Trivial Pursuits (Chicago On Ice Book 2)

by Aven Ellis

  Kayla, or as Nana says, “the tart,” pretty much went underground when everything backfired in her face. Simona says she heard she’s moved to Dallas and wants to be a Demons ice girl. No doubt to try and catch one of the eligible players, like JP Rochat. I need to tell Landon to warn him if that happens.

  Aubrey and Beckett are engaged. Collins has recovered from her break up with Gabe and is still party planning for Suzanne’s Soirees. Taylor has moved up the career ladder in Minneapolis at the posh department store she works for, now serving as a personal shopper in the menswear department. But she’s not entirely happy there, and I don’t know if that is her future forever.

  Nana is still Nana, and we see her—along with my parents and Jamie—every Sunday for dinner. Sometimes it’s at their house, sometimes ours, or a restaurant. But we are always together, and Landon loves it. I know it’s the family life he always wanted, and now finally has, which makes me happy.

  I met his parents in Vancouver, and his sister Emily. I truly adore Emily, and we talk quite a bit now via Connectivity video chat. His mom, Grace, is painfully shy. It’s been harder for me to get to know her, but I know that will be a process over time. Landon’s dad, Craig, is very handsome and charismatic, and I see where Landon got those qualities from.

  My jewelry business has continued to grow—slowly, but it’s growing. I’m continuing to reinvest my profits in the line and my newly launched fall collection has been doing well.

  “Livy?” Landon asks, interrupting my thoughts.

  I blink. “Sorry. Now I was thinking.”

  “About what?” Landon asks, all serious.

  “About how much has changed and how far we’ve come,” I say truthfully. “But enough about that. Let’s go greet the kids. They are going to be so excited you’re back.”

  Landon sits still. His hand is still on the steering wheel, and the engine is running. His focus is straight ahead, and then he draws a big breath of air.

  “Landon, what is wrong with you?” I ask. “You’ve been acting weird all day.”

  Landon quickly shakes his head. “No, I’m fine. Great. Let’s go.”

  Before I can grill him, he turns off the engine and slips out of the car.

  I’m still staring at him, my nose wrinkled.

  “I know you have that crease in your nose,” Landon says as he opens the back door to retrieve his jersey.

  I laugh. “I do.”

  I climb out of the car and move to the trunk to retrieve my art supplies. Landon tugs his navy and gold Buffaloes jersey over his head and helps me carry in the plastic tubs of molding clay, colored chalks, and paint.

  We head up to the school and ring the back doorbell. Normally I can see the children having snacks in the cafeteria but today it’s empty.

  That’s weird, I think.

  Darcy, who is still the lead coordinator, comes into view. As soon as she sees us a big smile lights up her face.

  She opens the door and allows us to enter. “We are so excited you’re here.”

  I smile. I know it’s because Landon has finally returned to the program.

  “Where are all the kids?” I ask, setting my bag down on a vacant cafeteria table.

  “They are eagerly waiting for you,” Darcy says excitedly. “They’ve been working on a surprise for you, Livy.”

  “What?” I ask. “For me?”

  “Yes,” Darcy takes a few steps forward, toward the stage. “Curtains and action!” she calls out.

  I glance at Landon, who is gazing straight ahead. I turn my attention to the stage and all the children are there, but some are dressed in costumes from Alice in Wonderland, my favorite book. I notice they are all holding cards, too.

  A little girl dressed like Alice heads up to the microphone. “Miss Livy, we’re going to read some of your favorite quotes from your most favorite book in the whole world!”

  I step forward, stunned. How did they know this? How—

  I turn around. Landon smiles at me. He moves behind me and puts his arms around me.

  “Just watch,” he murmurs in my ear.

  My heart is racing. Something is up. Landon obviously orchestrated this for me as a surprise.

  My favorite quotes are read by Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the Queen of Hearts. The music teacher, Mrs. Pope, plays music in between each reading.

  When they are finished, Darcy regroups the children on the stage.

  “Now, we have a very important question to ask on behalf of Landy,” Darcy says happily. “Children, it’s time to flip your cards!”

  I watch as the children laugh and giggle and flip over their cards. My eyes quickly read what they spell out:

  DesignerA, will you marry me? Scott921.

  “Oh my God,” I gasp, shaking. “Oh my God.”

  Landon drops down on one knee in front of me. I’m trembling like a leaf. He takes my hand in his, and I’m shocked to discover his hand is shaking a bit, too.

  “Livy, this is where our journey started. I never dreamed that being here would lead me to you. When I discovered your true identity, that you were DesignerA, I knew something greater was at work. I was meant to be with you. I was meant to love you. And nothing would make me happier than to have that honor for the rest of my life if you will let me.”

  Landon releases my hand and opens a black velvet box in front of me. “Livy Adams, will you marry me?”

  I stare down at the ring in shock. It’s a huge round diamond, circled by a row of small pink and white bead-set diamonds, set in a diamond band. It’s a breathtaking design by Tiffany, one I had mentioned I had loved to him a long time ago.

  “Landon,” I whisper, tears filling my eyes. “Yes. Yes.” I begin frantically nodding. “Yes, I’ll marry you!” I yell with happiness.

  The children begin cheering. Landon grins and slides the ring onto my finger, and I’m overwhelmed with joy. Landon stands up and kisses me.

  “You said yes,” Landon whispers.

  “I said yes,” I giggle.

  “SHE SAID YES!” he yells excitedly.

  All the children begin cheering again, and Landon draws me into his arms, hugging me tightly.

  “Let’s celebrate with a snack, children,” Darcy says happily. “Mr. Landy has brought Zingers for everyone!”

  The children cheer again in celebration, and I can’t help but laugh.

  Darcy quickly turns and smiles at us. “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you,” we both say.

  As the children scramble off the stage and excited chatter fills the room, I turn and face my fiancé.

  “There’s no going back now,” I tease Landon. “You gave me the perfect proposal. And a ring. And I said yes.”

  Landon cups my face in his hands. “I’m all in, Kale Chip. For the rest of my life.”

  “For the rest of my life, too, my precious Zinger,” I repeat as his lips find mine.

  I’m going to be Mrs. Landon Holder, I think in amazement.

  As I kiss him, I see a future of love, friendship, and family with this amazing man. I never dreamed this playboy, tattooed, hockey player would be the love of my life.

  I break the kiss and gaze up at him, overwhelmed with love. You never know when you’ll find your missing puzzle piece. But when you do, there’s no doubt about it. It just fits.

  Forever.

  Also by Aven Ellis and Soul Mate Publishing:

  CONNECTIVITY

  Overachiever Mary-Kate Grant (who is indeed named after an Olsen Twin) has followed every rule to the letter to pursue her dream of working in TV programming. Ripping a page from the “hard work pays off” playbook, she takes an assistant level job at a Chicago sports network to break into the industry.

  MK has no time or desire for
a relationship right now—she is totally focused on her career and being independent, unlike the other women in her family.

  But MK’s plans are run through the shredder when she finds herself working for William Cumberland, a British media mogul who made his fortune with Connectivity, a social media site. William blows into Chicago just like the winds off Lake Michigan and purchases the group of networks MK works for—and makes her his personal assistant in the process.

  Suddenly MK finds her career plans in jeopardy. William makes her question everything she has ever thought and has the uncanny ability to see right through her. And for the first time in her life, MK finds herself not only questioning what she wants for her career but for her personal life as well.

  Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/npzdr6c

  WAITING FOR PRINCE HARRY

  Twenty-four-year-old Kylie Reed has always been a rule follower. Organized and cautious to a fault, her dreams for life are often filed away for future use—when she has a house, when she meets her future husband, when she has been at her visual display job at a chic Dallas boutique longer. Kylie always has a reason for living her life in the future, not in the present, and fears not living her life to the fullest and reaching her dream of becoming a fashion designer.

  The only exception to rules, of course, would be running away with Prince Harry. But living in Dallas and not knowing Prince Harry make this a non-option.

  Or does it?

  Because when Kylie accidentally falls into the lap of a gorgeous ginger guy—yes, even more gorgeous than the real Prince Harry—all bets are off. Kylie’s life takes some unexpected twists and turns thanks to this encounter. Could this stranger be the one to show Kylie how to live in the present?

  Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/paapxo8

  CHRONICLES OF A

  LINCOLN PARK FASHIONISTA

  Recent college graduate Avery Andrews is ready to begin a new life in the big city. She’s landed an apartment in Chicago’s famed Lincoln Park neighborhood–and has her eye on the cute commodity trader just a floor above.

  If Premier Airlines knew about her fear of flying, they never would have hired her to be their marketing assistant—but it’s not like Avery wants a lifelong career. Right now she simply wants a job to pay her bills . . . and fund a few little shopping excursions, too.

  Her new lifestyle comes with a price tag, as Avery is not only faced with paying a ridiculous rent but finds she’s perceived as one of the vacant, husband-hunting fashionistas who live in the area. Avery resents this stereotype. So she doesn’t want a lifelong career, and she loves fashions she can’t afford, but that doesn’t mean she is empty-headed and spoiled, does it?

  When an opportunity to participate in a documentary at work arises, Avery finds a two-fold solution to her problems. She’ll earn extra money for it, and the documentary will show her as a serious career woman, enabling her to shed that husband-hunting fashionista label for good.

  When the camera is on, Avery attempts to be a motivated professional woman. But when she is challenged by Deacon Ryan, the videographer assigned to cover her story, Avery finds herself wanting things she was never supposed to want—like a lasting career—and Deacon. And Avery might just gain more from the experience than a perfect career image and extra cash to put in her Tory Burch wallet . . .

  Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/mv87r8v

  THE DEFINITION OF ICING

  Kenley Hunter finally has everything sorted out. Fresh from studying chocolate making in Europe, she's gambling everything on her new business, Confection Consultations.

  All Kenley wants in life is people to take her seriously, to see the person on the inside rather than the blond beauty on the outside. While pursuing her passion of chocolate, Kenley discovered people seek her knowledge. They see past the exterior and fall for the chocolate delights in front of them.

  So with work as her focus, Kenley is ready to start her career in Dallas. Men are out of her recipe, because she fears that once they get past her looks, they’ll be disappointed in what they find. Kenley decides she's all about the chocolate now.

  Or is she?

  Because a chance meeting with new Dallas Demon hockey star Nate Johansson might change everything. Sent to Dallas in a blockbuster trade, Nate is somewhere he doesn't want to be, for reasons that have caused him heartbreak on multiple levels. Nate knows he will never trust a woman again after what happened to him in Minnesota.

  But when he meets a woman with an intriguing name and a passion for chocolate, Nate isn't so sure about his theory. And he might just learn a definition of icing other than the one used in hockey with Kenley as his guide . . .

  Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/pjh8fab

  THE AUBREY RULES

  (CHICAGO ON ICE SERIES BOOK 1)

  Some of the Aubrey Rules to Live By:

  *If I’m going to indulge in French fries, I must add extra time to the treadmill the next day.

  *Always keep your work and private life separate.

  *Being open to new experiences will never involve eating kale.

  *Never, ever date a professional athlete.

  For Chicago social media professional Aubrey Paige, the rules are everything. So much so that Aubrey has painstakingly written her rules for living into a polka-dot Kate Spade notebook that she carries with her at all times. It’s her personal guidebook to living her life. These rules are the Holy Grail—ones never to be broken. They guide her actions for everything, from dealing with workplace drama to finding a great guy to date. After all, these are her own rules, built from her life experiences and observations. So they have to be perfect, right?

  Or are they?

  Because when Aubrey meets a cute Canadian, she suddenly finds her rules being tested and challenged in ways she never dreamed possible. Beckett Riley is the shy, quiet, determined captain of the Chicago Buffaloes, a hockey team on the verge of turning the corner to becoming a winning organization. He’s Aubrey's opposite, with so many qualities that Aubrey had listed as ones she’d never want in a man.

  Yet Aubrey finds herself drawn to Beckett in ways she’s never known. And when she unexpectedly finds herself working with Beckett, she wonders if rules are meant to be broken after all . . .

  Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/oxbmobd

  SURVIVING THE RACHEL

  Bree Logan is ready to start her post-college life, but when she’s dumped by The One, unable to land a professional job, and has to move back in with her parents, she doesn’t think things can get worse until she ends up with her hair chopped into The Rachel, the infamous haircut made famous by the show Friends. Which is not good since it’s no longer 1994. But sometimes you have to go through challenges to get what you really need, and for Bree, could that include a different career and a romance with Jack Chelten, the boy-next-door?

  Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/nnkzjfj

  BREAKOUT

  While Texas is known for loving football, Lexi Stewart has always been drawn to the ice. Hockey is her passion, and she wants nothing more than to pursue a career in video editing for the home network of the Dallas Demons hockey team.

  Lexi has an editing job for a corporate account, but it’s not fulfilling. Nor is her dating life, despite having the so-called help of The One Online Dating Service. Lexi knows there has to be more for her—on both fronts. She’s ready to take the next step, but it doesn't seem like it’s going to happen anytime soon.

  Until a flying puck changes everything.

  Niko Xenakis is the new Dallas Demons TV producer, and he’s looking to make his mark in his new role and hopefully work his way back to his hometown of Baltimore. But once he meets Lexi, he might just change his mind on what he wants for his future . . .

  But the ro
ad to love is never easy, complicated by the fact that they both carry emotional baggage from the past in their hearts. Can these two “breakout”of the past to find love in the present?

  Available now on Amazon: http://tinyurl.com/hsmgujh