Before Today
Sapphire Bay, Book 4
Leeanna Morgan
Copyright © 2019 by Leeanna Morgan
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Thank you
Excerpt From ‘The Sweetest Thing’
Enjoy Other Novels By Leeanna Morgan
Bonus Recipe - Easy Chocolate Fudge
Welcome to Sapphire Bay!
Nestled against the shore of Flathead Lake, Montana, you’ll find the imaginary town of Sapphire Bay. Here you’ll discover a community with big hearts, warm smiles, and lots of wonderful stories to be told. Romance, adventure, and intrigue are all waiting for you! Let’s explore Sapphire Bay together in Before Today, the fourth book in the Sapphire Bay series.
About This Book
Brooke Johnson left her past behind her and moved to Sapphire Bay. The quaint Montana town has everything she needs, including a store she’s turned into a candy shop. Her life is as sweet as the fudge she makes, until Levi Montgomery rides into town.
* * *
Levi has spent too many years fighting a war no one can win. He thought he’d worked through most of his issues, found peace in the aftermath of hell. When he arrives in Sapphire Bay, the last person he expects to see is Brooke. Two years ago she broke his heart and he’ll do everything he can to keep his distance.
* * *
As the sparks ignite between them, Brooke’s past comes back to haunt her. This time, she needs to trust Levi—before it’s too late for either of them.
* * *
Before Today is the fourth book in the Sapphire Bay series and can easily be read as a standalone. Each of Leeanna’s series are linked so you can find out what happens to your favorite characters in other books. For news of Leeanna’s latest releases, please visit leeannamorgan.com and sign up for her newsletter. Happy reading!
Other Novels by Leeanna Morgan:
Montana Brides:
Book 1: Forever Dreams (Gracie and Trent)
Book 2: Forever in Love (Amy and Nathan)
Book 3: Forever After (Nicky and Sam)
Book 4: Forever Wishes (Erin and Jake)
Book 5: Forever Santa (A Montana Brides Christmas Novella)
Book 6: Forever Cowboy (Emily and Alex)
Book 7: Forever Together (Kate and Dan)
Book 8: Forever and a Day (Sarah and Jordan)
Montana Brides Boxed Set: Books 1-3
Montana Brides Boxed Set: Books 4-6
* * *
The Bridesmaids Club:
Book 1: All of Me (Tess and Logan)
Book 2: Loving You (Annie and Dylan)
Book 3: Head Over Heels (Sally and Todd)
Book 4: Sweet on You (Molly and Jacob)
* * *
Emerald Lake Billionaires:
Book 1: Sealed with a Kiss (Rachel and John)
Book 2: Playing for Keeps (Sophie and Ryan)
Book 3: Crazy Love (Holly and Daniel)
Book 4: One And Only (Elizabeth and Blake)
* * *
The Protectors:
Book 1: Safe Haven (Hayley and Tank)
Book 2: Just Breathe (Kelly and Tanner)
Book 3: Always (Mallory and Grant)
Book 4: The Promise (Ashley and Matthew)
Book 5: Coming Home (Mia and Stan)
Book 6: The Gift (Hannah and Brett)
Book 7: The Wish (Claire and Jason)
The Protectors Boxed Set: Books 1-3
* * *
Sapphire Bay:
Book 1: Falling For You (Natalie and Gabe)
Book 2: Once In A Lifetime (Sam and Caleb)
Book 3: A Christmas Wish (Megan and William)
Book 4: Before Today (Brooke and Levi)
Book 5: The Sweetest Thing (Cassie and Noah)
Book 6: Sweet Surrender (Willow and Zac)
Chapter 1
Brooke pushed open her bedroom window and filled her lungs with the sweet scent of pine and spruce trees. Closing her eyes, she listened to the sound of water gently lapping against the shore of Flathead Lake and the birds chirping their early morning wake-up call.
She smiled and leaned against the windowsill. There were lots of advantages to living above her candy store, and being able to enjoy the wonderful view was one of them.
Since she’d moved to Sapphire Bay, there wasn’t one day when the lake looked the same. The color of the water changed with the mood of the seasons, rippling into life in the most unexpected ways. If she’d had the time, she would have walked to the waterfront and watched the fishermen get ready for a day on the lake. But even though she’d spent the weekend in her candy store, she needed to go into work today. She was meeting two of her friends at eight o’clock and, with Easter just around the corner, she had far too many orders to fill.
As she turned from the window, she glanced at the street below. Mabel Terry was yelling a greeting to the man who delivered their milk. Mabel and her husband, Allan, owned the only general store in Sapphire Bay. They sold everything from clothespins to chainsaws. Every major food group was available on their old-fashioned shelves and, if their freezer didn’t hold enough supplies for the culinary challenged, Mabel took it upon herself to cook her customers a variety of freezer-friendly meals.
With a contented sigh, Brooke took a pair of jeans and a T-shirt out of her closet. It was time to have a shower, eat breakfast, and remind herself, as she always did, that today would be an amazing day.
It took a lot to impress Levi Montgomery. But today, sitting on his Harley in a picnic area above Sapphire Bay, it was easy to feel overwhelmed by the breathtaking view. Flathead Lake shimmered in the mid-morning sunshine, sparkling like a bowl of polished diamonds against a bright blue Montana sky. Across the lake, a smudge of charcoal and green rose into the air. The trees and craggy mountain range would be sheltering another bay from the icy wind sweeping across the water.
After almost a full day of riding, he was ready for a hot meal and at least twelve hours’ sleep. But he wouldn’t get either if the last person who’d stayed in Zac’s house hadn’t restocked the cupboards.
He stepped off his motorcycle, raised his arms above his head and stretched his stiff muscles. The coffee break in Butte seemed like a long and distant memory. It hadn’t done much to restore his energy, but he’d drunk enough caffeine to keep him awake for the last leg of his journey.
Next stop, Sapphire Bay.
According to his friend, Zac, the small town was one of the world’s best kept secrets. Levi knew all about secrets; only most of them didn’t come packaged in pine trees and lakeside views.
He just hoped the locals weren’t too worried about a stranger riding into town and making himself at home.
A dry laugh escaped his throat. It seemed ridiculous to call anywhere home, let alone a place he’d never seen. But there it was; the sense of wonder he hadn’t felt in a long time, the feeling that he was right where he needed to be and, maybe, where he belonged.
With one last look at the lake, Levi threw his leg over his Har
ley and started the engine. There was only one road into town and he planned on getting there fast.
Brooke opened a container of fudge and grinned at her two friends. “What do you think of this option?” The smooth, rich, chocolate bars were a favorite with her customers at Sweet Treats, the candy store she’d opened a few months ago.
Megan sighed. “You know I can’t resist your chocolate fudge.”
As well as being her friend, Megan shared the kitchen in Brooke’s store. Not for making candy, but for creating some of the most amazing cakes Brooke had ever seen. In four weeks, Megan would be marrying the man of her dreams in a small church in the center of Sapphire Bay.
Brooke had always been a firm believer in working to your strengths. Her training as a nurse had taught her some valuable life skills, but Megan and her fiancé didn’t need her to set a broken bone or wrap a bandage around a sprain. They needed another set of skills. The kind that involved making candy for their table favors.
Sam, Brooke’s other friend, tilted her head sideways as she nibbled on a small piece of fudge. “This is my favorite.”
Megan frowned. “What about the Russian fudge?”
“This is a lot creamier and not so sweet. If you want a fudge that everyone will like, you can’t go wrong with this one.”
Brooke opened a drawer and took out a small, heart-shaped cookie cutter. “Instead of cutting the fudge into squares, I could make chocolate hearts.” She pressed the sharp edge of the cutter into the fudge and showed her friends. “If I wrap four fudge hearts in a piece of tulle and tie a ribbon around the top, you’ll have a yummy gift for each of your guests.”
“That sounds perfect,” Megan said. “But you’re as busy as I am. What if you make the fudge and I wrap it in the tulle?”
Brooke waved away her friend’s offer of help. “It won’t take me long to put everything together. If you let me know what color ribbon you’d like, I can order some from the general store tomorrow. Have you decided what type of wedding cake you’ll have?”
Megan reached for her sketchbook. “William likes the hummingbird cake at Pastor John’s church. I’m using that recipe to make a two-tier cake with cream cheese frosting. Nora wants pink roses cascading down one side and a black and white kitten on the other.”
A couple of years ago, Megan’s sister and parents were killed in a car accident. Megan had become the guardian of Nora, her three-year-old niece and, together, they’d formed a new family.
It gave Brooke goosebumps to see how much Nora had blossomed after William came into her life.
Sam looked over Megan’s shoulder. “If you ever want to change careers, you could be an artist. The picture of your cake is amazing.”
“I’ve had plenty of practice. Making a drawing of a client’s cake is much easier than guessing what they want. That way, they aren’t disappointed when they collect it.”
Brooke turned on the coffeepot. “I’m surprised Pastor John shared his recipe with you. He usually keeps his cookbooks under lock and key.”
Megan’s cheeks turned pink. “I had to do a deal with him for the recipe.”
“Let me guess,” Sam said. “Pastor John wants you to tutor a cake decorating class?”
“Sort of. He was looking for ideas for some new classes. As well as cake decorating, I suggested a candy-making class and a workshop that teaches people about social media.”
Sam and Brooke looked at each other.
“And I take it we’re the tutors?” Brooke asked.
“Only if you want to help,” Megan said quickly.
Brooke had already run a candy-making workshop at the church. She knew how persuasive Pastor John could be, especially when he had the opportunity to add more classes to his program.
She took some cups out of the cupboard. “You can count me in, but I won’t be able to start until after Easter.”
Sam popped another piece of fudge into her mouth. “I’m in too, but the sooner I start, the better. Caleb and I are getting married at the beginning of September.”
Brooke left the cups on the counter and hugged her friend. “That’s wonderful. I’m glad you’ve finally settled on a date.”
“It wasn’t easy, but we got there in the end.”
Megan grinned. “That will be two weddings in the next six months. Do you think we’ll make it three by the end of the year?”
“Don’t look at me,” Brooke said. “You’ll have to include Natalie if you want to make it three weddings. I’m too busy with my store. Even thinking about having a boyfriend turns me into a nervous wreck.”
Sam opened her laptop. “Don’t turn into a nervous wreck just yet. I want to go over some ideas for your new website.”
Brooke turned the laptop around. For the last couple of weeks, Sam had been working on a new and improved website for Sweet Treats. If anyone could give her online presence an overhaul, it was Sam. As technical development manager for a high-end security company, there wasn’t much she didn’t know about computers.
Brooke studied the draft website. It was simple, eye-catching, and included all the branding elements she wanted. “This is fantastic.”
Sam smiled. “I’m glad you like it. I can design another website for Megan based on what we do for Sweet Treats.”
Megan looked over Brooke’s shoulder. “It’s wonderful. Our customers will be thrilled when they can shop online.”
Brooke bit her bottom lip. “I hope I can keep up with demand.” Her one fear was that she wouldn’t be able to make enough candy to keep all her customers happy. An easy solution would be to hire more staff. But more staff meant more expenses and, right at the moment, she couldn’t afford to hire anyone.
Sam squeezed Brooke’s fingers. “If you need someone to help in the store, just ask. I’m only a phone call away.”
“And I spend nearly every day right beside you,” Megan reminded her. “We’ll make this work.”
Brooke took a deep breath. “I hope you’re right. At least we know what candy we’re having in the table favors.” She reached across the counter and handed Sam and Megan a piece of chocolate fudge. “Here’s to friendship and lots of happy customers.”
“And to falling in love,” Megan added.
Brooke sighed. Her two best friends were ready to walk down the aisle, but she wouldn’t let cupid’s golden arrow anywhere near her heart.
Chapter 2
Levi took off his helmet and scanned the main road of Sapphire Bay. Red-brick buildings lined the sidewalk, reminding him of most small towns in Montana. But unlike a lot of the places he’d seen, Sapphire Bay was busy.
Farther along the street, tourists were stepping off a bus. A group of mothers pushed their strollers, and high school students were handing out pamphlets. A block away, a steamboat sat against the pier, no doubt waiting for the tourists to make their way to the lake.
“Nice motorcycle.”
He turned around. A man about his own age stood behind him, studying Levi’s Harley. “It gets me where I need to go.”
The stranger’s eyes filled with amusement. “The XR-1000 is one of the best Harley Davidson’s ever built.” He knelt on the ground and studied the engine. “Apart from the dust and the dirt, it looks brand new.”
Levi took another look at the stranger. With his black hair and gray eyes, there was nothing unusual that set him apart from the other people on the street—except the large black German Shepherd sitting beside him.
The man stood and held out his hand. “I’m Gabe and this is Sherlock. A friend of mine restored a Harley. It took him two years to finish.”
Levi nodded. “This one took a year.” He wouldn’t tell Gabe the motorcycle had belonged to Peter, his brother. They’d worked on it together, rebuilding the engine from parts they’d salvaged from other Harleys. Peter called it penance. Levi remembered the long days in the garage as some of the best in his life.
“Are you staying in Sapphire Bay or passing through?”
Levi’s eyes narrowe
d. It was hard enough trusting the people he knew, let alone a stranger. “I haven’t decided.”
Gabe must have realized he wasn’t in a talkative mood. “Sorry. Occupational hazard. I ask too many questions.”
“Are you a cop or a reporter?”
“Good guess. In a previous life, I was an NYPD detective. Nowadays I prefer to write about the bad guys. Enjoy your time in Sapphire Bay.” Gabe said something to his dog, and the German Shepherd sprung onto his feet.
Levi frowned. “Before you leave, can you tell me where to find the general store?”
Gabe pointed farther down the street. “Go through the next intersection. It’s the fourth building on the left.”
“Thanks.”
“You’re welcome. If there’s anything else you need, Mabel Terry and her husband own the general store. There isn’t much they don’t know about the area.”
Levi nodded and watched the stranger and his dog walk down the street. He’d spent too much time overseas. From where he’d come from, looking at someone the wrong way could send you to the hospital. Talking to a stranger almost guaranteed you a one-way trip to the morgue.
By the time Levi crossed the road, another three people had said hello. He didn’t know whether it was because he was tired, but each time someone smiled he became even more uneasy.
Before Today Page 1
