by Elena Aitken
Hope laughed a little. “Well, that would be hard since we’re actually—”
“Don’t tell me.” Faith interrupted her. “You’re on the Eiffel Tower right now, aren’t you? Take so many—”
“We’re actually just at the hospital.” Hope interrupted her. “But I don’t want you to worry, Faith. It’s—”
“Hospital?” Faith sat up in her chair. “What the hell, Hope? Are you okay?”
“I am,” she said quickly. “Honestly, I am. I was just feeling really tired and a little weak so we wanted to get my levels checked out and make sure everything was okay, so they ran a few tests, that’s all.”
She knew it had been a bad idea for Hope to go traveling instead of having the surgery that would get rid of her uterine cancer. Her sister was rolling the dice with her life, trying to have a baby before seeking the treatment she needed, and it made Faith crazy. And now…she was in the hospital thousands of miles away. It was definitely not okay.
“You need to come home, Hope. Don’t know if being over there is—”
“I’m fine.” She interrupted Faith again. “Honestly. Levi is taking good care of me.” She laughed. “In fact, he’s probably more of a pain in the ass than you are about making sure I’m eating and sleeping. I’m in good hands.”
That was probably true and even though Faith would have liked to be the one making sure her sister was taking care of herself, she knew that Levi loved her just as much. He wouldn’t let anything happen to her.
Still, she was going to protest again when she heard the sounds of the DJ inside the barn getting ready to announce the first dance. “Okay,” Faith finally relented. “I’ll trust Levi to take care of you. But let me know when you get the test results back, okay?”
“I promise. I love you, Faith. Now get back to that wedding. And give them both a hug from us.”
Katie and Damon had just taken to the dance floor by the time Faith made her way inside. She leaned up against a wooden pillar to watch the dance that, from the very second the music started, was arguably one of the most romantic she’d ever seen. There was no mistaking the love they had for each other.
“It almost makes you wish it were you, right?” Logan slipped an arm around her and pulled her close.
Were they really that comfortable with each other now?
Instinctively, she pulled away and crossed her arms.
“Whoa.” Logan chuckled. “You’re either still mad at me for being against all this at the beginning, or—and I think this is more likely—you’re still not ready to admit you’re in to me.”
She glared at him. “I am not in to you.”
It was a lie and they both knew it.
“If you say so.” Logan shrugged and focused on the couple on the dance floor.
She watched his face for a moment as he watched his little sister with her new husband. It was nice to see him more relaxed with the idea of Damon and Katie together, particularly after the way things had gone down. Judging by the smile on his face, he’d obviously come to terms with it, too.
“It was really nice of you to help out, Logan,” Faith blurted. “I know you weren’t happy with the whole thing.”
He half turned so he could still keep an eye on the dance floor while he answered her. “I wasn’t,” he started. “But I could see it, too.”
“See what?”
“Their love,” he answered simply. “And I may not have the most experience with this kind of stuff, but I’m not completely dead inside.” The comment stung, but he didn’t seem to notice. “They’re perfect for each other, and…well, what’s the point of fighting that? Especially when they’re so happy?”
She nodded and looked at him in wonder. Never in a million years would she have thought that Logan Langdon was a closet romantic. If Logan could see past his own hardness to appreciate love, then maybe there was still hope for her. Could there be hope for her and Log—
“Not everyone is a love ’em and leave ’em type like you, Faith.”
She recoiled at his comment, warm thoughts vanished. “Pardon?”
He turned and crossed his arms over his chest. “I’m just saying, it does kind of seem to be your MO, doesn’t it?” Before she could answer, he added, “At least the other guy got close enough to you to be left. I can’t even get that far.”
“What?” She bristled. “The other guy?”
His smile was completely gone now. “Yeah, the guy you left in the city when you came back here. Nothing serious there either, right?”
Noah. He was talking about Noah. Leaving him hadn’t been easy, but Noah had known the deal, too. Nothing serious. She didn’t do relationships. She’d never led anyone on. She’d always been straightforward. She wasn’t going to change.
“I don’t need to explain anything to you, Logan.” She turned away and looked back to the dance floor, but Logan wasn’t done.
“No,” he said. “You don’t. And I know, you were pretty clear with how you felt about everything.” She turned to look at him again. “But I think you’re full of shit. In fact, I think this whole little I don’t love anyone act that you have going on is just that—one big act.” His lips curled up into a cocky grin that was equal parts deadly and infuriating. “And I intend to prove it.”
He turned and left, making his way onto the dance floor right as the family dances started, so smoothly, Faith was left dumbfounded in his wake. What the hell was he talking about? Prove what? Damn, he made her blood boil. He always had. It had been a mistake letting those feelings of annoyance turn into anything else.
Especially desire.
She closed her eyes and gave herself a moment to compose herself. She needed to clear her mind. She still had a wedding to coordinate. She didn’t have time to think about Logan or what feelings she may or may not have. She scanned the room and her gaze landed on Brody standing by the kitchen door, looking out into the room. But he wasn’t watching the festivities; his gaze was locked on one person in particular.
Sarah.
Faith couldn’t help but smile.
Clearly, she was starting to be affected by all this wedding and forever after hoopla.
She moved silently and quickly to the other side of the room. “Dinner was fantastic, Brody. Everyone was impressed. And doing it so quickly like that? I owe you.”
“It was my pleasure, and you definitely don’t owe me.” He nodded but didn’t look at her for a moment. Finally, he turned. “It’s a beautiful wedding. They all are. It makes you think, doesn’t it?”
“Does it?” Faith took a step back before looking across the room to where Sarah was watching the dances continue. “Is there something you’re not telling me, Brody?”
“No, no.” Brody laughed. “Not at all. But look at this.” Brody dug into his pocket and held out the most beautiful ruby ring she’d ever seen.
“Brody!”
“Do you think she’ll like it?”
“Sarah? Of course. But, are you going to—“
“Oh my God, no!” Brody exclaimed when he realized what Faith was thinking. “It’s just a gift. My mom sent it with a box full of things that used to belong to my grandmother and…well, I just thought…”
Faith raised her eyebrows. “You thought what?”
“I thought Sarah would like it. She was the first person I thought of when I saw it. Ruby is Rory’s birthstone and—”
“She’ll love it.” Faith grinned at him. “And I think you two will make a super cute couple.”
“Couple?” He shook his head. “We’re just friends, Faith.”
Friends. Right.
She smiled and didn’t bother pushing it as she watched him disappear back into the kitchen. One day the two of them would realize they were more than just friends. Really, if she of all people could see it, surely they’d figure it out soon?
Faith laughed. She didn’t even recognize herself thinking about love so much. This wedding business was definitely getting to her.
Feeling a
little outside of herself, she once more turned to survey the room.
It felt as though everyone was falling prey to this whole love charade.
Was everyone around her going crazy?
Or was it her? Was she missing something?
She needed a drink.
Faith was just about to go in search of a glass of champagne, or more likely, something stronger, when her phone chirped with an incoming text message.
It was Hope.
The test results.
Anxiously, she pulled her phone free from her pocket.
Test results are in….I’m pregnant!
I hope you enjoyed Ever After Ranch and Katie and Damon’s love story. There is a lot more love in store, including a second chance at love for single mom, Sarah and sexy chef, Brody coming next in Wanting Happily Ever After. Read on for a special sneak peek!
* * *
I appreciate you helping me spread the word about the books you love! Reviews help readers discover their next favorite read! Please leave a review on your favorite book retailer!
* * *
Don’t forget to join my mailing list where you’ll be the first to hear about new stories, sales and promotions and giveaways!
You can join me here —>
https://elenaaitken.com/newsletter/
Wanting Happily Ever After
Please enjoy this unedited excerpt from the second in the Ever After Series—Wanting Happily Ever After
It was hot. The kind of hot that made sitting on metal bleachers, shoulder to shoulder with dozens of other parents a special kind of torture, especially when what you should be doing was sitting in the shade by the river with your feet in the water and a cold drink in your hand. But that wasn’t an option for Sarah Lewis, not with her six year old daughter, Rory running down the length of the soccer field, her teammates and friends next to her, long braids streaming behind her as she moved as fast as she could towards the goal.
For the life of her, Sarah could not imagine how any of them had so much energy on such a hot July afternoon, but none of the kids looked nearly as wilted as the parents. And if they could do it…she stood and cheered as loud as she could as Rory kicked the ball toward the net. There was no way the ball would go in. It was headed straight to the center of the goal, and the opposing teams goalie, who looked to be at least twice the size of the rest of the team. She’d easily be able to stop it. Sarah clutched her hands together and mentally prepared herself for Rory’s disappointment.
The ball moved, almost in slow motion, the goalie made her move. She opened her arms and jumped…right over the ball. Before anyone even realized what had happened, the ball was in the net and the referee blew the whistle, making it official.
Sarah exchange glances with Myrna, and Jocelyn on either side of her. The other mother’s shook their heads in disbelief for a moment before leaping up and cheering. The team had just won! They were going to the play in the championship game!
Both the kids on the field and the parents and spectators in the stands, erupted in cheering and screaming. Sarah watched as the realization of what had just happened hit her daughter. Rory’s face transformed. She dropped her hands to her knees, her hand dangling for a moment before looking up, lifting her arms into the air and screaming with joy.
“She did it. She really did it.” Tears of joy streamed down Sarah’s face, and she quickly moved to wipe them away. After all, it was just as summer league child’s soccer game, but she couldn’t help it. She was just too excited.
“She did awesome!” Jocelyn wrapped her in a quick hug. “The girls played so well this season.”
Sarah nodded and her gaze travelled across the field to where the team had met in a quick huddle to cheer their opposition and go shake hands. Her eyes landed on the coach, towering above his little players, a ball cap on his head to shield him from the sun, a matching red jersey, with ‘Coach’ emblazoned on the back, right under ‘Birchwood’, the name of the team’s corporate sponsor—and the head coach’s restaurant. Brody Morris held his ever present clipboard in hand, and used it as a prop to wave in the air as the girls ran through their three cheers and went to shake hands. A fluttering sensation landed in her stomach when he turned toward her and raised his free hand in a small wave.
“He’s the best coach we’ve ever had,” Myrna said, to no one in particular. All the other parents nodded.
“He really stepped up.” Someone else said.
“We’re pretty lucky that you’re dating Brody Morris, Sarah.” Her stomach fell, the flutterings squashed as Sarah whipped around to see who’d spoken. It was Audrey Hill. She was smiling sweetly at Sarah, but there was nothing sweet intended by the comment, and they both knew it.
“We’re not dating.” Sarah hated that she ever had to say something, particularly to Audrey. But if she didn’t say anything, the rumors would start. And knowing Audrey, in less than twenty four hours, the entire town would have heard that Sarah and Brody were not only a hot couple, but that they were expecting twins and moving in together, or something equally ludicrous. It didn’t even matter if it wasn’t based in truth, Audrey had a special gift of starting trouble, trouble that for whatever reason, she liked to aim in Sarah’s direction. It had been that way since high school, and despite hopeful thinking that she would grow out of her mean girl ways, they’d only seemed to morph and grow more sophisticated.
It didn’t help that Audrey’s little girl, Clara was Rory’s favorite play mate.
“Well, you sure spend a lot of time together,” Audrey continued, her voice carefully measured. “So if that’s not dating, I don’t know what is.”
Sarah came up with a hundred different come backs, but ultimately, decided not to say anything. It wasn’t worth it. Audrey Hill wasn’t worth it. Thankfully, Rory chose that moment to holler up at her. “Mom! Did you see that, Mom?”
“I sure did, kiddo!” Without another look, Sarah gathered up her bag and picked her way down the bleachers towards her daughter. She picked her up and squeezed her. “You were awesome. The game winning goal! Wow.”
“Wow indeed.” Her father, Ed appeared and Rory clambered into his arms. “Good job, Rory. I’m so proud of you.”
“I didn’t know you were here, Dad.”
Ed put Rory down, and she ran off to sit with her team in the shade of a tree to eat orange slices and celebrate their win. “I got here right after the second half started,” he said. “Sorry I was late. I lost track of time in the garage.”
Her dad had always been a putterer with more projects than Sarah could keep straight. He still worked as Glacier Falls fire chief, but more and more, Sarah could see that what he really wanted to focus on were his countless projects. And his granddaughter. Ed was a grade A grandfather. He never missed an important date, but more importantly, he never missed anything Rory thought was important.
“Do you think she noticed I was late?” Ed looked with concern to the little girl, who didn’t look as if she had a care in the world.
“You were here for the most important part and that’s all that matters.” She gave her dad a quick hug. “Thanks for coming. It means the world, Dad.”
“You know I wouldn’t miss it.”
She did know. Still, it was worth saying and she didn’t like to miss an opportunity to tell her father how much she appreciated him.
After Sarah’s mom left when she was barely a toddler, it had just been the two of them. And then after the accident that had left Sarah a widow five earlier, when Rory was only a baby, Sarah had leaned heavily on her father.
“Wasn’t that a great game?” Brody, clipboard still in hand, appeared next to her. Sarah couldn’t help but notice how he always made a point to greet her before the other parents. It was a detail that didn’t seem to be lost on anyone, her father included. Next to her, Ed tensed ever so slightly. “What did you think of that, Mr. Walker? Pretty great game, wasn’t it?”
“It was pretty close there until the end.” Ed crossed his
arms over his chest. “It’s a good thing that granddaughter of mine is so quick.”
Sarah turned to stare at her father, whose mouth was pressed into a thin, very unimpressed line. She didn’t know what it was, but it didn’t seem to matter what Brody did or said, her father didn’t seem to like him at all. She couldn’t figure it out, because Brody had been a great friend to her over the last few months, and was becoming more and more important to both her and Rory. He’d been nothing but helpful and kind and…she forced herself to stop the line of thinking she was on as the fluttering in her stomach made a reappearance.
“That is a good thing, Mr. Walker,” Brody answered diplomatically. “She’s a very talented little girl.” He turned to smile at Sarah. It was a simple action, but it warmed her. “I should go make my rounds,” he said to her. “But I’ll give you a call later. I have an ice cream cake in the freezer at the restaurant that needs to be tested and I thought Rory might want to help out.”
Sarah laughed. “Oh, I think she’d love to help you out with that.”
“Sounds good.” Brody put his hand on her arm and squeezed, holding it just a moment longer than was necessary. She smiled as he took his leave and went to talk to the other parents, who were all waiting to congratulate their star coach.
She watched as he was swallowed up by them before turning back to her father. Her father’s mouth turned down in a frown the way it always was when Brody was around, or even if she mentioned him lately.
Suddenly exhausted and overwhelmed by the heat, she shook her head and ignored her dad and whatever it was that he clearly wanted to say. “I’m melting,” she said instead. “Let’s go celebrate Rory’s goal with some iced tea.”
Brody Morris tried to stay focused on the parents who were showering him with completely undeserved praise. After all, it was youth summer league soccer. First place prize was a medal. The same as every other place. But to the parents of Glacier Falls, his adopted hometown, he might as well have been training their daughters for the World Cup.