Needing Happily Ever After

by Elena Aitken

  “What do you think their odds of winning are, coach?”

  “That team from Cedar Springs is pretty tough.”

  “I heard they have a ringer.”

  “A ringer? Does anyone check the birth certificates of these kids?”

  Brody handled each of the questions, with a smile and a chuckle. “Win or lose, you should all be so proud of your girls out there. They’re playing their hearts out and having so much fun,” he said good naturedly. “They’re all great kids. We should celebrate that.”

  “And their championship,” Audrey Hill said confidently. “I mean, it’s obvious that they’re going to win. We should plan a party as a wrap up.”

  Brody shook his head, but did his best not to look disagreeable. He’d met women like Audrey Hill before, and he knew well enough to stay on their good side. The last thing he wanted or needed was to be involved in any kind of drama, or to have Audrey Hill on his bad side which would be worse. He tried to sneak a glance at Sarah, but she was turned away from him knelling on the grass, helping Rory unlace her cleats. Sarah had mentioned once or twice that Audrey had had mastered the art of passive aggressive bitchiness. Something about mean girl syndrome or something like that. Whatever it was, Brody believed her and did his best to keep Audrey at arm’s length.

  “A wrap up party sounds like a great idea,” he said with a smile. “Let me know the details.”

  “Oh, I thought maybe Sarah could organize it.” Her voice dripped with a false sweetness. “After all, she didn’t really bring team snacks as much as everyone else. It’s really the least she could do.”

  Brody noticed a few of the other mom’s roll their eyes and shake their heads in disbelief, but not one of them said anything. He knew, just as well as they all knew, that Sarah did her best to attend all of the games and practices, but there were a few times when she wasn’t able to make it due to work because she was a single mom who essentially supported and raised her little girl by herself. Obviously that little detail wasn’t about to be recognized by this group of women.

  He usually bit his tongue, in an effort to remain a neutral party as much as possible, but this was too much. “You know Sarah does her best to be here whenever she can. She has a lot on her plate.”

  Audrey took a step back and raised her eyebrow. “Sounds like someone is getting a little defensive.” She clucked her tongue. “I didn’t mean to stir up anything.”

  That’s exactly what she meant, still Brody kept a smile on his face. “Oh, of course, Audrey. All I’m saying is that Sarah—”

  “Makes sure that her father brings the team snacks when she can’t be here.”

  Brody turned to see Sarah, speaking about herself in the third person walk up to the group. He tried, but failed to stifle a smile.

  “And I’m pretty sure you know, Audrey that my father brings Rory’s snacks on the days that I can’t be here. After all, the snacks are assigned by child and not by parent. Isn’t that right?”

  Audrey stammered and struggled over her words, but finally swallowed hard and nodded curtly. “I was just—”

  “Oh, I know what you were doing,” Sarah continued with a sweet smile on her face. Only her crossed arms over her chest gave away her true feelings about the woman. Brody couldn’t help but be impressed by her self restraint. “And yes, if you’re unable to host the wrap up party, by all means, I’d be more than happy to take it off your plate.”

  “Oh, that’s not…I wasn’t saying that—”

  “No, no,” Sarah continued. “I don’t mind at all. I know how busy you are with…” she tilted her head and innocently asked, “What is it that keeps you so busy?”

  Brody couldn’t help it, a chuckle slipped out of his mouth. He tried to cover it with a cough, but he couldn’t be sure it worked. Not that anyone was paying him any attention. All eyes were on Audrey.

  “Well.” The other woman pulled herself up, and pushed her shoulders back. “I don’t think—”

  “Don’t worry about a thing.” Sarah waved her hand casually. “I’ll take care of all the details.” She beamed at the other parents who were all watching the little drama unfold. “I’ll sort out some details on my end and send out an email. Have a great day everyone.” And just like that, she spun on her heel and with her head held high, walked away.

  Like all of the others, Brody watched her go with sheer amazement on his face. He’d been spending more and more time with Sarah since moving to Glacier Falls, and he was really enjoying getting to know her, but yet, even after all this time, she still had a few surprises up her sleeve. And dealing with mean moms was an impressive skill to say the least.

  He made small talk for a few more minutes, high fives all the kids and took his own leave shortly after.

  It was hot, and he would have loved to spend the rest of the day sitting in the shade somewhere, preferably with his feet in the water underneath the cool branches of a pine tree in the forest, but it was not to be. He had a restaurant to run, and despite his wildest dreams, Birchwood wasn’t yet running itself.

  The moment he stepped inside the restaurant, he knew something was wrong. If it was hot outside, it was an absolute sauna inside the walls. He went immediately to the thermostat on the wall, and groaned. He tapped at it, the extent of his knowledge to make it work again.

  “Shit.”

  The last thing he needed was one more thing that wasn’t working. Not when his list was already growing beyond the scope of things he would be able to handle—or afford. But air conditioning was going to have to go on the list. When he moved to Glacier Falls from his small town in rural Saskatchewan, he never would have expected it to get so hot in the middle of the summer. After all, wasn’t it supposed to be cool in the middle of the mountains? Apparently not so much. Not that he minded. At least, he wouldn’t have minded the heat if the air conditioning wasn’t broken.

  How was he supposed to serve customers when it was so hot?

  He pushed his way into the kitchen, where it must have been at least ten degrees warmer if it were even possible. “Tell me you brought a repair guy?” Amy, his head chef greeted him from behind the stove. “I feel like I’m going to pass out.”

  “How long has it been broken?” Forgoing his usual chef jacket, Brody grabbed an apron and tied it around his waist. “This is crazy.”

  “You’re telling me.” Amy wiped her brow and leaned against the counter. “I was going to get some stock started, but I think I might just abandon that plan altogether.”

  “Agreed. Try not to use the stove or the oven for anything. Maybe we can offer a special cool summer menu?” His brain started to spin with ideas as he spoke. “We can do a gazpacho, and salads of course. Maybe a ceviche and some sushi rolls.”

  “I like it.” Amy switched off the stove and her attempt at stock. “Especially if it keeps me even a little bit cool.”

  “And for dessert I’ll whip up some sorbets and maybe another ice cream cake.”

  “Another ice cream cake?” Amy wiggled her eyebrows. Brody had hired her about three months ago, and they’d become quick friends. She was a few years younger than he was, fresh out of a basic culinary program in the city and she’d proved to be not only a lot of fun to spend his days with, but also an incredibly talented chef. It was only a matter of time before he lost her to bigger and better things. He’d missed her on a professional level and as a close friend when that day came. “Don’t think I didn’t notice that cake in the freezer,” she continued. “I also noticed the note on it that said not to touch.”

  “It was a test cake.”

  “Riiigght.” Amy rolled her eyes. “A test cake. Interesting that it also happens to be mint chocolate chip.”

  “Why is that interesting?”

  “Oh, only because I happen to know that mint chocolate chip is a certain little girl’s favorite flavor.”

  Brody turned to look at his friend. “And how do you know that’s Rory’s favorite flavor?”

  “It’s every li
ttle girl’s favorite flavor, isn’t it?” She shot him a look, but Brody wasn’t imagining the blush he saw on his friend’s face. Sarah had mentioned more than once that Amy had been spending quite a bit of time around Rory’s auntie, Nicole. Brody definitely wasn’t going to ask, because it wasn’t his business, but judging by Amy’s reaction, his suspicions were correct and there was something more than friendship going on between the two.

  “Sure it is.” He winked. “But you’re right, it is Rory’s favorite, and I was going to take it over there later. But first, let me pull together some type of hot weather menu.” He moved to leave Amy in the kitchen, to head into his tiny office, when she stoped him.

  “Don’t forget to call a repair man.”

  He flinched, hoping she couldn’t see his reaction. “Of course. I’ll call a repair man.” He dropped his head and rubbed his temple as he mentally added, And the money to pay for it.

  Wanting Happily Ever After, Sarah and Brody’s story is next!

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  Also by Elena Aitken

  Ever After

  Choosing Happily Ever After

  Needing Happily Ever After

  Wanting Happily Ever After (July 2020)

  Fighting Happily Ever After (August 2020)

  * * *

  The McCormicks

  Love in the Moment

  Only for a Moment

  One more Moment

  In this Moment

  From this Moment

  Our Perfect Moment

  * * *

  Stand Alone Stories

  All We Never Knew

  Drawing Free

  Sugar Crash

  Composing Myself

  Betty & Veronica

  The Escape Collection

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  Vegas

  Nothing Stays in Vegas

  Return to Vegas

  * * *

  Timber Creek

  When We Left

  When We Were Us

  When We Began

  When We Fell

  * * *

  The Springs Series

  Summer of Change

  Falling Into Forever

  Second Glances (Novella)

  Winter’s Burn

  Midnight Springs

  She’s Making A List (Holiday Novella)

  Fighting For Forever (Novella)

  Summit of Desire

  Summit of Seduction

  Summit of Passion

  * * *

  The Springs Collection: Volume 1

  The Springs Collection: Volume 2

  The Springs Collection: Volume 3

  The Springs Complete Collection - Books 1-10

  * * *

  Castle Mountain Lodge

  Unexpected Gifts

  Hidden Gifts

  Unexpected Endings - Short Story

  Mistaken Gifts

  Secret Gifts

  Goodbye Gifts

  Tempting Gifts

  Holiday Gifts

  Promised Gifts

  Accidental Gifts

  The Castle Mountain Lodge Collection: Books 1-3

  The Castle Mountain Lodge Collection: Books 4-6

  The Castle Mountain Lodge Collection: Books 7-9

  The Castle Mountain Lodge Complete Collection

  * * *

  Destination Paradise

  Shelter by the Sea

  Escape to the Sun

  Hidden in the Sand - Available Soon!

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  Bears of Grizzly Ridge

  His to Protect

  His to Seduce

  His to Claim

  Hers to Take

  His to Defend

  His to Tame

  His to Seek

  Hers for the Season

  Bears of Grizzly Ridge: Books 1-4

  Bears of Grizzly Ridge: Books 5-8

  * * *

  Halfway Series

  Halfway to Nowhere

  Halfway in Between

  Halfway to Christmas

  About the Author

  Elena Aitken is a USA Today Bestselling Author of more than forty romance and women’s fiction novels. Living a stone’s throw from the Rocky Mountains with her teenager twins, their two cats and a goofy rescue dog, Elena escapes into the mountains whenever life allows. She can often be found with her toes in the lake and a glass of wine in her hand, dreaming up her next book and working on her own happily ever after with her very own mountain man.

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  To learn more about Elena:

  www.elenaaitken.com

  elena@elenaaitken.com

  Copyright © 2018 by Elena Aitken

  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.

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  This is a work of fiction. The events and characters described herein are imaginary and are not intended to refer to specific places or living persons. The opinions expressed in this manuscript are solely the opinions of the author and do not represent the opinions or thoughts of the publisher. The author has represented and warranted full ownership and/or legal right to publish all the materials in this book.

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