Page 9 of Keeping Happily Ever After

It never failed to impress Bella the way that everyone in town knew him and genuinely liked him. Everywhere they went, people called out to Jeremy and greeted him with hugs and friendly slaps on the back. It filled Bella with pride to see the way Jeremy was respected and loved as a son of Glacier Falls.

She watched now as he chatted with the woman behind the counter. She was still pretty new to town, so Bella was still meeting people and trying to learn names and keep people straight. She couldn’t remember what the woman’s name was, but like almost everyone else, she obviously knew Jeremy. And liked him. That much was clear by the way she tilted her head and giggled at whatever it was he was saying to her. Even from where she sat, Bella could see that the other woman was batting her eyelashes at him and sending out all kinds ofI’m availablevibes.

But he wasn’t available.

He was hers. It was something she was still getting used to, but she liked it. It felt right.

Even with her history of a past boyfriend cheating on her with pretty much every woman he saw, Bella never had been the jealous type, which was going to work out well considering they were about to be spending a lot of time apart.

The smile on her face dimmed.

She’d had a good time with the ladies the night before, and Steph was right—theydidneed to celebrate. But she couldn’t help feeling guilty that she hadn’t told Jeremy yet. She’d managed to put it out of her mind, but now watching him and the lady behind the counter flirting so shamelessly with him, she couldn’t help but get a little bit worried with how he’d react.

She was still watching when the woman behind the counter winked at him as she handed him his order. Bella shook her head with a little internal laugh because he was completely oblivious to her attentions. She focused on her cinnamon bun again. She wasn’t worried about Jeremy being interested in anyone else. The connection between the two of them was special.

When they were together, it was magic.

Just thinking about being alone with Jeremy send thrills through her body and completely distracted her from any worry she held. The feeling with him was unlike any she had ever had. And it didn’t take an expert in love and relationships to know that that was special.

Just like the cinnamon bun in front of her.

The comparison made her giggle.

And she was still giggling when Jeremy returned to the table with a pastry of his own and a coffee in his hand.

“What’s got you laughing? It’s not me, is it?”

She couldn’t help it; as soon as she looked up into his eyes, Bella burst into a fit of giggles again. “No.” She tried to look as serious as possible as she shook her head. “Of course not.”

Jeremy gave her an unbelieving look.

“Well,” Bella continued. “Okay. Maybe a little.” She pulled a piece of her breakfast off and held it up. “I was just thinking that you were a lot like this cinnamon bun.”

He chuckled but took the bait as he tore a piece of his own bun off and put it in his mouth. “Oh yeah? And how is that?”

Bella tilted her head and examined the sugary pastry. “Well,” she began. “You’re both pretty sweet.” She paused and moved her head to the other shoulder. “And of course, you are both quite delicious.” She worked hard not to laugh. “But most importantly, you’re averyspecial treat that I look forward to when I come to town.” She popped the piece in her mouth and closed her eyes as she enjoyed it thoroughly.

Bella knew when she opened her eyes Jeremy would be watching her, and she wasn’t disappointed. He looked at her with an intensity that sent a whole new type of thrill through her body.

“Well, I’ll tell you what…I know I certainly could get used to this type of sweetness every day.”

Her laughter died, and a flash of worry shot through her at his choice of words.

Every day?

Surely Jeremy must know that they couldn’t have an everyday relationship.

Not now. Not with her career just taking off. There were so many factors to consider. So many things that were about to happen.

Which meant she’d be in the city, working, and Jeremy would be…here.

Unless he went with her.

No. Bella chastised herself for entertaining the thought, even for a second.

It was way too soon. Ridiculously soon to be thinking that way. Jeremy wasn’t going to travel with her while she was working. That didn’t make any sense. Especially because they hadn’t even declared themselves a formal couple. Hell, she didn’t even use the word boyfriend yet. She couldn’t expect him to uproot his entire life to follow her around. That was beyond selfish. She’d never ask it of him.

Bella swallowed hard. She was overthinking things, and she needed to stop it before her train of thoughts got away from her completely.

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