Page 3 of Choosing Happily Ever After

Except stay in town.

As much as he loved her, he knew in his heart that if he stayed, Uncle Harold would slowly beat down his spirit—and his body—and in a small town, there was nowhere else to go. Leaving her had been the hardest thing he’d ever done and as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t ask her to go with him, because he knew her heart was in Glacier Falls. She loved her small town, and more than that, the ranch she grew up on. She was never leaving. He knew it just like he also knew if he asked her, it would break her heart to have to choose. So he’d let her go.

To his credit, Logan didn’t make a smart-ass comment the way Levi was so sure he would. Instead, he slowly put his beer down on the workbench he sat on and crossed his arms. “Ten years, and you’ve never once asked about her.”

Levi nodded. It was true.

“That must mean you’re finally over her.”

He laughed but didn’t answer right away. There would be a part of him that was never completely over Hope Turner. But he’d been a kid the last time he’d seen her. A lot changed in ten years. “It’s been a long time.”

“That didn’t answer my question.” Logan raised an eyebrow at him before hopping down off the bench and moving across the shop to the beer fridge. They hadn’t even been in the house yet, a fact Levi felt a little guilty for. But it was late and he hadn’t told anyone he was coming. He’d surprised Logan by joining him in the field earlier, but it was getting late now. He’d just have to surprise Aunt Deb and Katie in the morning. He accepted another beer from his cousin but paused before opening it when Logan said, “Hope’s killing it with her business. Turned her family ranch into a wedding venue, of all things.”

Levi laughed and shook his head but he wasn’t surprised. Ever since they were kids, Hope talked about the few weddings they held out on their property. She’d always been a hopeless romantic. “I’m glad it’s working out,” he said. “But I’m not surprised. She always knew exactly what she wanted.”

Again, Logan raised his eyebrow, but didn’t say anything. “She must be doing even better than last year.” He handed Levi his cell phone. “She just posted on Facebook that she’s looking to hire some help.”

Levi took the phone without trying to look too eager. He was pretty sure he failed, but he couldn’t help it. Talking about Hope had his pulse racing. He’d managed to avoid her on social media all these years, largely because he wasn’t on any social media, but it didn’t mean he hadn’t thought about how easy it would be to see what she was up to. Was she married? Did she have kids? Was she happy? All things he could know if he’d joined the Facebook phenomenon. Which was precisely why he didn’t. But that didn’t stop him from grabbing his cousin’s phone and looking at the familiar, yet different, beautiful face on the tiny screen.

Hope Turner.

She looked the same, but also so different. She definitely wasn’t the innocent girl he’d left. Although she still had the sweet look of complete trust in her eyes, there was also something else in her expression. Something deeper.

Levi forced himself to look away from her profile picture and scroll down on the screen to the post Logan was referring to.

Help wanted: General handyman, jack of all trades. Must love love.

He couldn’t help but laugh. She was still a hopeless romantic. Some things never changed.

What if there were a few more things that hadn’t changed?

Levi looked up at Logan, who clearly saw the expression on his cousin’s face. “Looking for a job, are you, cuz?”

ChapterTwo

Faith

Faith Turner exhaled slowlyand rolled herself to the edge of the bed, careful not to wake Noah. She hadn’t meant to spend the night. Not at all. It was a rule she never broke.

Except when she did.

Like when Noah made her come as hard as he had the night before. Twice.

Her body was deliciously sore. The man really did know his way around a woman’s body. More specifically—herbody. And she was not complaining at all. It was too bad she was going to have to break up with him.

She tiptoed her way across his bedroom, picking up various articles of clothing as she went. The trail led her out to the living room of his one-bedroom condo. She paused to take in the view of the downtown core and river. He had an amazing view and with the sun rising over the river in vibrant shades of pinks, purples, and oranges, it was almost enough to get her to change her mind, turn around and crawl back into bed so she could enjoy the view from the comfort of his bed—and his arms. It was tempting. Very tempting. Especially because she knew that cuddle would result in a whole lot more than cuddling.

Her body tingled with the promise of what it would mean.

But no. She had to stay strong. She’d already broken her overnight rule too many times. And if she stayed, it might turn into all day and then another night, and the last thing she could afford to do was be late for work on Monday morning.

And considering Noah Simmons was her superior, that was definitely not a good idea.

She sighed and turned away from the view before tugging her dress over her head and moving through the room to the door.

It was also just one more reason why she had to break up with him. Dating your boss was never a good idea, which was why Faith made it a point never to do it.

Except when she did.

---