Page 42 of Needing Happily Ever After

Chapter Twelve

Damon tookthe trail that led from the cottage and away from the main house, avoiding it the way he had since he’d moved in. It was ridiculous, he knew that, especially now that he was actually married to Katie and they’d pulled it off. Not that he was even thinking of it that way anymore. Not really. It had been two days since they’d said their vows, and as crazy as it all was, it felt a little more real every day.

There really was no reason to avoid the main house, or his father. Not anymore.

Even so, Damon continued on the trail that led him to the hills, and farther away from his dad.

Before turning the corner that would take him out of view, Damon glanced back toward the guesthouse at the thought of Katie. He knew she was inside, writing out plans for her new store, and he couldn’t help but be impressed by her drive and dedication. She was so excited about the opportunity, and that excitement was contagious. He knew he’d been distracting her from her plans, but as long as he was in close proximity, he couldn’t seem to help himself.

Once he’d had a taste of her, he couldn’t seem to get enough. Katie was like a drug he’d never known he’d needed. And just like any drug, there was a very real danger of becoming addicted. He just needed to be careful, that was all. Because as much as he was enjoying himself with her—and he was—he needed to make sure he kept things in perspective. Not that he really knew what that perspective was anymore. They’d discussed the idea of actually staying married and he hadn’t really thought she’d agree, but when she did…well…maybe giving in to his addiction for her wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

They’d stayed mostly holed up in their cottage for the last few days, and they’d been some of the happiest days Damon had had in a really long time. Marrying Katie might just have been the best decision he’d ever made. Although, despite the lightness that came with the newness of a relationship, there was still a small part of him that couldn’t shut out the reality of the situation and the nagging feeling that he’d actually ruined things between them because he’d pushed for more. After all, wasn’t it historically a bad idea to sleep with your best friend?

Only if it didn’t work out.

His inner dialogue just wouldn’t shut up.

Damon focused on the view of the valley below. It never failed to calm him. He picked his way along the pathway that had become overgrown since the last time he’d taken it. Which, admittedly, must have been years ago. His dad likely didn’t come out this way. He’d never been much of an outdoorsman, preferring to enjoy the view from inside looking out. And now, with his health and the nursing care he needed—for what?—a flicker of guilt snapped through him. He hadn’t actually asked his dad how his health was. He hadn’t asked his dad much of anything. Not that they’d ever been big at communicating. But still, Damon should have tried harder. Reluctantly, he looked toward the house and decided to stop in on his way back from his walk.

His relationship with his dad might be hard, but that didn’t mean he had to be a total asshole about it. He shook his head in acceptance before continuing down the trail.

It had been his mother who’d been the one to venture outside with him. She’d shown him the beauty of the mountains and the trails that crisscrossed them. Together, they’d hiked up to the glaciers and along the river. She’d taken him on long drives on the back roads so they could explore. And explore they did. They’d found countless treasures hidden in the mountains, from an icy-cold, tiny, but impossibly deep lake surrounded by cliffs that they could jump off into the frigid water below, to the spectacular waterfalls that only happened in the spring with the runoff from the mountains as the snow melted down into the valley. Damon had loved those days with his mom. And then when he got older, he’d shown his friends all the places they’d found. Mostly.

He remembered the last time he’d wanted to take Katie to a particularly beautiful spot. They never got there because she’d insisted on bringing Jeremy along, so at the last minute Damon had pretended that he’d forgotten where he really wanted to go. But the truth was that he couldn’t imagine sharing the special hot springs with anyone except Katie. And definitely not the boy she was dating. Or worse, could be in love with.

The thought of Katie being in love with Jeremy stopped him short. Had they been in love in high school? He hadn’t thought so. Not really, but then again, they’d dated recently. Very recently, if Jeremy’s outburst on Main Street had been an indication of anything. Katie had said it was nothing, just a casual thing. But still.

Was that really all there was between them? And did he have any right to even ask about it?

Damon shook his head and took a deep breath. He was getting himself worked up for nothing. He really needed to keep things in perspective. He found a boulder and perched himself on top before digging his cell phone out of his pocket and pressing the numbers for his buddy, Nick.

“Hey,” Nick answered. “Are you back in town yet? Or still roughing it in the woods?”

Nick’s generally dismissive attitude about Damon’s hometown was always a bit of a burr in his side, but for the most part, Damon tried to ignore it. He’d met Nick at college and he’d been part of the team he’d worked with on the microchip, which meant that Nick was just as wealthy as he was, a fact that had been both a good and a bad thing in their relationship. It was hard to find real friends when you had a lot of money, but on the other hand, sometimes that money could change people. In Nick’s case, it had turned him into a bit of a playboy-party animal, a role Damon had joined him in for a little bit, which was why it was extra-hard for him to understand why Damon would choose to move back to his hometown.

“I wouldn’t call it roughing it.” Damon looked around at his surroundings. No, definitely not roughing it. “I’m actually calling because I have news.”

“News? Like you’re coming back to the city next week? Because there’s a party at—”

“No.” He cut him off. “Nothing like that. I’m actually calling because I got married.” Damon waited, sure that there would be a reaction.

Sure enough, Nick started to laugh. “Married? You? Like, now?”

“Like two days ago.”

“You’re not kidding.”

“I’m not.”

“Well, shit.”

“Shit indeed.” Damon smiled. “And I want you to meet her.”

“Your wife?”

Wife.The word sounded so good. Damon nodded. “I do.” He wanted everyone to know Katie was his wife.

There was a silence on the other end for a few minutes, and then Nick said, “Okay then. When should I come?”

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