Chapter 50

Chapter Fifty

E rica fastened the necklace around Alexandra’s neck, then stepped back. “Now that’s a spectacular something blue.”

She laughed, touching the blue diamonds at the center of the galaxy. She studied her reflection, running her hands over the fitted bodice and voluminous skirt of the silver gown. She’d forgotten how much she loved this dress. Had blocked it out.

“This is really happening,” she murmured.

“You look fabulous. Ready to head down?”

“Yes.”

“I’ll text Lee and make sure JT’s in the ballroom and not out on the promenade.”

They left the suite’s primary bedroom and knocked on the other bedroom door, where Curt and Mara waited with Gemma and Grace. “Ready when you are.”

Curt opened the door to reveal Gemma and Grace in silver flower girl dresses.

Alexandra and Erica both squealed at seeing them. “Utterly adorable,” Erica said.

“I’m a princess, Mama.” Grace twirled, letting her skirt flare.

“Yes, you are, baby.”

The plan was for Mara to accompany the two flower girls down the aisle because it was unlikely they would successfully navigate the distance on their own. They would be followed by Erica as matron of honor. Colin was already with best man Lee, acting as ring bearer.

Alexandra would be escorted down the aisle by Curt. Her parents would be seated in the front row, but neither was truly cognizant of the occasion. It was enough that they were there.

They took the elevator to the lobby and Alexandra enjoyed the oohs and ahhs that greeted them from hotel guests. They were all princesses today.

They took their spot outside the side door for the ballroom, where Trina had been waiting. She darted inside and let the officiant know they were ready to begin.

Alexandra kissed Gemma and repeated the instructions for walking with Mara and Grace. Erica handed both girls baskets of flower petals, but they all knew the odds of any being sprinkled were slim at best, just as Colin was too young to take ring bearer duties seriously.

But neither Alexandra nor JT cared if the kids performed their roles or if they chose to sit or stand. They just wanted their friends present, and she wanted her daughter as close as possible.

She smiled at her assembled attendants. “Let’s roll.”

Mara and the girls entered, and she heard laughter as the two underage flower girls stole the show.

“I hope Mark is getting video.”

“If he’s not, I know at least half a dozen others are,” Erica said. The laughter subsided. “Sounds like I’m up.” She kissed Alexandra’s cheek. “See you on the other side.”

She went through the door. Curt held out his arm, and Alexandra took it. “Thank you for doing this.”

“It is my absolute honor.” He kissed her temple, and the bridal march started.

It was so strange how the song struck her in the heart at that moment. But before she could take it in, they were stepping through the door, and her gaze traveled the aisle and landed on the tuxedoed man on the other end of it. He was devastatingly handsome. His eyes were fixed on hers with an intensity that took her breath away.

The love of her life was finally and completely hers. No holding back.

A lexandra had mesmerized him from their first meeting, but JT had never guessed it was possible for her to be even more beautiful than the twenty-five-year-old he’d wooed and won, or even the thirty-year-old he’d foolishly lost. But here she was, sparkling in a lush silver gown and glittering with a diamond galaxy around her neck.

This incredible woman was his. Now and forever.

Not once during the ceremony did he think of Moss or anything that could mar the moment. He only had eyes for Alexandra and the life they were forging together, again, and for the first time.

Gemma had made it almost all the way through his vows before squealing and attempting to break free of Mara’s hold. Alexandra asked JT with her eyes how he wanted to handle it, and he nodded.

She gestured for Gemma to join them, and he finished his part while Gemma played with the voluminous silk fabric that made up Alexandra’s skirt. He then scooped the girl up and held her on his hip while Alexandra said her vows.

With Gemma between them, the kiss was chaste and brief, and the little girl then demanded her own kiss, giving them each a wet smack in return.

And then it was done. On what would have been their eleventh anniversary, Alexandra Vargas was his wife at long last.

F or an impromptu wedding, it was surprisingly organized. For what was supposed to be a company party, it was surprisingly fun.

After a five-course dinner, JT danced with his wife, holding their daughter between them. They danced and visited with guests for at least an hour before they both escaped into the suite to put an exhausted Gemma to bed. Thankfully, she was too tired to fight the new setting and being left with a sitter, and they were able to return to the party twenty minutes later.

They were greeted with the news that both Russ and Brent had been arrested—the vial that had been found inside the computer had indeed held GHB and had Brent’s fingerprints on it. It might not be admissible given the broken chain of evidence, but between that, the diary, the recording, and other conversations Kendall had caught with her hidden cameras, they had enough to bring them in and hope one or both would turn on Calvin.

Brent was their best bet. He had the most direct tie to Kendall and would be eager to distance himself from her murder. The video of them together prevented him from claiming he hadn’t spoken with her in the weeks before her death.

The search for the money had only just begun.

They drank champagne, toasting to arrests in addition to the usual wedding speeches, then they danced until it was time for cake.

They’d been unable to order a tiered cake at the last minute, but JT had promised he’d find something special and was gratified by Lex’s laugh when she saw the plate of fancy muffins next to several eight-inch cakes in different flavors.

Instead of cutting a piece from one of the cakes, she plucked a pumpkin muffin from the plate and held it up to him. He took a bite from the top, just like he had that first night.

“You are the very best thing that ever happened to me,” she whispered. “You even gave me Gemma, in your own way.”

He cleared his throat of emotion and said, “And now you’re sharing her with me and I can’t believe how incredibly lucky I am.”

He turned the muffin to her, and she took a bite. “Do you want a slice of cake?”

She shook her head, grabbed his hand, and pulled him back toward the dance floor. “Let’s shake the rust off your ballroom.”

He laughed and took her into his arms as “The Way You Look Tonight” came on. He stared down into her beautiful face. “I think it’s time I sell the Lotus.”

She stopped swaying, eyes wide with surprise. “Seriously?”

“Yeah. I see a minivan in my future.”

She grinned. “Just when I think you can’t surprise me any more.”

The joy in her eyes stole his breath. He kissed her, then tightened his hold, and they swayed to the music. This was one of the most content moments of his life.

“This is better,” she said.

“Better?”

“Than if we’d done this before. Sure, the wedding would have been just as pretty. I’d have worn the same dress and necklace—and I love both so much, I might not let you take them off me tonight.”

He grinned. “I can work with that.” Oh yeah, that silver fabric did things to him.

She laughed. “But even so, if we’d done this eleven years ago, the marriage would have failed because it’s not about the wedding. It’s about what comes tomorrow and the day after that.”

He gazed into her eyes, which were so full of joy and warmth, he might burst. “I am so excited for tomorrow and the day after that. I’m excited for all our tomorrows.”

“How attached are you to staying here until midnight?” she asked.

“Not even a little.”

“Then let’s say our goodbyes and ring in the New Year right.”

He scooped her up and carried her toward the double doors that opened to the promenade, pausing so she could grab a bottle of champagne from one of the servers. “We’ll need that for midnight.”

She took the bottle and said, “No goodbyes?”

“They just take precious time. After wasting so many years, I’m ready to start enjoying our tomorrows now.”

T hank you for reading! While this is an end to the original Evidence series, the world continues in Evidence: Under Fire.

Start with BEFORE THE STORM: One Hot Night (Evidence: Under Fire 0.5) a free prequel to INTO THE STORM.

Navy SEAL Xavier Rivera visits historic Lake Olympus Lodge on a scouting mission for a top secret training exercise. In the lodge, he meets smart, attractive park archaeologist Audrey Kendrick. There are many reasons he should ignore the immediate, simmering attraction between them, but in the heat of the moment he has no restraint.

Audrey is drawn to the secretive man who helps her when she’s in a bind, and she can’t resist taking a chance on a night of passion. But their one red hot night together leads to secrets and betrayal…

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An Apple Books Best Book of 2022

National Excellence in Story Telling Contest Winner

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HOLT Medallion Contest Finalist

National Excellence in Romance Fiction Award Finalist

As a storm rolls in, a team of elite Navy SEALs arrives at a remote lodge for a wilderness training exercise that becomes terrifyingly real…

Xavier Rivera planned the exercise down to the smallest detail, but he didn’t plan the arrival of archaeologist Audrey Kendrick—a woman he shared a passionate night with before betraying her in the worst way.

As the storm is unleashed on the historic lodge it becomes clear the training has been compromised. Trapped by weather, isolated by the remote wilderness, and silenced as communication with the world has been severed, unarmed SEALs face an unexpected and deadly foe. Audrey and Xavier must set aside their distrust and desire and work together to save a team under fire and survive in a battle against the wild.

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Author’s Note

Readers have been asking me to write this book since the day after Concrete Evidence was published on April 16, 2013. It made the work challenging, knowing the expectations readers have for JT & Alexandra. I will be honest and say that without the relentless campaign by readers begging for this book, I would not have written it. I was content with leaving them be, but around the time I was writing Silent Evidence , something about the excitement and enthusiasm made me curious to explore these characters more.

Still, it was daunting when the time came, and I must thank Gwen Hayes for her wise counsel in helping me find my path into these characters and the joy they could find in the midst of trauma and after heartbreak.

Concrete Evidence was my first published novel. False Evidence is my twenty-fifth. I began drafting Concrete Evidence in 2005. Now, nineteen years later, I’ve finished the final book in the twelve book series, a book that itself spans sixteen years—less time than it took me to start and end this series. It’s been quite a journey and I can’t think of a better finish than to end with a direct sequel to the first book. It’s like I planned it or something. (I did not. Not even a little bit.)

Never fear, the series is done, but the Evidence world continues in Evidence: Under Fire, which merges the Evidence and Flashpoint worlds. Look for book four in that series sometime in 2025.

Gemma’s verbal skills are based my children, who both started speaking before they were ten months old, but knock-knock joke credit goes solely to my son, who, at fifteen months old, made up the world’s funniest and cutest joke, which Gemma tells in the story.