Grave New World – A Jane Ladling Mystery Read Online Gena Showalter

Categories Genre: Alpha Male, Chick Lit, Contemporary, Suspense Tags Authors:
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Total pages in book: 61
Estimated words: 57502 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 288(@200wpm)___ 230(@250wpm)___ 192(@300wpm)
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Jane’s chest squeezed as their gazes locked. Adoration glowed in his amber eyes.

Fiona offered Jane’s hand to Conrad, and he accepted, drawing his soon-to-be wife closer. She peered up at him, and he peered down at her. Here he was, the love of her life. The man who’d had little joy in his life until he’d met Jane. He considered her a slice of Heaven on Earth. She considered him the soothing balm she hadn’t known she’d needed. He’d fought a dragon of a curse with every ounce of his being to prove she was worth any hardship. He enjoyed her quirks while she made him feel as if he were part of a family again. They were imperfectly perfect together.

Isaac began. “Dearly beloved…”

But honestly, she didn’t hear him, her attention riveted on her soon-to-be husband.

“I love you,” Conrad rasped. “So much.”

“I love you, too.”

“I expect casseroles. Daily.”

“And I expect to be hired as your assistant,” she said. “Co-sheriff has a nice ring to it.”

The audience laughed.

“I guess we’re gonna get to the vows now?” Isaac asked, earning snickers from everyone. “All right. Go for it. Jane, you first.”

As her joy overflowed, she told Conrad, “I fell for you at first sight. And first sniff. Then you suspected me of murder, and I knew deep down I had to have you.” Chuckles swept through the onlookers. “You are strong. Loyal. Smart. Brilliant, really. And brave. So brave. You have loved my fur-son as if he were your own. And you trusted an offbeat cemetery girl with your battered heart. I like to think I’ve taken good care of it. But I promise you this. I will cherish your gift for the rest of my life. I give you all that I am, all that I have, and all that I will be.”

A slow grin bloomed on Conrad’s face. He cupped her cheeks and stepped closer to her. “Before I met you, I knew nothing of peace. Then our eyes locked, and I’ve burned without cease.”

Her breath caught. “Am I about to get a love poem?”

His irises literally twinkled. “You broke through my walls and shredded my control, but with your sweetness and wit, you quickly made my heart whole. Here, now, in front of our friends, allow me to tell you how our story ends. We’ll be together today and forever. But live without you once again? No. Never.”

Tears welled in her eyes, and a lump grew in her throat. Had lovelier words ever been spoken? “We’re both best sellers in the making, and I’ve never been so happy.”

With the tenderest of strokes, Conrad wiped the moisture from her cheeks.

“Rings,” Isaac shouted, as if he’d just remembered.

Right. Conrad dug a band from his pocket, and Jane collected the one Beau stretched her way. They exchanged rings, each fitting it on the other’s finger. Before Isaac could tell them to kiss, Conrad cupped her face again and pressed his lips to hers. She wound her arms around him and melted.

“Ladies and gentleman,” Isaac called, “I present to you Conrad and Jane Ryan.”

Applause rang out, and the kiss ended. Jane laughed as Conrad swung her around.

Life was good. She had a feeling it was only going to get better.

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