Home is Where the Heart Is (Home #1) (43 page)

They’d worked through their issues, both needing to seek professional help and spend many hours battling demons of their past. It was brutal, exhausting and seemingly relentless, but they had done it together and for each other so that they could stand proud and content tonight at their Year Twelve Formal.

The moment she had walked down the stairs tonight, Jace’s breath had caught in his throat, and his heart began to beat double time.
Her blonde hair was curly, flowing down her shoulders with a glittery silver butterfly pulling one side away from her face. She wore a strapless purple dress with a dipping neckline framed in shimmery silver, a fitted bodice and flowing skirt. Makeup smoky around the eyes, with bronzed cheeks and plum coloured lips.

A simple silver bracelet sat delicately on her right wrist and she wore the silver heart necklace he’d given her around her throat.

There actually weren’t any words to do her beauty justice, or to describe just how goddamn lucky he was.

“Babe? You even listening to me?”

Her sweet voice pulled him from his thoughts… and the fact that she was shaking his shoulders firmly.

“I’m fine, beautiful,” he replied against her lips. “Just taking a moment to appreciate how lucky and happy I am.”

She melted into his arms and kissed him tenderly. “I love you.”

Never. He would never tire of hearing those words.

“You’re my world,” he replied with the simple truth.

Nestling in closer she tucked her head under his chin and sighed deeply. “I feel guilty sometimes for being so happy when Kim is...”

Jace exhaled a deep breath. “You deserve everything beautiful in this world, Angel, and that you would even feel guilty for living a life you’ve fought tooth and nail for just proves that.”

“But Kimberley deserves to be happy too, and then there’s Tate … he’s completely put his life on hold while he waits for her to wake up, which at this point…”

“Angel, she’s going to wake up and they’re going to find their way, I promise, but you need to let them find it on their own. Keep living your life, keep loving yourself and be their proof that things get better.”

“Thank you,” she murmured into his chest.

“For what, babe?”

“Being the dream I am so lucky to wake up to.””

His chest clenched and warmth filled his body. He loved her more than anything in this entire world and if he had to trek through the very recesses of hell to make her smile and keep her heart free and full, then he would.

Instead of telling her this, he kissed her to convey those feelings instead, pouring in all his devotion, love and joy. Their lips and bodies crushed together in a familiar tangle as the passion and heat expanded between them.

“This is real, right?” Isabelle whispered when they pulled away minutes later, her eyes bright, vulnerable and filled with so much love and hope.

Jace kissed her full lips gently and then told her the most important truth he had ever known. “This is forever.”

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I can’t believe I’m actually writing this or that you’re even reading this so firstly – thank you. Thank you if you picked up my little book and read it all the way through, making a dream of mine come true.

Mum – Thank you for spending hours listening to me talk about this story and sending through your notes. It’s because of your support and encouragement, that I grew to believe that characters in books were as real as we let them be. Never once have you scoffed at a dream of mine - no matter how far-fetched they might be. You’re my hero. I am so grateful for you in so many ways and I love you beyond words.

Daddy – Thank you for being the almost impossible standard of what a man needs to be for his woman and family. You’re not as funny as you think you are, but I love you anyway and one of the proudest claims I have is being your daughter.

Brodie and Cierran – thank you for being such stereotypical devilish brothers, because if you hadn’t - I probably wouldn’t have needed to lose myself in books and my own dream world. You do my head in, but I love you both so much.

Adele – I wrote most of this book whilst under your roof and surrounded by your warmth. Not a day goes by that I don’t feel your loss. I wish you could be here to see me finally live this dream you helped encourage. I miss you, I love you and I hope you’ve found peace and beauty.

JP – You started out as inspiration in this story and although we didn’t get our happily ever after, I will always be grateful for the pieces you gave me and the lessons you taught me. You were always the first to tell me that someday I was going to get published and it would all work out in the end. This time; you were right, so thank you.

Holleia – This book would be a hot mess had you not given up hours of your own time to help me. Every comma and full stop and fluid thought in this story is filled with my love for you. You’re the greatest ever.

Amanda – It bears repeating that you are a huge reason this book even got finished. Another continent away but you always found the time to give me your thoughts and encourage me to write just one more page and keep going. You’re so wonderful – thank you so, so much.

My girls – you know who you all are. Thank you for enabling my crazy, supporting my dreams and for the millions of memories that will someday end up in my books. I love you all endlessly!