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Valerie bit her lip to stifle a laugh, turning to Jesse. “Have I mentioned my sister has a huge celebrity crush on you?”
Jesse grinned at her. “I don’t think you did.”
“She does.” Valerie’s eyes were full of laughter as they met his.
“I gather that.”
She took the step that separated them into his arms and wrapped her arms around him. “I love you so much,” she whispered, her lips going to his.
“Mom, they’re kissing right in front of me. Yeah, it looks just like it does when they kiss on television. They’re getting me all hot and bothered.”
Valerie ignored her sister as she clung to her husband. “I’m going to wander over to Amber’s so she can come meet Rikki and let her spend the night.”
“Do you think she’ll mind?”
Valerie shook her head. “I don’t think so. She’s so happy we’re together, she’ll do anything to give us some privacy.”
Valerie walked two trailers down and brought her friend back. When they arrived, Jesse was on the phone with her mother. “I think she probably does need a day or two to recover. We’ll put her on a plane on Monday evening. I think she’d enjoy watching a day of filming.” He paused, a grin on his face. “I think that’s a wonderful idea. We’ll pick you up tomorrow. Text me with your flight information.”
He ended the call and looked at Valerie. “Your mom is going to fly in tomorrow. She doesn’t think Rikki should fly alone yet, and she wants to meet your new husband.”
Valerie sighed. “I’ve been married for over three weeks. I’m practically an old married woman now.” She looked at Amber. “Amber, this is my sister, Rikki. Rikki, my best friend, Amber.”
“It’s nice to meet you,” Rikki said, stars in her eyes. “I can’t believe I get to meet so many famous people all at once.” She smiled. “Of course, it’s like Amber and I are the same person, since Amber plays Jo’s sister.”
Amber smiled. “Well, this famous person has decided you’re her sister and not her, so let’s go to my place. You’re camping with me tonight.”
Rikki frowned. “I don’t have any clothes.”
Valerie went to her closet and pulled out jeans and a T-shirt as well as a pair of pajamas. “There. We’re the same size.”
Rikki took the clothes and hugged her sister. “Thank you.”
“No problem.”
After Rikki and Amber had left, Valerie turned to Jesse. “I’m sorry I scared you.”
“Don’t ever do that to me again. What were you thinking?”
She sighed. “I knew you’d be mad, but I had to do it myself. I had to prove to myself that I’m a strong, capable woman.”
Jesse walked to her, pulling her against him. “You are a very strong capable woman. I don’t know how no one sees it.”
“So you’re going to quit trying to surround me with bubble wrap?”
He shrugged. “Now that Curtis is in custody, I will let you do what you want.” He kissed her softly. “As long as you keep telling me you love me.”
She smiled up into his eyes, her arms wrapping around his shoulders. “I love everything about you. You are the man of my dreams, and I’m so sorry I didn’t realize it years ago.”
“It did me good to wait. Taught me patience.”
She snorted at that. “Sure it did.”
He grinned. “Okay, it made me think about learning patience.”
“I do love you, Jesse Savoy.”
“And I love you, Valerie Savoy. I’ll spend the rest of my life proving it to you. Starting with tonight.” He carried her to the bedroom.
EPILOGUE
Two months later Jesse handed Valerie the script for their season finale. He sat next to her on the couch in the trailer they shared, flipping through his while she read over hers.
Her eyes lit up, and she squealed. “I get to say ‘yes’ this time! Finally!”
He chuckled. “Steven told me they were going to write in another proposal.”
She put her hand on her still-flat stomach. “They need to. By the time we start filming for the next season after a month off, I’m going to be showing!” She flipped a couple of more pages. “We’re doing a quick wedding a week after the proposal at the ranch.”
“Oh good. Poor Dylan is tired of waiting for Jo to put out.”
She giggled. “As tired as Jesse was of waiting for Valerie the Virgin?” Somehow the name no longer bothered her.
“Oh, no. Not nearly that tired of waiting. Jesse was about to die when you married him!”
She grinned, resting her head against his shoulder. “Well, now neither Jesse nor Dylan will have to die.”
“Curtis accepted a plea bargain today.” Jesse kept his voice soft and even, knowing the subject was still sensitive, but not nearly as much so as it was.
“How long will he serve?”
“Thirty years. And he’s agreed to undergo psychiatric help as well. He won’t be eligible for parole for twenty years.”
She let out the breath she’d been holding. “Good. I hope he gets the help he needs while he’s there.”
“You do? You don’t hate him?”
“He’s not someone I care to be around, but I’m not going to waste my energy hating him. That would only hurt me. I feel sorry for him really. I’m married to the man I love, and we’re expecting our first child. I have a career that seems to only be going up. He’s spending at least the next twenty years in prison. No, I pity him.”
Jesse pulled her to him and kissed her softly. “One of the things I like best about you is your huge heart.”
She smiled, touching the tip of her finger to his nose playfully. “You know what I like best about you?”
He shook his head. “What?”
“Your refusal to give up on me.”
“I couldn’t. I saw clearly that someday we’d be right here. I’d have you in my arms and have the right to make love with you anytime I could talk you into it!”
Valerie kissed his chin. “You don’t seem to have any trouble talking me into that or anything else.”
He grinned. “I know. Life is good.”
ALSO BY KIRSTEN OSBOURNE
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
@AuthorKOsbourne
KirstenOsbourne
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Table of Contents
Copyright
Introduction
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Epilogue
Also by Kirsten Osbourne
About the Author