martin, for instilling a love of books and reading at such an early age. My sisters, Melissa Morgera and Amy Perras for being the best sisters a girl could ask for.

To my ah-mazing Head of Social Media and all things Team Alex and Team Cam, Lea James, thanks for being my other brain and for being my sounding board whenever I need one. I am so grateful that you picked up
A Beautiful Mess
one day and loved it. I honestly couldn’t imagine doing any of this without you. You rock my socks off.

To bloggers everywhere… Thank you for doing what you do to help promote all of us authors. Without your help and support, none of this would be possible!

To my incredible street team, words can’t express how much I appreciate all that you do for me. Your pimptastic support and encouragement means so much and I adore each and every one of you angels. Alexis Brodie, Anna Kesy, Brenda Mcleod, Cecilia Ugas, Cheryl Tuggle, Christine Davison, Chrissy Fletcher, Cindy Gibson, Claire Pengelly, Crystal Casquero, Crystal Solis, Crystal Swarmer, Danielle Estes, Donna Montville, Eann Goodwin-Giddings, Ebony McMillan, Erin Thompson, Estella Robinson, Jamie Kimok, Janie Beaton, Jennifer Goncalves, Jennifer Maikis, Jennifer Patton, Jessica Green, Johnnie-Marie Howard, Kathryn Adair, Kathy Arguelles, Kathy Coopmans, Kayla Hines, Karrie Puskas, Keesha Murray, Kim King, Kimberly Kazawic, Kimberly Twedt, Lea James, Lindsey Armstrong, Lori Garside, Lori Moore, Marianna Nichols, Meg Faulkner, Megan Galt, Melissa Crump, Melissa Miller-Mattern, Natasha Rochon, Nicola Horner, Nicole Chronister, Pamela McGuire, Rachel Hill, Shane Zajac, Shannon Baker-Ferguson, Shannon Palmer, Shayna Snyder, Stacy Hahn, Stefani Tabakovska, Stefanie Lewis, Suzie Cairney, Sylvia Chavarin, Tabitha Stokes, Tiffany Tyler, Tracey Williams, Victoria Stolte, Yamara Martinez… Love all of you!

To my beta readers, your insight and suggestions are invaluable to me. Lynne Ayling, Karen Emery, Lea James, Natalie Naranjo, Natasha Rochon, Stacy Stoops… Thank you for taking the time to read this book and give me tips on what worked, what didn’t, and when you needed to restock your tissue supply.

To my absolutely fan-freaking-tastic editor, Kim Young… Honestly, get out of my head! When my brain works a mile a minute and my fingers can’t keep up and something ridiculous ends up in my manuscript, you catch it and know exactly what I meant to say. So thanks for your psychic powers. You are an editing goddess and I am so grateful to have found you! (Psst… Team Cam!)

To my husband… My own Cam. Thanks for supporting me in this venture since day one, even when I was happy to sell ten books a day. I’d do this even if I didn’t sell any, and I know you’d still support and encourage me, no matter what. (And I’m sorry for making you ugly cry when you read this book.) I love you… To the moon and back.

Last, but by no means least, to all of you. I have the most incredible readers a girl can ask for. I love your enthusiasm and support, and I am so glad that I can continue to engage with all of you on a daily basis. I appreciate each and every one of you. Thank you for reading. Thank you for laughing. Thank you for loving.