Read Letting Go of Us (Anchored Hearts Vol. 3) Online

Authors: J.M. Witt

Tags: #amnesia, #love triangle, #alpha, #jb3

Letting Go of Us (Anchored Hearts Vol. 3) (43 page)

BOOK: Letting Go of Us (Anchored Hearts Vol. 3)

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I looked at the six people
in front of me and knew how it had to be. “I assume Smith is the
best man,” he nodded, “then Delaney is with him. Clearly Jane and
Cal which leaves you with Paul.”

Lena nodded and I hoped it
wasn’t uncomfortable for her. I knew she’d had a terrible crush on
him at one point and even paid him a visit in Atlanta which hadn’t
gone so well. She’d told me in confidence just a few weeks ago and
told me when we were discussing her relationship with Ryan. Her and
Ryan had been dating for a few months so I figured it was no longer
a big deal. Then the music started and Lena and Paul walked down
the aisle, then Cal and Jane, followed by Delaney and
Smith.

“
You ready for this
kiddo?” I smiled at my Dad.

“
Yes! Besides, we’re
already married, so it’s kind of a done deal.”

“
You look beautiful.” I
looked down at the dress and knew that James must’ve had a hand in
that, too.

“
Thank you. I’m very lucky
to have so many amazing men in my life. Without you and Cal and now
James, I don’t know where I’d be.”

“
Let’s not worry about
that.” He took a deep breath as the doors opened and the music
changed.

“
Oh, I love this
song.”

James must’ve picked it.
It was on my JB3 playlist and I absolutely loved the song.
How Long Will I Love You
by Ellie
Goulding
began to serenade me as
everyone stood, awaiting my entrance. I spotted him at the altar,
smiling back at me and my heart melted. That incredible man, flawed
he may have been, but he loved me perfectly. Over and over again he
proved to me he was willing to do anything to show me he loved me.
All the hurt we’d caused each other had been worth it. Because
without it, we wouldn’t have been where we were.

My dad whispered, “Last
chance. Say the word and we can run.”

I laughed out loud and
turned to my dad, “Not a chance.”

The End

E
pilogue

~ JAMES ~

“
Cassidy! Are you ready?”
I was downstairs, impatient for her so we could go. I’d told her
that I needed to show her some things at the house. Unbeknownst to
her, the house was done. She thought we’d be moving in two weeks,
after Christmas. This was my gift to her.

“
Hold your horses. I don’t
understand why we have to go to the house. Can’t we just look at
paint swatches at the store?”

“
I already told you no.
You need to see it in person.”

“
I told you keeping me out
of there for the past month was a mistake. Or maybe it was the two
weeks in Hawaii that put us behind schedule.” She stuck her tongue
out at me. She was purposely goading me.

The morning after our
wedding, we’d come home and I told her to pack.

“
Pack for
what?”

“
I’m taking you on a
honeymoon, somewhere warm. That’s all I’m telling you.”

“
James…”

“
Don’t! Melissa and Lena
have it covered. Your ass is mine for the next two
weeks.”

“
Two weeks! You’re out of
your mind.”

“
Yes, I am. And if you
don’t do as you’re told you’ll be naked the whole time.”

It had been an amazing two
weeks away and I wouldn’t take a second of it back.

“
Yeah, yeah. Let’s
go.”

Using my flashlight, we
walked up the drive and to the front door. I put the key in the
lock and opened it up. When we walked in I flipped the lights on
and waited for her reaction.

“
What the…I thought…” The
house was done. Most of the furniture had been delivered that day.
“You rotten sneak. It looks amazing.”

We walked through the whole
house. The rooms we’d need for immediate use were done. She headed
toward the study and saw the painting above the
fireplace.

“
Oh, James.” She reached
for my hand and chastised me. “How many secrets can one man keep
from his wife?” I smirked at her as she added, “You pulled another
fast one.”

She wrapped her arms around
me and kissed my lips. Whispering against her mouth, I said, “I
like to think I know what you’re holding in that
painting.”

“
Hmm, what’s that?” We
both knew we would never know what Holly had painted in Cassidy’s
hands, but I had my own theory.

“
My heart.” The corners of
her mouth turned up into a big grin and I kissed her before she
could respond.

When we pulled our lips
apart, breathless and horny, she said, “You’re turning into a
romantic Mr. Benedict.”

Smirking I retorted, “Don’t
let anyone know. My reputation will be ruined.”

Walking upstairs to the
bedroom, she noticed the bookshelves first. It was an addition I’d
made that also disguised my other surprise. I pushed the button and
watched her priceless expression as the bookshelves moved to reveal
a door.

“
No you
didn’t!”

Nodding, “I
did!”

She walked through the door
to our very own playroom. The room was full of enough toys and
contraptions to last a lifetime. Kissing me, we broke in the swing
that night.

~<>~<>~<>~

“
James, get the
door.”

Cassidy was in the kitchen
cursing as I passed her on my way to our double front door. I
welcomed our guests and escorted them to the living room. It was
New Year’s Eve—also my birthday—and we planned a party for our
friends in the new house. Cal and Jane handed us a box and claimed
it was a housewarming gift. We’d all come a long way in a
year.
I didn’t want to make a big deal out
of it so I’d made Cassidy promise that we’d be celebrating the New
Year with friends, not my birthday.

Once everyone was there we
sat down to dinner. Cassidy had slaved away all day and actually
put out a killer spread. We had just started digging in when the
doorbell rang again. He came! I told everyone I’d be right back. I
opened the front door to see Paul.

I shook his hand, “Welcome
back, brother. You here to stay?”

“
We’ll see. At least for a
couple days.” He peered over my shoulder asking, “Is she here?” I
nodded. “And…”

“
Yes, they’re both
here.”

He took a deep breath. “Ok.
Let’s get this over with.”

We walked into the dining
room and everyone was ecstatic to see him. Everyone greeted him
with a hug or handshake except for Lena and Ryan. Melissa greeted
him last and Paul took the chair next to her.

“
A toast.” I stood as
everyone directed their attention toward me. “To friends. The whole
gang is here and I couldn’t be happier. Here’s to many more years
together.” Everyone agreed as glasses clanked. I leaned over and
kissed Cassidy as we began passing dishes.

A few hours later, just
before midnight, I found Melissa alone, by the fireplace in the
study. “You ok?”

“
Me?” She shrugged her
shoulders. “I’ll survive. I assume Cassidy told you.”

I looked to her confused.
“Told me what?”

Her face paled as she
retracted her statement. “Never mind.”

“
What’s going
on?”

“
Really, James. It’s
nothing important.”

Before I could say more,
Jane found us and dragged us both to the living room. “The ball’s
getting ready to drop. Come on!”

When I walked into the
living room, a cake was waiting and the whole gang sang Happy
Birthday before the ball dropped. Everyone was kissing at midnight,
but I felt bad for those who weren’t. Frank, Melissa, Paul, and
Anthony were all there, alone. Melissa and Anthony were dancing and
laughing as Frank and Paul drank in the corner.

“
Cassidy, what’s going on
with Melissa?”

“
Wh, what do you
mean?”

“
Cassidy. She thought that
you had confided in me. Is something going on?” She sighed, rolled
her eyes and pulled me to the kitchen.

“
You can’t say anything to
her. She’s not even sure what she’s going to do.”

“
Do? About
what?”

“
She’s pregnant.” No,
Melissa couldn’t have kids, not after what Dan had done to her.
“She just found out.”

“
But…”

“
Yes, I know. That’s why
she doesn’t know what she’s going to do.”

“
Who’s the father?
Paul?”

Cassidy belly laughed. “No!
You still think the two of them are…”

“
Then whose is
it?”

She narrowed her eyes at
me, “Actually, I don’t know. She didn’t tell me.”

“
Fucking hell. How many
trips to Atlanta did she make?” Cassidy just looked at me as she
put the pieces together. “Cassidy. Paul lives in
Atlanta…”

“
Shit.”

“
I’m going to kill
him.”

She grabbed my arm. “You’ll
fucking stay out of it. Don’t you dare do anything!”

“
Cassidy.”

“
James, I’m telling you
right now. Stay out of it. Let me see what I can find before you
start meddling.”

I took a deep breath,
knowing Cassidy was right. We didn’t know who the father was, but I
had a pretty good idea. Though, Paul came wanting to make sure Lena
would be there. Fuck me. The more I thought about it, the more I
wanted nothing to do with that mess.

“
I got it. I’m staying out
of it. Don’t tell me even if you find out. I don’t want to
know.”

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