Page 8 of Choosing Happily Ever After

“Mad skills, huh?”

He nodded and winked. “Definitely.”

She looked at her feet and shook her head as if she were trying to talk herself out of what they both knew she was going to say. “Okay,” she said when she looked up again. “I’ll hire you. But only because I need a few things done around here. Minimum wage. And it’s a trial basis only.”

“Deal.” He stepped quickly to cross the room and held out a hand.

Hope placed her hand in his and the heat of her skin shot through him, directly to his heart. He knew she felt it too because she looked him straight in the eye and said, “I still don’t know about this.”

Neither did he. Because now that he was back in Hope’s life, even in this capacity, he wasn’t sure he could ever leave again.

ChapterThree

Hope

Spring wasHope’s favorite time in Glacier Falls, the town that got its name from the spectacular display of crashing ice-cold water of the Jumbo Creek that came directly off the Jumbo Glacier that sat high in the mountains. The falls were situated almost at the center of town, with a natural park serving as the town square and popular gathering place for the townspeople. The river was flowing fast, with the spring thaw, and Hope knew the falls would be particularly spectacular now. She made a mental note to swing past them on her way home.

The trees were just starting to leaf out, filling the streets with that fresh green that made everything seem new and hopeful. Over the last few years as tourism had grown, the town had started to do a really beautiful job of planting flowers along Main Street and the shop owners took up the challenge as well, trying to outdo one another with their own displays. The overall effect was absolutely gorgeous and Hope always had the distinct impression that she was walking through a Hallmark movie. It was no wonder more and more brides were choosing her town as the perfect venue to tie the knot. Of course, the fact that it was only a few hours out of the big city helped.

But Hope couldn’t help but take some of the credit, too. The creation of Ever After Ranch had been huge in drawing more brides away from the city and into the mountains for their nuptials. It was a fact that she was very proud of. She’d gotten busy.Toobusy, maybe. She currently had a two-year waiting list for an available summer wedding date. She hadn’t really ventured too far into the winter wedding business, but it was something she’d consider if she wasn’t so bloody tired.

Or if she had help.

You have help now.

The little voice in her head piped up, reminding her that she did indeed have help—whether she liked it or not—in the form of Levi Langdon. And the jury was still out on whether she liked it or not. Seeing him again had been…shocking.

And also pretty damn nice.

She knew she should be angry or hurt or any combination of those things toward him. It wasn’t his fault they hadn’t worked out all those years ago. Not really. He’d done the right thing, breaking up with her. He couldn’t stay and she wouldn’t leave and they both knew it. A relationship couldn’t survive terms like that. It was the only choice for the younger versions of themselves. No matter how much they’d loved each other.

But that was then.

Hope shook her head to clear the voice that was definitely starting to push its limits with her patience and pulled open the door to the Glacier Falls medical clinic and Doctor Friesen’s office. She didn’t really have time to take off in the middle of the day for a doctor appointment, but her exhaustion was getting harder and harder to ignore. And despite her uncertainty about hiring Levi, he was actually working hard and in the few days he’d been working for her, he’d actually proved himself to be quite useful.

It was too bad she was going to have to let him go.

He may be a good worker, and she may completely understand why they had to break up all those years ago but that didn’t make it any easier for him to be around. Whatever attracted them together when they were kids hadn’t lessened over the years. Quite the opposite, really. Having Levi in such close proximity was torture. Especially because there was no way she could risk falling for him again.

“Good morning, Hope.” Sarah, Doctor Friesen’s nurse and receptionist, who also happened to be one of Hope’s oldest friends, greeted her with her usual smile. “It’s a gorgeous day out there, isn’t it? I tell you what, if I wasn’t working for a doctor, I’d be tempted to call in sick and play hooky.” She leaned across the desk as if she were telling Hope a big secret, but then burst into a great big booming laugh. It was well known all over town that both Sarah and Doctor Friesen had maybe less than five sick days combined since they’d started working together almost five years ago. Not only were they incredibly hardworking, but they both somehow seemed completely immune to the illnesses that constantly passed through the clinic doors. Which was a good thing because Sarah was a single mom to a very busy six-year-old girl. The woman definitely didn’t have time to be sick.

“It really is beautiful out there.” Hope replied with a smile of her own when Sarah’s laughter died down. “I hope you get to enjoy it later.”

“You know I will.” Sarah winked dramatically. “Rory has her first soccer practice later, and there’s nothing I like more than standing on the sidelines, cheering.”

Hope had no doubt that was completely true. She’d never met a more devoted mother than Sarah.

“Please tell me you’re not coaching?” Hope wouldn’t be surprised if the answer was yes, because Sarah seemed determined to be both mother and father to her little girl ever since her husband passed away suddenly when Rory was just a baby. Hope couldn’t help but worry about her friend at times, although she seemed happy enough with her life. Sarah worked so hard for everyone else; it would be nice to see her friend take a little time for herself.

“No way.” Sarah held up her hands. “I have my limits,” she said. “And anything physical is definitely it. I’m a fabulous team mom, but there is no way I could get this body to run around a field.”

“I’m sure you’d have no trouble keeping up.”

Sarah laughed again. “I appreciate it, but the last time I had any time for any physical activity, well…I can’t remember when that time was. And all these extra pounds are definitely not compatible with soccer.”

Hope shook her head and wanted to tell her friend she was being ridiculous. It wasn’t the first time Sarah had made negative comments about her body, and nothing she could say while standing in the doctor’s office was likely to make a difference, but she made a mental note to try to get together for a proper catch up soon.

“Besides, Brody Morris volunteered to coach the kids,” Sarah continued. “Isn’t that nice of him? I mean, he doesn’t even have kids. The man should get a medal. He’s so great with them.”

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