Bonus Epilogue

Bonus Epilogue

Silas

The trees that lined my driveway were wrapped in white ribbons, and the front porch was covered in flowers. My home was usually a haven from the rest of the world, but today, the grounds were covered with people in various stages of wedding preparation.

Across the cab, my brother, Sebastian, gave me a look. “Are you ready for this?”

“I’ve been waiting forever for this day.” Gia wanted the perfect day, even if it was low-key compared to the other weddings she’d planned. But that didn’t mean it was any less elegant. She’d been involved in the planning of every last detail.

As soon as Sebastian pulled his truck up to the porch, Aria opened the door and waved a hand at me. “Come on. Come on. You can’t see the bride.”

I raised a brow. “She was in my bed this morning.”

Aria rolled her eyes and grabbed my hand, tugging me out of the truck. “You can’t see her in her dress. You know what I mean. Let’s go.”

“I’d prefer to see her out of her dress.”

“Grooms are impossible. I don’t know why I have to deal with them,” Aria said teasingly.

“I’ll see you at the altar,” Sebastian called as I shut the door.

“If all of your brothers are as hot as him, the reception should be interesting,” Aria murmured.

“You don’t have any more single wedding planners.”

“Oh, Gia just hired two more to apprentice with us. I don’t think they’re dating anyone. At least they haven’t mentioned boyfriends, but who knows?

I raised a brow. “I hadn’t realized they’d already started working.”

“It’s like you don’t know your fiancée at all. If Gia says she’s going to do something, then it’s done. That girl has no chill.”

“That’s just one of the things I love about her.” I added a smirk so I wouldn’t sound like a lovesick fool, even though that’s exactly what I was.

“You two are adorable.”

“I wouldn’t say that. You’re going to ruin my street cred,” I grumbled good-naturedly.

Aria pulled the door open to my house. “You did that all by yourself when you crashed our bonfire with your declarations of love and forever. Now Gia’s getting ready upstairs, so I’m taking you to the basement.”

“It’s weird to be escorted around my own house.”

“It’s one day, and then we’ll clean up everything while you’re on your honeymoon. By the time you get back, it will be exactly as it was before.”

“Mmm. I’m looking forward to that.” In truth, I was beyond excited for the wedding itself, and to celebrate at the reception afterward. I didn’t want to rush through anything. I wanted to savor every moment of the day I finally made Gia Giovanni my wife.

Downstairs, my brothers, Liam and Wells, stood behind the bar with their white shirts unbuttoned at the top.

Gia’s brothers hovered on the other side.

Wells volunteered to play his violin for the ceremony, and Liam and Sebastian would stand beside me. I couldn’t be prouder to have them stand up with me.

After finding out about me and Gia, her brothers seemed to have accepted me. I think it helped that I’d proposed. They just wanted to know that I was all in with their sister, and not using her. My love for her was obvious, and that seemed to satisfy them. They just wanted their sister to be happy.

“You ready to become a husband?” Leo asked.

“More than ready. I would have married her the day after the bonfire. We could have eloped, but she wanted to get married here with her friends and family, and I’d do anything to make her happy.”

“You’re whipped,” Liam said.

“And proud of it,” I said as they handed me a shot glass. “I’ll do one, but that’s it. I want to be fully aware of every moment.”

“Who knew you were such a sap?” Wells said affectionately.

Sebastian jogged down the steps to join us. “Who knew you’d be the first of us to settle down?”

I placed a hand over my heart. “I’m just more in touch with my emotions.”

Seb just raised his brows at me because we both knew that wasn’t true. It was Gia who brought out this side of me, and I wasn’t afraid for everyone to know how I felt about her.

We raised our glasses and waited for Leo to speak. “To adding another brother to our family.”

I nodded, ecstatic that I would soon be officially part of the Giovanni family. “I appreciate it.”

Mateo clinked my glass. “Take care of my sister.”

“You know I will,” I said seriously.

We threw back the dark liquor, the J?ger burning my throat.

Carlo threw his arm around my shoulders. “You know this means you can give us your business advice for free, right?”

I shook my head. “I always gave you advice for free.”

Everyone laughed, and when Ireland came down the stairs, we sobered. “It’s time.”

Everyone scrambled to button their shirts and throw on their jackets. Lily walked around with the boutonnieres, pinning them on our lapels.

“I hope you didn’t drink too much,” Lily said.

“Just one,” Sebastian told her with a wink.

“Don’t flirt with the wedding planners or the bridal party,” Ireland admonished him.

Sebastian shrugged. “What fun are weddings without hooking up?”

“You’re here to celebrate our love, not hook up with anyone,” I said to him.

Sebastian threw his tie at me. “I still can’t believe Gia would agree to put up with the likes of you forever.”

Ireland groaned. “Get it together. We have five minutes for you to be in your places so we can get started. Wells, you’re ready. Why don’t you warm up?”

“You got it.” Then to me, he said, “Good luck. I’m proud of you.”

Ireland waited to escort him upstairs.

“You’re proud of me?” I asked, a little confused.

“For realizing when you had something great and holding on tight. We should all be that lucky.”

“To realize what you have that’s maybe right in front of you?” I asked him, trying to understand.

Wells nodded.

“It took me years to figure that out.”

“All that matters is that you did,” Liam said.

“Thank you for being here, for always supporting me and giving me shit.”

Everyone laughed and slapped my back. After that, it was a whirlwind of fixing ties, pinning boutonnieres, and throwing out advice that may or may not have been helpful. I was having a hard time paying attention because I was focused on the moment when Gia would walk down the aisle toward me. Nothing else mattered.

The next thing I knew, I was being ushered to the arbor Harrison custom made for us. It was larger than any I’d seen before, with branches intertwined with real flowers and greenery. I took a steady breath and looked out over the water.

Ireland told me to keep my back to the crowd until it was time to steady my nerves. I hadn’t expected to feel so nervous. I think it was because this moment felt so huge to me. I was declaring myself to another person to love and cherish forever. It was a huge responsibility, but I was ready for it.

The music started, and I turned like we’d practiced the night before. My vision was a little blurry as the bridesmaids came down the aisle. Although they’d planned the wedding, the wedding planners were in it too.

That’s why Gia had hired a couple of new people to make sure things ran smoothly today. She wanted to relax and enjoy the day.

The last bridesmaid was Harper, and then there was a pause before everyone stood, and Gia walked down the aisle with her father. I only had eyes for her.

She was gorgeous, with her hair pulled back and a veil that hung down her back. Her dress was fitted at the waist but full at the bottom. All the other details were lost to me. She held a large bouquet of red roses. The color was stunning next to the white dress and her beautiful face.

When she reached me, Mr. G. placed her hand in mine, and I promised to take care of her forever. He nodded and said, “See that you do.”

And then her fingers were interlaced with mine, and we turned to face each other, with the preacher to my right. He started speaking to the guests, but I couldn’t hear a word he was saying.

Gia squeezed my hands and whispered, “I love you.”

“I love you too.”

Her eyes shone with love and emotion. “I can’t believe we’re here.”

“I can. I think on some level I always knew.” I lowered my forehead to hers, soaking in the moment. The preacher’s words washed over us, and the hush of the crowd settled in my chest. This was our moment, and I’d never forget any part of it.

I lifted my head, and we listened to the preacher, following his prompts, and recited the vows we’d prepared together. The crowd laughed when we talked about loving each other despite any disagreements.

I blocked it all out because nothing mattered except her gaze on me and her hands in mine.

When we were declared husband and wife, we headed down the aisle, and I couldn’t resist holding our joined hands in the air. This union with Gia didn’t come easy, but I wouldn’t have had it any other way. Our journey was long and unique, but it was ours.

We posed for pictures, and as soon as Abby said we were done, I hauled Gia into a nearby closet.

“What are we doing here?” she asked when I closed the door behind us.

“Going back to where it all began.” I backed her up against the wall.

“What are you—”

I knelt on the floor in front of her and gathered her skirts. “We only have a few minutes. Can you be quiet?”

“Absolutely,” she said, her voice a little breathless.

Her fingers tangled in my hair as the other hand held up her skirts for me. It wouldn’t be easy, but nothing with Gia was.

I loved the garters I found under her skirt, and the tiny strip of white lace that was easy to push aside. I licked and sucked and devoured her with my mouth and fingers. She couldn’t stifle her cries, but hopefully, no one heard us. The music was loud, and everyone had drinks and appetizers.

When she went over, her body shuddering in my arms, I knew our lives wouldn’t be predictable or boring. Gia would always challenge me and push me to be a better man, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

When she was dressed and I stood in front of her, she asked, “What are we doing?”

“Taking a moment to just be us before we have to go out there.”

She looked up at me. “I think this might be my favorite part of the day.”

I grinned. “How can you know that when we haven’t even shown up to our reception yet?”

“These moments when I’m alone with you are the best. Every time I think I can’t love you more, I do. You somehow made the biggest day of our lives more meaningful.”

I dipped my chin. “Just to be sure, you’re talking about me dragging you into a closet—again.”

She smiled mischievously. “It’s always an adventure with you.”

“Should we get on our boat and sail away now?” I’d planned on sailing to our private cove, making love, and sleeping until we needed to be at the airport to go on our honeymoon tomorrow. I wanted to revisit everything that made our initial coming together so special, starting with this moment.

She patted my chest. “We only have a few more hours to go, and we spent so much time planning the perfect party. We should enjoy it.”

“Spoken like a true wedding planner.” I kissed her. “I’ll give you a few more hours, but then you’re mine.”

She grinned. “Forever.”

I hope you loved Gia and Silas’s story! Ireland and Emmett’s romance is next in Runaway Love , a holiday romance.

When I started planning my dream wedding at a Christmas tree farm, I never thought that, on my wedding day, I would literally bolt from my wedding. Emmett Monroe finds me, still in my wedding dress. The grumpy mountain man offers me a much-needed respite from the chaos, inviting me into his cabin to "hide out" until all the wedding guests leave. But I never think that we will get stuck together for days in the one-bed cabin during a major snowstorm, completely cut off from the outside world.

Read Runaway Love !

“I don’t have time for this.”

“It was your suggestion.” Irritation burned in my gut. My fiancé, James, preferred a flashy wedding venue that flaunted his wealth and status, but I really wanted to get married on a Christmas tree farm. Unfortunately, the one roadblock to that happening was a grumpy mountain of a man.

“Let’s go, then.” Emmett turned and stalked toward the exit of the barn, and I followed at a more leisurely pace. I’d worn knee-high boots, but they were designer and not meant for walking through dirt. With the mood he was in, I was more than a little worried he’d lead me through wetlands.

When he flashed an irritated look over his shoulder, I smiled serenely, hoping to disrupt his dark mood with positivity.

We walked for a few minutes in the direction of one of the many fields sporting trees in various stages of growth. I breathed in the crisp fall air, imagining what it would be like to work here, where your office was fields and not four walls. Maybe that was why Emmett wasn’t keen on me holding my wedding here. “Why are you doing this?”

Emmett stopped abruptly and turned to face me. “You were hell-bent on having a wedding here. You got what you wanted. I don’t think we need to rehash the whys and how we got here.”

“Gia was hell-bent on holding the wedding here. Not me.” Although that statement wasn’t exactly the truth.

“So, you don’t want to get married here?” Emmett asked gruffly, his arms spread wide. “In between the rows of Christmas trees with twinkling lights strung between the poles.”

Everything inside me softened. “I’d love to. That’s not what I meant.”

Something passed between us then. It was full of hope and anticipation, and it caused my heart to flutter. I am engaged to someone else.

“Let’s get this over with.” Emmett stalked into a row of trees, and I followed.

“I wanted to know why you’d agree to host my wedding if you don’t want me here?”

He glanced over his shoulder at me. “I never said I didn’t want you here.”

I touched his elbow with the intention of stopping his forward momentum because we’d reached a small clearing between the rows. “Thank you for agreeing to this. I know this is your home, and it wasn’t an easy decision for you.”

His jaw tightened. “You have no idea.”

I wanted to ask if he’d been engaged or married before, but it wouldn’t have been appropriate. It was just my intuition working in overdrive. I was a romantic at heart. I wanted to assign feelings to a man who probably didn’t experience any range of emotions other than irritation.

His gaze dropped to where my hand held his arm. I felt the warmth of his body through the flannel shirt and the ripple of his muscles as he flexed.

I wanted to step into his body and feel the heat all over.

I am engaged to James .

I let go of his arm and stepped back. I sucked in a breath of fresh air to clear the crazy thoughts in my head.

“Are you sure you’re ready to get married?” Emmett asked.

“We love each other.”

He tilted his head to the side. “Is that the only criteria?”

I frowned, trying to think of the reasons I’d agreed to his proposal. James was solid, and he came from a good family. He worked at his father’s law firm, and he came from money. He represented safety and security. But more than that, he seemed to adore me. I hoped it was me he was interested in and not the idea of me, or the fact that I come from a good family, went to the right schools, and had a trust fund.

“Are you going to quit your job after you get married and pop out some kids?”

A little taken aback by the venom in his tone, I said, “I like my job. I don’t have to work, but I enjoy making others happy.”

Emmett nodded, seemingly respecting my answer.

“I’ve never had to struggle with things like money. I always had my trust fund to fall back on. But my parents were divorced many times. There was a lot of upheaval in my life. Nothing felt safe or secure at home. I’m not telling you this so that you’ll feel sorry for me. Just because someone’s life looks good on the outside, doesn’t mean that it is.”

Emmett sighed. “You’re right. I’m sorry for judging you without knowing anything about you or your life.”

“I love your farm, and I’m so grateful you’re willing to share it with me. I know it’s a hardship for you and your family to hold events here.”

He held up his hand. “This is just a onetime thing.”

“I know what the contract says. But you know Gia’s hoping this is just the beginning.”

“This wedding will be a disruption, and I’m not looking forward to it.”

I watched him closely, the way his eyes were guarded, his muscles bunched tight. “You don’t like change.”

He looked from the trees to me. “That’s probably it. I feel unsettled.”

“We’ll make this as easy as possible for you. I have a team of people helping me.”

“I hope you’re right, and this is nothing more than a small interruption.”

I didn’t push any further because I didn’t think Emmett would appreciate it. I needed to prove to him that the wedding wouldn’t interrupt his business too much. Looking around, I asked, “Is this one of the options for the ceremony?”

The clearing was in the middle of several fields. I couldn’t see the main barn or farmhouse from where we stood.

“None of these trees will be cut this year, so it’s the perfect spot for the ceremony. It’s private and closed off from the rest of the farm.”

“I like that.” I wandered the space, noting how many chairs would fit and the best spot for an arbor. “I would think the arbor would go here, the guests there. Would I emerge from the row of trees?” I asked, more to myself than him.

“That’s a little too much like A Field of Dreams , don’t you think?” Emmett quipped.

“Wow. I didn’t know you made jokes.” I didn’t wait for his response. “But you’re right, that would be odd. We could move it here, and then I’d enter from this small pathway. We can use a runner for the aisle and rustic chairs for the guests. Maybe purple flowers.” I hadn’t decided on any colors or other details, but now that I was here, surrounded by greenery, I loved the mix of purple, white, and green.

Emmett stood in front of the larger trees. “You could put the arbor here.”

I could see the wedding pictures now, me in a white dress in front of the evergreens. It would be gorgeous. I didn’t want to think too hard about why I couldn’t picture James next to me. “I wonder if Harrison could do something different for the arbor.”

“I can make you one.”

“That’s not necessary. Gia commissions Harrison for those.” I didn’t want to intrude on Emmett’s life any more than necessary.

“I have an idea for something I’ve been thinking about for a while.”

I tipped my head to the side. “ You’ve been thinking about creating a wedding arbor?”

“It came to me that first time you met with us.” He pulled out his phone, scrolled through some pictures, and showed me a photograph of an image he’d sketched.

The branches were intertwined with evergreens wrapped around them. I wondered if he’d drawn it with me in mind. “This is gorgeous. It’s different than what we’ve done before.”

“I think this matches the vision you’re going for.”

It was perfect, and I couldn’t believe he’d read my mind so easily. “Are you sure you don’t mind making this? This is supposed to be a painless process for you.”

“Nothing about this is painless.” Before I could respond to his comment, he continued. “We have another barn that we built for family picnics and events. That might be your best bet for the reception. It’s a short walk from here.”

“I’d love to see it.” My heart rate picked up. I couldn’t remember him showing us a second barn on our original tour, and I was excited to see it.

We walked in silence, our boots scuffing the debris on the ground. I could imagine what it would be like to live here. I’d take walks between the rows of trees in the early morning or evening.

There were poles with lights strung between them, and I wondered if they were lit year-round or if they were only used when the farm was in season.

This barn was a natural wood plank. There was a large, covered porch on the side, which I assumed they used for outdoor events.

“We could move the picnic tables out. I’m sure you have tables you’d prefer to use. Unless your wedding is a barbecue.”

“Definitely not.” I winced, unable to imagine James’s family attending a wedding at a farm. But this was what I wanted, not what James’s family preferred.

He opened the door to the inside and waited for me to precede him. He flipped on the lights, and I was pleased the interior was spacious and clean. Tables lined the back wall, and chairs were stacked next to them.

I wandered around the space, already imagining the tables, a dance floor, and endless flowers and greenery. Maybe white centerpieces with some kind of ornaments.

“Are you imagining what it would look like in your head?” Emmett asked, and I was surprised he was interested.

I gestured with my hands. “I was thinking centerpieces, maybe a configuration of white and silver ornaments, various sized candles or one tall one in the middle, purple and white flowers, and tons of greenery.” I breathed in deeply, smelling the cedar. “So much that you can smell the needles. It will smell like Christmas.” I looked up. “Maybe twinkling lights on the ceiling. It’s funny because I couldn’t picture it until I was standing here in this space.”

“We don’t usually let anyone outside of family inside the barn.”

“Thank you for inviting me into your space.” I was genuinely surprised he’d done so. He was so guarded and protective when it came to his family.

He nodded toward the room. “Do you think it will work for you?”

“It’s perfect. I’m imagining a winter wonderland. All tasteful, of course.” It would be simple yet elegant. For the first time, my chest filled with hope that maybe my marriage would be different than my parents’. That I’d be with James forever. But I had this lingering feeling that I was forgetting something important.

As a wedding planner, I could easily see the empty room as it would be decorated on the day of the wedding. It was more difficult to imagine me walking down the aisle to James. Every time I thought about it, there was nothing waiting for me at the end. Now, all I could see was the beautiful arbor that Emmett drew.

“I have one more space I’d like to show you. Maybe you could use it for pictures, or for a private moment with your fiancé.”

“I’d love to see it,” I said, wondering why his comment about a private moment with my fiancé rubbed me the wrong way. “Do you have a lot of family events here?”

“Picnics and family meals. There’s a kitchen, and it’s fully heated and air-conditioned.”

I shook my head. “Those are the questions I should have been asking, not getting lost in imagining the décor.”

“It must be hard to be the wedding planner and the bride.”

I chuckled. “Well, it’s the first time I’ve attempted it. My parents haven’t set the best example. Both have been married numerous times, so taking this step is huge for me.”

“What makes you so sure he’s the one?” Emmett asked, his gaze steady on mine as we walked down the dirt path and into the woods.

I thought about it for a few seconds before answering. Our relationship had been a whirlwind. After the first few days, he’d said he knew I was the one for him. “He loves me.”

He paused at the top of a hillside. “Do you love him?”

“Of course,” I said. Love was what I’d been searching for my entire life. To me, it meant safety and security. I wanted a home, a place to call my own. I’d never put my kids through what I experienced—the constant upheaval, the stress, and uncertainty.

My brother, Finn, and I were close because we were all each other had when my parents were going through the endless cycles of dating, marrying, and then inevitably divorcing.

“Have you ever been in love?”

“I was. Once.” Then he nodded down the hill. “This is what I wanted to show you.”

Here, the trees were part of the forest and widely spaced. As we walked down the slope, there was a waterfall where flat rocks were placed into the side of the hill, water falling peacefully over them. “This is gorgeous.”

When the ground evened out slightly, there was a spot where someone had made chairs out of logs and placed them in a circle around a fire pit.

“Did you make all of this?” I asked him, genuinely impressed.

“Me and my brother, Knox. He does landscaping work. One of his clients wanted something similar, so he made it here first and then took pictures for them.”

“Do the visitors know about this spot?” I asked him.

Emmett scowled. “This is strictly for friends and family.”

I closed my eyes and breathed in the scent of rotting leaves. “It’s so peaceful. If I lived here, I’d hang out here, breathing in the fresh air and listening to the water.” When I finally opened my eyes, I was surprised to find Emmett watching me.

He cleared his throat. “If you want to take pictures here, you can.”

I couldn’t see this space appealing to James. He was all about opulence and elegance. This was too rustic for him. But I loved it. “Maybe I could take some shots with me in my dress.”

I ran my fingers over the log benches, imagining little kids sitting here with their parents, cooking s’mores.

“Wouldn’t you mess up your dress sitting on the logs?”

“Yeah, I guess.” I hadn’t even picked one out yet. But seeing this, I imagined something soft and flowing, with purple and white flowers woven into my hair. It wasn’t the wedding that James was imagining, but it was the one I wanted.

My heart ached as I looked at Emmett. Was I making the same mistake my parents had? Was I jumping into this wedding with James too quickly? Was it the right decision? I took a deep breath, my chest constricting.

“Getting married is a big commitment. Just be sure it’s the right thing before you go through with it.”

“Are you speaking from experience?” I asked, my intuition telling me there was a story here.

His face screwed up. “I don’t believe in it.”

I laughed. “My brother didn’t either. Our parents got married and divorced so many times that he didn’t want to put anyone through that himself. When he met Aria, he tried to keep it casual, but it didn’t work. He fell hard for her. Now he’s all in. It makes me think I could have something like that too.”

Finn and I were different, though. Watching my parents only made me want to find love for myself. I was worried I would look for it in the wrong places or think I had something when I didn’t. Was I doomed to be like my parents, always searching for that elusive someone and never finding it? Or were they too quick to walk away?

I just needed to commit to James, and everything would fall into place. I wouldn’t be like my parents.

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