Page 1 of The Billionaire's Lost Family

1

Hazel couldn’t believe she was doing this. She’d never jumped headfirst into anything in her life, not without plans and order and days of research and strategy. But the longer she stood across from Wesley, the longer his soft fingers captured hers, and the longer the formal municipal court judge who now ran Eureka Springs’ Portraiture spoke in his slow and steady bass, the more certain she was about Wesley’s ring on her fourth finger maintaining its current position.

“Do you, Hazel Allegra Strickland, take this man, Wesley Lawrence Bassett, to be your lawfully wedded husband? To honor and cherish him, in sickness and in health, for as long as you both shall live?”

Hazel couldn’t suppress her smile. She’d imagined those exact words for so long, and it took no amount of effort to say, “I do.”

Wesley’s handsome smile unhinged her. It wasn’t only the smile, though, it was the whole tux, dark hair purposely tousled, white rose in his breast pocket package. It took every ounce of effort not to leap into his embrace and instead wait for him to answer Judge Mayoros’ questions of fidelity and promise.

“I do,” Wesley said, giving Hazel a wink.

Her entire body hummed under the force of that statement. I. Do. How could two simple sounds mean so much?

“Then by the power vested in me through the state of Arkansas, I now pronounce you, Hazel Allegra Strickland, and Wesley Lawrence Bassett, man and wife. Wesley, you may kiss your bride.” Judge Mayoros closed the packet he’d been reading from and gave Wesley a reassuring nod.

Tears collected in Wesley’s eyes. His grip on her hands tightened, but Hazel didn’t have any reservations about throwing herself at him this time. She tiptoed up. He met her halfway, and the feel of his lips against hers had never had so much impact. His hands clung to her, and she gripped his lapels as his mouth moved with hers. This kiss rocked worlds and stirred oceans in their sleep. It crashed like waves and reverberated inside of her the way crackling thunder overhead sometimes did. It was the kind of kiss that marked change, that signified the ending of one version of their lives and the opening of another.

“I love you, Mrs. Bassett,” Wesley whispered against her mouth.

“I love you,” she replied, as naturally as breathing. Mrs. Bassett. She’d done it now. White gown procured from a shop here in town. Bouquet of white roses and baby’s breath from Lily and Rose, the floral shop. A vow spoken with more promise than she’d ever given anything before.

Yes, she’d definitely done it. She’d married the man of her dreams.

Soon enough, the daze of realization faded, and she was reminded of others in the room. Judge Mayoros smiled at them, wiping the top of his bald head with a handkerchief. Several of Hazel and Wesley’s friends around Eureka Springs had come for the hasty union. Hazel’s mom had made the drive despite her near constant reminders of disappointment, not only because Hazel was rushing this marriage but because she was then headed off to find her birth family.

But Wesley’s mother, Agnes Bassett, beamed at them from the front row. She wore a dainty fascinator with a gauzy little veil that didn’t extend any farther than her forehead. Fingerless lace gloves covered her hands as they gripped a small purse in front of her, and the smile she offered Wesley and Hazel could only be described as jubilant.

She scurried forward down the brief aisle of black chairs in the shop that also doubled as a photography studio, and Hazel quickly welcomed her new mother-in-law into an embrace.

“Congratulations, you two,” Agnes said with tears in her eyes as well. “C’est tres bon, I’m so happy for you.”

“Merci, Maman,” Wesley muttered in French, pulling his mother into his arms once her hug with Hazel ended.

Rosabel Hawthorne, Hazel’s friend and neighbor, bounced forward with a little squeal once Hazel was done hugging Agnes. Wearing a simple blue dress with yellow flowers, she gave Hazel a quick hug. Her husband, Duncan, lingered behind but offered Hazel a friendly nod and shook Wesley’s hand.

“Oh my goodness, this is so exciting!” Rosabel said. “I’m so happy for you! Talk about surprise weddings!”

Hazel couldn’t hold down her grin. “Thank you, my friend.”

It hadn’t been that long ago that Rosabel and Duncan had wedded at Thorncrown Chapel in the mountains not far from Eureka Springs. Her wedding had been lavish and extravagant compared to the hasty nuptials Wesley and Hazel threw together. Still, Hazel wouldn’t trade this moment for anything. She’d never been happier to have her life change so rapidly.

They greeted several others from the town, including Wesley’s friend, Kian Gould, the stand-up comedian. The walk toward the store’s exit took no time at all; and when she and Wesley emerged hand-in-hand into the late August heat and stood beneath the sign that dangled from the awning overhead pronouncing, “Weddings Offered,” she couldn’t help kissing her new husband.

Wesley wrapped his arms around her and kissed her back, long and hard, moving as they kissed. Cheers erupted from their friends, and the photographer who’d been waiting outside for them to emerge could be heard clicking several shots. With glee, Hazel lifted her small bouquet of day lilies in the air as Wesley bent, hugged her around the thighs and lifted her into a spin in the middle of the street.

A few cars slowed their progress—because why wouldn’t they?—but Hazel suspected their perpetual honking wasn’t out of annoyance.

Wesley lowered her to the ground. She couldn’t stop staring at him. He’d never looked more mesmerizing, more attractive, or more kissable. In fact, that was all she wanted to do. This time as Wesley kissed her back, he guided them both toward the sidewalk so the cars that had stopped could idle past.

“You are all I ever wanted,” Hazel told him as he pulled away.

He smirked at this. “Well, now you’ve got me.”

She held tighter to him. Yes, she did. She wanted to make sure nothing ever changed that.

Wesley stroked her cheek, his eyes gleaming with solemn affection directed only at her. That glance made her knees weak. “I never thought this day would come. I thought I’d lost you forever. And now—”

“Now you’re mine.” She wrapped her arms even tighter around him.

---