Epilogue

Epilogue

Three months later

Jasmine

“It was really nice of your parents to invite us for dinner tonight,” I say as we’re driving to Liam’s parents’ house. It’s late March, almost my birthday. I’m going to be twenty-two tomorrow. I sit back in my seat with a contented smile on my face. I never dreamed this time last year that my life could turn out like this. I have everything I’ve ever wanted—the man of my dreams, a family who loves me, amazing friends, and a job working with Liam while I continue my martial arts training. I couldn’t ask for anything more.

Liam reaches over the console and squeezes my hand. “My parents adore you.”

It still blows my mind how accepting the McIntyres are of me. They treat me with respect and kindness—and love.

The security guard waves us through the gate, and we continue down the lane to Bridget and Calum’s house. We park in the driveway behind Calum’s big pick-up truck.

It’s already dark at this time of the evening. There’s a light on in the front room of the house, but other than that, the house looks pretty quiet.

Liam opens the front door for me, and we step inside. “Mom, we’re here,” Liam calls as we hang our coats in the foyer closet.

“In the kitchen, honey!” his mother says. “Perfect timing. Dinner’s almost ready.”

We walk hand-in-hand down the center hallway to the kitchen and great room at the back of the house. All of the lights are off, and I wonder why Bridget’s cooking in the dark.

Suddenly, the lights come on. “Surprise!”

I stand frozen, shocked by the sight of so many people. Everyone’s here—Liam’s entire family and all our friends. On the kitchen island is a three-tiered birthday cake decorated with pink roses made out of icing. The dining table is filled with all sorts of goodies, hot foods, finger foods, and tiny bite-sized sweets.

Everyone’s staring at me in anticipation.

When I burst into tears, Liam pulls me into his arms and rubs my back. “It’s okay, sweetheart.”

“I’ve never had a birthday party before,” I say, my face pressed against his shoulder. When I finally have myself under control, I turn to face everyone. “Thank you all for this. It really means a lot to me.”

When Bridget comes up to hug me, I wrap my arms around her small frame. “Thank you,” I whisper.

She pulls back to look me in the eye and brush the tears from my cheek. “You are very welcome, darling girl.”

Liam’s nephew Aiden steps forward. “Can we eat now, Grandma? I’m starving.”

Laughter breaks the tension, and everyone relaxes then and starts mingling. Liam’s entire family comes up to wish me a happy birthday, starting with his parents. Then every one of his six siblings and their significant others come give me a hug.

First Shane and Beth come to wish me a happy birthday. Shane’s holding their son, Luke, who leans forward to hug me. Beth’s holding Ava, who’s surprisingly sound asleep through all the ruckus.

Liam’s sister Sophie comes up to hug me, her husband Dominic towering behind her, his hands on her hips. She gives me a big, awkward hug as her baby bump is huge! Her baby is due soon.

Jamie and his fiancé, Molly, are next in line. “I’m reading another one of your books,” I tell Jamie. “I can’t believe I know a famous author.”

Jamie laughs. “Famous? I wouldn’t go that far.”

Molly grins as she steps forward to hug me. “Don’t listen to him, Jasmine. He’s very humble.” Then she pulls back and slips her arm around his waist. “Aren’t you, babe?”

Jake, Annie, and their three kids come to wish me a happy birthday.

“Which one are you holding?” I ask Jake, as he props a baby girl on his hip.

“This is Everly,” he says. And then he looks to Aiden. “Right?”

Aiden gives his dad a thumbs-up. “You got it, Daddy.” Aiden gives me the biggest hug of all, squeezing me tightly in this little arms. “Happy birthday, Jasmine!”

Liam introduces me to his sister Hannah, and her boyfriend Killian, whom I’ve never met before. They came here all the way from Colorado just for my birthday.

“I’ve been dying to meet you,” Hannah says as she squeezes my hands. “I couldn’t wait to meet the woman who stole my baby brother’s heart.”

Lia is the last sibling to wish me a happy birthday. She doesn’t even have to say a word. She just wraps her arms around me and squeezes tight. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispers, her voice catching. “My warrior princess.”

And then I get to hug Jonah, who in spite of being a huge celebrity, remains the nicest, most easy-going guy you could ever want to meet.

And then the friends come wish me a happy birthday… Jason and Layla, Erin and Mack, Sam and Cooper, Miguel, Mateo, and lastly, Philip.

“Is that her?” I ask Philip when he hugs me. I nod toward the pretty young brunette standing across the room with Mack and Erin. Liam’s told me all about Philip crushing on Mack’s teenaged daughter, who’s still in high school.

“Yes, that’s Haley,” Philip says with a chuckle.

“She’s gorgeous.”

“She’s amazing,” he says. “And, she’s only seventeen.”

I wince in sympathy. “What are you going to do?”

“The only thing I can do—I’m going to wait. I’ll wait until she graduates high school, and I’ll wait until Mack gives me permission to date her. Until then, I’m hands-off. I do get to spend time with her, but only when there’s a chaperone present. We’ve double-dated a few times with Mack and Erin, but trust me, that’s awkward.”

I wonder how Haley feels about Philip, but if the expression on her face as she sneaks peeks at him is any indication, I’d say his feelings for her are definitely reciprocated. “You’re a good guy, Philip.”

After all the hugging is over, we eat. The dining room table is filled with goodies of all kinds—hot food, finger foods, snacks, and sweets. But the best part of all is the beautiful birthday cake sitting on the kitchen island. I’ve never seen such an elegant cake.

“Thank you, everyone,” I say. “For all the food and the cake and the kind wishes.” My eyes tear up again. “I can honestly say, this is the best birthday party I’ve ever had.”

Liam leans in and kisses my cheek. “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

* * *

Thank you for reading Damaged Goods. I hope you enjoyed Liam and Jasmine’s story. Stay tuned for more books in the McIntyre Security Protectors series. If you like these characters, you might want to check out my McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series, featuring Shane, Beth, and the rest of these characters.

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If you’d like to sign up for my newsletter, download my free short stories, or locate my contact information, visit my website:

www.aprilwilsonauthor.com

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Books by April Wilson

McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series:

Vulnerable

Fearless

Shane – a novella

Broken

Shattered

Imperfect

Ruined

Hostage

Redeemed

Marry Me – a novella

Snowbound – a novella

Regret

With This Ring – a novella

Collateral Damage

Special Delivery

McIntyre Security Bodyguard Series Box Sets:

Box Set 1

Box Set 2

Box Set 3

Box Set 4

McIntyre Security Protectors:

Finding Layla

Damaged Goods

McIntyre Search and Rescue:

Search and Rescue

Lost and Found

Tyler Jamison Novels:

Somebody to Love

Somebody to Hold

Somebody to Cherish

The British Billionaires Romance Series:

Charmed

Captivated

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Audiobooks by April Wilson

Here you will find links to my audiobooks:

http://www.aprilwilsonauthor.com/audiobooks