I promise to bring you beer and keep Tums and Beano on hand, and I promise to always be your best friend and to love you until the day Jesus lights me on fire."
I try to ignore the chuckles and gasps around the church as my pretty girl stands before me, being the bad ass that I know she always has been. I spare a look at Father Donnelly who seems to be apologizing to God on our behalf. I want to feel bad for him, but he's been witness to most of our more colorful exploits. He had to know this was coming. I mouth 'I love you' at Colleen and I begin my vows.
"I, Bradley Patrick, sort of, kind of, take you, Colleen Frasier Patrick, mother of my monsters, to have and to grope from this day forward until whenever you break my hand. I promise to make you laugh and to shower at least weekly, and to knock you up as many times as you wish. I promise to always do anything I can to make you smile. Above all, I promise to always be your best friend, and to love you until the day Jesus lights me on fire."
The Church is silent for a long moment as we mouth words of love back and forth, both silently praying that we don't get kicked out of our own wedding.
"I shouldn't be surprised," Father Donnelly begins. "Bradley and Colleen have always been spirited. I have had the pleasure of seeing their accomplishments and milestones from birth to now, and each step they have managed to leave their mark along the way. It is with great respect and love to this… unique couple, that I pronounce them husband and wife."
Colleen doesn't waste a moment. She launches herself at me and kisses me in a way that's probably got as much a chance of sending us to hell as our impromptu vows do. But it doesn't matter. This is Colleen and me and if I'm going to hell, there's no one else I'd rather be with—my pretty girl.
The end.
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And now, a sneak peek of the second book in the
Men with Badges series-- due out fall 2013!
THE SWITCH
Shelby Brignac has gotten herself into some trouble. From her awful taste in men to her poor choices, she just can’t catch a break. After stupidly helping her boyfriend with his loan sharking business, Shelby has decided she wants out. It’s just too dangerous for a waitress, in her opinion. But just when she thinks she’s free of the headache, she’s offered up one last job-- one last job she can’t refuse: retrieve a precious antique gem and she’ll get her best friend back alive.
Hiding out in New Orleans’ French Quarter with the rare purple diamond in tow, Shelby thinks she has no way out of the seemingly hopeless situation-- that is until Chase Guilliot, an off-duty cop intervenes, saving her life. Too bad for Chase that the gunman who’s hot on his tail doesn’t care if one of his targets carries a badge-- he just wants Shelby’s head and that diamond back. And he’s not above killing a cop to get it.
On the run with a hot rare diamond and a beautiful hot-headed woman, Chase’s oath to serve and protect is pushed to the limits. Unsure if he can trust the one person he wants to more than anything, Chase swears he’ll get both he and Shelby out of this mess alive, but then he’s done with her for good-- or is he?
THE SWITCH is a thrilling contemporary romance that likes to live on both sides of the law-- available Fall 2013!
CHAPTER ONE
(Shelby)
Let’s not lie to each other.
THE HUMIDITY IS intense, but what else could I possibly expect from New Orleans in August?
A slice of wind picks up from the river and breaks through the crushing humidity. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, let my weight settle against the railing, and relish in the brief respite. The wind isn’t exactly cool, but it sure beats the stagnant heat that’s set upon the city.
If Becca were here, she would say, “It’s just a little warm out. Don’t whine. You’ll look like a tourist.” A smile finds its way to my face and I close my eyes. Back when we were kids, folks always thought we were sisters with how much we