Epilogue

epilogue

N icola studied her reflection. The dress she had chosen for her wedding was deceptively simple. It hugged her slight curves and only showed a hint of her cleavage. Of course, she thought, turning around, the back was dramatic. It was ivory with blue hibiscus flowers on it. The ruffled neckline was similar to the Hawaiian dresses she loved. Everything about it made her feel sexy and beautiful—just like Jensen did.

“My brother is going to lose his cool when he sees that,” Jules said, her voice filled with a mix of amusement and deep affection as she stepped up beside Nicola.

She shared a smile with Jules. “Yeah, well, it’s good to remind Jensen that he doesn’t always have to be in control.”

Jules sighed, her smile dimming.

Nicola turned to face her friend. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” The fake smile did not sit well with Nicola.

“Jules, tell me.”

“It’s just the bastard I dumped. And yes, I am using that word because he deserves it.”

“He’s causing you more problems.”

She wandered away to look out the window of their luxurious beachfront villa. They were in Hawaii for their wedding, surrounded by the serene beauty of the ocean. It was a private affair, with mainly close friends and family. Jensen grumbled about Micah being there, but she had ignored him. She knew that Jensen counted Micah as a friend and he was being a jealous prig.

“I wish I could just find a nice guy. Someone who likes me for me,” she said, sadness pulling her tone down.

Nicola went to her then, wrapping her arm around her friend. “You will. I believe it,” she said with unwavering conviction.

Jules dabbed away tears. “I don’t know. Everyone knows who I am, and they assume they know me. That I’m a nympho of some sort.” Her voice trembled with the weight of her words.

“Please let me make him cry.”

A laugh bubbled up out of the younger woman. “I keep telling you no for a reason. You and Jen have been through enough.”

Nicola sighed. She wanted to fix things for Jules but knew her soon-to-be sister-in-law needed time. She couldn’t stand to see her hurting.

Jules rested her head on Nicola’s shoulder.

“In less than an hour, you’re going to be my sister-in-law for real,” Nicola said, her voice filled with warmth and anticipation.

“Yeah.” It was easy to hear the smile in her friend’s voice. She lifted her head and wiped away her tears.

“Please let me make him cry.”

A laugh bubbled up out of the younger woman. “I keep telling you no for a reason. You and Jen have been through enough.”

Nicola sighed. She wanted to fix things for Jules but knew her soon-to-be sister-in-law needed time. She just couldn’t stand to see her hurting.

Jules rested her head on Nicola’s shoulder.

“In less than an hour, you’re going to be my sister for real,” Nicola said.

“Yeah.” It was easy to hear the smile in her friend’s voice. She lifted her head and wiped away her tears. “And I refuse to let that wanker ruin your day. And my day. It’s not been fun dealing with two brothers. Now I’ll have a sister by my side.”

Nicola felt her own eyes burning.

“Oh, shit! I’m sorry,” Jules said. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

She shook her head and grabbed a tissue. She wasn’t wearing that much makeup but didn’t want to smear what she had on.

“I’m not upset. I’m happy. I always wanted a sibling. Being an only child was lonely.”

“Hmm, I would say you were lucky. Imagine dealing with my two brothers your whole childhood.”

The love she heard in Jules’ voice made her smile. “Speaking of sexy, you in that dress…”

She laughed. “Thank you for letting me pick.”

In another Hawaiian-themed dress, Jules had that same ruffled neckline but the shade of blue the flowers on Nicola’s dress. “And as much as I love my shoes, I love being barefoot.”

“Right?”

“What are you girls doing in here?” Her mother said, rushing into the room, her father strolling behind her. In that instant, she knew she would finally have what her parents had. That connection…that unconditional love. She and Jensen will live the rest of their lives together, sharing in memories…good and bad…but they will weather any storm together.

“We were gossiping about how handsome Dad is,” she said with a smile. Her parents wore matching outfits, the same shades that matched her flowers. They wore leis, her father’s made of leaves, and her mother’s matched their flowers. They were so cute together.

“I better get going before the idiot groom shows up complaining we’re taking too long,” Jules said. “See ya at the altar, sista.” She added a lilt to her voice. She grabbed her simple nosegay of multicolored plumeria. It matched Nicola’s, except that as the bride, she added a little cascade to the design.

“You look beautiful,” her father said, a quiver of emotion in his tone.

She smiled, fighting tears. “Don’t make me cry. My makeup is perfect.”

“You’re perfect. Always have been,” he said, smiling at her. He had said that to her when she was growing up.

“Thank you. Now, Jules wasn’t wrong. Jensen could show up being grumpy, so let’s get going.” She slipped her arm through each of theirs. “Thank you for being the best parents.”

They walked to the door of the guest room. She drew in a deep breath and let the happiness bounce through her. They stepped out, and Jules and Serenity stood. Her friend had been indisposed…in other words, throwing up. The trio were expecting their first baby, and she couldn’t be happier for them.

Her dress was of the same material as Jules, but Serenity’s was tailored for her shorter, slimmer body. Tears filled her eyes.

“Oh, wow. I’m sorry I couldn’t help you get dressed.”

Nicola rolled her eyes. “Yeah, zipping up a dress was soooo hard.”

She let go of her parents to hug her friend. “Don’t worry, Mama,” she whispered in her ear. When she drew back, both of them had tears in their eyes.

“Hey, ladies…and Mr. McCann?” Jackob called out. “Jensen is five seconds away from losing it.”

She shook her head. “I guess that means he’s getting grumpy. Let’s get this show on the road.”

* * *

Jules watched as her brother led Nicola out to the makeshift dance floor. His hand was on the small of her back.

She had been right. Her brother’s reaction to the back of the dress had been hilarious and also cute at the same time. He pulled her into his arms, and the music started.

She glanced around at the crowd and realized this was the antithesis of any wedding she had been to. The weddings she attended were about impressing people with the price of the ceremony and reception. Nicola and Jensen were dancing around the floor, with a string of lights crisscrossing the dance floor…and it was perfect. No amount of money would have made it better than the love they shared.

She sighed, knowing that she envied their connection and that it would be nearly impossible to find because of who she was.

“What’s up,” Jakob said. She glanced at her brother, sporting a beard for his latest role. Her mother had been irritated, but Jules liked it.

“Nothing. Just a little jealous of their happiness. They’re perfect for each other.”

“Took him long enough.”

She smiled as Jensen dipped Nicola, making her laugh.

“Yeah, but sometimes it takes a jolt to figure out who or what you want from life.”

“And you realized that about the prick and we are all happier for it.”

There was something in his tone that had her turning toward her brother. He was the proverbial middle child, probably feeling left out at times smashed between the oldest brother and the only girl. So, he had turned to acting. He still had a seat on the board, but everyone knew Jackob would become an actor even before he reached his teens.

And usually, he was better at hiding his feelings, but lately…he’d been off.

“What’s up with you?”

“Nothing.”

She frowned. “Jake…come on. It’s me. Tell me.”

Even with their age difference…not to mention their personalities, all the Wulf siblings were close.

“I screwed something up.”

“So fix it.”

“It’s not that simple.”

She laughed. “Which means you can’t throw money at it.”

“Bugger off,” Jakob said as he drained the rest of his drink.

“Hey, I know I don’t know much about the situation, and I have no real basis to give love advice.”

His eyebrows shot up. “What makes you think it’s about a woman?”

“You said you screwed something up, and you can’t throw money at it.”

He looked away and drew in a deep breath. “So? Your advice?”

She glanced out at Jensen and Nicola. “They waited years, but look how happy they are. I’m sure they screwed it up along the way, but they came out the other side together. Not without risks, Jake. If she’s worth your love, you should be willing to chance everything to get her back.”

“I never really had her,” he murmured.

“Then do something about it because I learned in the last few months that settling won’t make you happy.”

He nodded and turned to leave. Then he turned back to her and kissed her cheek.

“Thanks, Jules.”

Then, he wandered away just as the song was coming to an end. The smiles on the couple’s faces warmed her heart. She wanted that. Jules wasn’t sure she would ever be able to get it, but one thing she wasn’t going to do anymore was settle.

* * *

Thank you so much for reading Faith! I hope you enjoyed Jensen and Nicola’s story. If you did, please think about leaving a rating or review at your favorite online bookstore or review site!

Don’t miss the next exciting book in The Wulf Family series!

One-Click Taboo—- Preorder NOW .

Julienne Wulf has always played the good girl, but she’s found a man who encourages her to be bad.

Check out an excerpt!