by Elena Aitken
It was the first time she’d spoken the words aloud but they felt exactly right, so she said them again.
And again.
Finally, he laughed and kissed her. “Milena, I love you too. Always.”
“I don’t think I’ll ever get tired of hearing that.”
“Good,” he said. “Because I’m not going to stop saying it. Now, are you ready to do this?”
She smiled and nodded. A month ago, she would have run and hid from what she was about to do, but love had a funny way of changing everything. With Cal at her side, she’d never felt stronger, more beautiful, or as confident as she did at that moment. There was nothing she couldn’t handle. Even the spotlight.
Chapter Sixteen
“Will we see you tonight, Cal?” They’d just finished the first day of shooting for Mr. Summer and Bryon was ready to celebrate. As was the rest of the cast. As much as Cal wanted to hang out with them and toast to a successful first day, he also couldn’t wait to get over to Milena’s house and hold her in his arms. He couldn’t help it; he was totally in love with her.
“Make sure you bring that beautiful woman of yours, too,” Alison added.
“Now you’re speaking his language.” Byron laughed. “Of course you better bring her. Your public demands it.”
Cal laughed. It was true. Ever since their coming out party just over a week ago, and the pictures Bria Sheridan had taken to document it, Cal and Milena had become Hollywood’s new up-and-coming couple. People all over the world were talking about them, and how cute they looked together. They even had their own moniker—Calina. It made Cal’s eyes roll, but Milena was happy they at least had some positive attention.
“Of course we’ll be there,” he told his friends. “Today absolutely needs to be celebrated. We did great today, guys.”
“You did.” Jade appeared next to him, a clipboard in her hands. “I think we really have a dream cast now. You guys are going to be famous. Are you ready for it?”
“Oh, I think we can handle it.” Byron slipped his arm around Alison and pulled her close but she smacked him and pushed away.
“We’ll be just fine,” she said to Jade. “And you,” she said to Byron. “If you’re looking to be the next Calina, keep looking.”
Cal shook his head with a laugh. “And on that note, I’m off to pick up my better half. She has something to show me before we meet up with you guys.”
“I’m sure she does.”
He shot Byron a look and shook his head but didn’t bother responding because secretly he was hoping that what Milena was going to show him did involve a little alone time. They’d both been so busy since the party they hadn’t had a lot of time to be alone together. And as much as Cal appreciated that Milena’s dad was cool with him staying over, he couldn’t help but feel weird about it. They needed to find some alone time, and soon.
Thirty minutes later, he’d grabbed a quick shower and was carrying an armload of files for Milena as she locked up the office and headed out to his car parked out front. “Don’t tell me you need to work on all of these tonight,” he said. “We’re supposed to meet everyone at the Grizzly Paw to celebrate the first day of filming.”
“Not tonight,” she answered with a laugh. “But in the next few days. These are the files for that new condo development I was telling you about.”
“Cedar Springs Heights? When are they starting that one?”
“Soon. I think they might be breaking ground in the next few weeks. The plan is to have the show suite ready in November and the first units available early in the new year. With any luck, I’ll be able to sell them all by Christmas. But first, I need to go through all this documentation.”
“Tomorrow.” Cal tucked the files into the trunk. “And I have no doubt you’ll sell all the units in no time. You’re the best real estate agent I know.” He kissed her on the cheek and held the door for her.
“I’m glad you think so,” she said when he was settled behind the wheel. “Because I’m really excited to show you something I think you’re going to like.”
“A house?” The last thing he’d expected her to want to show him was a house. They’d talked a little bit about where he was going to live because he couldn’t keep crashing at his brother’s house, but Milena had been so busy with her growing client list, Cal didn’t want her to have to worry about him. “I told you not to worry about it until things slowed down for you. You shouldn’t have—”
“This one just fell into my lap, Cal. And the minute it did…well, wait till you see it.”
He followed her directions out of town and up the mountain toward the ski hill. Before they reached Stone Summit, they turned off a small side road that turned out to be a driveway. “What is this place?”
“Wait.” She laughed. “You’re going to love it.”
The road was rough, but not unmanageable for his BMW. It was heavily lined with trees, and it wasn’t until they turned around a bend that Cal saw the house.
It was a beautiful log cabin-style house with an oversized covered porch. There was a garage off to the side, and a few flower beds filled with shrubs and pine trees.
“This is…how did you even know this existed?”
“It’s perfect, isn’t it?” Milena practically jumped out of her seat. “Come and look.”
They went inside and quickly toured the bedrooms, gourmet kitchen, and living area. It was the perfect size for them.
Them.
Because there was no doubt in Cal’s mind that Milena belonged in that house just as much as he did. “It’s absolutely perfect,” he said to her as they stood in the kitchen. “It’s like it was made to order.”
“Right?” She nodded enthusiastically. “It’s private and it has so much outdoor space. And I haven’t even shown you the best part yet.”
“You haven’t?”
She shook her head and grabbed his hand. “Come with me.”
Milena led him outside and down a beaten path through the garden and into the woods.
“Are we going for a hike?”
“Don’t be silly. It’s not far.”
He smelled it before they got there. A hot spring. A few moments later, they came upon a natural hot pool fed by a small bubbling stream coming out of the rocks.
“There’s no way? This is on the property?”
She nodded smugly.
“I’ll take it.” He didn’t even need to know how much it was. He wanted the house. He had to have the house. “As long as you want it?”
Her smile faltered for a moment but then she asked, “Me? But it’s your house.”
“No, sweetheart. This is our house and you know it.”
She nodded. “I do. I didn’t want to presume, but…”
“It’s perfect.”
It wasn’t until they were on their way back to town when she told him the house had been owned by a wealthy widower who’d moved to town after his wife died a few years earlier. He’d recently decided to move back to the city to spend more time with his grandchildren and the house had just come on the market earlier that day.
“I guess it pays to know the right people.” Cal slid his hand across the seat and entwined his fingers with hers. “And you, sweetheart, are definitely the right people.”
“You know it.” Milena laughed and threw her head back. “Now let’s go celebrate. It’s not every day you film the first day of what’s going to be the most successful television show on TV.”
“Absolutely.”
It only took a few minutes to get back into town. The Grizzly Paw was full of people celebrating and the second they walked in, Cal was cheered, patted on the back, and toasted more times than he could count. It took a few minutes to cross the room to where his brothers and Chelsea sat with Gwen and Jade. But as soon as they slid into their seats, drinks were put in front of them and another toast was done.
“Here’s to fame and fortune.” Mitch laughed. “At least for some of the family.”
“I�
��ll drink to that.”
“Cheers.”
“Hey,” Chelsea said. “I just realized that Dec and I are the only ones not involved with the show. Well, I guess Amber isn’t either. But she’s not here so she doesn’t count.”
“That’s perfectly fine by me,” Dec said.
“Really?” Ian narrowed his eyes. “Because you’re sure hanging around town a long time. I was starting to think you wanted a role too.”
“Oh, I don’t think that’s why Declan’s hanging out at the lake this summer.” Cal nudged him with an elbow. “We didn’t really finish that conversation the other day, did we, Dec? What’s the deal with Evie? When are you going to ask her out?”
Declan took a long sip of his drink before he set it down and wiped his mouth. “I’m not.”
“You’re not?” Gwen asked. “Why not? You obviously like her.”
“I do.” He nodded. “She’s beautiful, smart, successful, and one of the sweetest people I’ve met in a really long time.”
“That sounds pretty perfect.” Jade shook her head. “So tell us, why aren’t you asking her out?”
“Simple.” Dec pressed his lips together and tapped his hand on the table one time. “It’s not the right thing to do.”
There was so much more that Cal needed to know, that they all needed to know, but at that moment, Byron stood on the bar and tapped a fork against his glass, drawing everyone’s attention.
“I just wanted to thank everyone involved in finally getting us to this point,” he said. “You’ve all been a pleasure to work with and I know that this team will lead us to awards and ratings.”
The crowd cheered and raised their glasses in the air.
“Let’s hear from the star of our show, Mr. Summer himself.” Byron waved his hand in Cal’s direction.
Cal looked to his older brother, but Ian only laughed and gestured to him to stand. So he did. “I know everyone wants to get back to celebrating,” he said. “But I think it’s important to give a big shout-out to the real Mr. and Mrs. Summer, Ian and Gwen.” Everyone cheered until the couple stood and kissed for the crowd. When they returned to their seats and the cheering died down, Cal kept talking. “I’m so proud to be working on this show because not only do we have the best cast and crew like Byron said, but the whole idea of Mr. Summer and everything it stands for is love, and I think that’s a pretty special thing to focus on. It was Gwen and Ian’s love that got us here today. It’s the whole basis of the show we work hard on every day and of course, being here brought me to my own love.” He winked at Milena, who blew him a kiss. “So tonight, as we celebrate, let’s all remember why we’re here and as cheesy as it is…”
“And it is cheesy,” Byron yelled.
“Thanks, Byron.” Cal laughed. “I recognize that I’m a sucker for it, but we should all have it. Raise a glass to love!”
Everyone around him did just that and whoops and cheers rose up from the crowd.
Before he returned to his seat, Cal took a moment to look around the room and soak it all in. His eyes landed on Declan, the only one of his family members not smiling. Instead, there was a different look in his eyes as he gazed across the room at the woman who’d just walked in.
Evie.
What the hell was going on with his brother? Anyone could see he was falling for the woman. Knowing Declan, there had to be a good reason for why he wasn’t asking her out, but what was it?
“Cal?”
Milena held out her hand, which he readily took.
“They’re playing our song.” She smiled.
He laughed and kissed her hand. “Then we should dance.” He led her to the dance floor, oblivious as to what song was playing. It didn’t matter, because when it came to Milena, every song was their song. And he’d happily dance with her forever.
THE END
If you enjoyed One More Moment, you’ll probably like the next in the series, In this Moment is available for pre-order NOW. In the meantime make sure you have read Love in the Moment the first in the McCormick Series. And for more free books and exciting news make sure to stay in touch with me!
About the Author
Elena Aitken is a USA Today Bestselling Author of more than twenty romance and women’s fiction novels. Living a stone’s throw from the Rocky Mountains with her teenager twins and their two cats, 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.
To learn more about Elena:
www.elenaaitken.com
[email protected]
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Promised Gifts
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You're invited back to Castle Mountain Lodge!
For as long as she could remember, Marissa Duncan had been completely and totally in love with her older brother’s best friend. She spent her teenage years secretly crushing on Nick Slater until one day—sure he felt the same way— she got up the courage to tell him how she felt.
But instead of reciprocating her affection, the boy she’d fallen in love with had laughed in her face and sent her away broken hearted.
It’s been five years since Nick has seen Marissa Duncan. Five years that he hasn’t been able to stop thinking about her and what could have been if he’d followed his heart the night she’d confessed her love to him. But the timing hadn’t been right, and there was a code between friends. He couldn’t date his best friends little sister. No matter what.
For five years, Marissa has managed to avoid Nick, but there will be no way to avoid him at her brother’s wedding at Castle Mountain Lodge, the most romantic location in the Rockies. Especially since Nick’s the best man, and she’s agreed to be the maid of honor. She has no reason to be nervous, after all, she’s no longer the awkward, uncertain teenager she once was. Besides, what she felt for Nick was only a childhood crush.
Things have changed.
Haven’t they?
~A sweet contemporary romance~
Author's note: While Promised Gifts can be read and enjoyed as a stand alone novel, check out the rest of the Castle Mountain Lodge Series for more mountain romance!
Unexpected Gifts--(Colin & Andi)
Hidden Gifts--(Bo & Morgan)
Mistaken Gifts--(Jeff & Eva)
Secret Gifts--(Gage & Megan)
Goodbye Gifts--(Dylan & Carmen)
Tempting Gifts--(Jason & Lisa)
Holiday Gifts--(Ryan & Julie)
Promised Gifts -- (Nick & Marissa)
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Also by Elena Aitken
The McCormicks
Love in the Moment
Going for the Moment
Only for a Moment
One more Moment
In this Moment - Available August 2017
The Springs Series
Summer of Change
Falling Into Forever
Winter’s Burn
Midnight Springs
Second Glances
She’s Making A List
The Seasons: Volume 1
The Seasons: Volume 2
Fighting For Forever
The Springs Complete Collection - Books 1-10
The Springs—Stone Summit
Summit of Desire
Summit of Seduction
Summit of Passion
Stone Summit Trilogy
/> Destination Paradise
Shelter by the Sea
Escape to the Sun
Hidden in the Sand - Available Winter 2017
Bears of Grizzly Ridge
His to Protect
His to Seduce
His to Claim
Hers to Take
Castle Mountain Lodge
Unexpected Gifts
Hidden Gifts
Unexpected Endings - Short Story
Mistaken Gifts
Secret Gifts
Goodbye Gifts
Tempting Gifts
Holiday Gifts
Promised Gifts - Available Oct 13, 2017
The Castle Mountain Lodge Collection: Books 1-4
The Castle Mountain Lodge Collection: Books 5-8
Escape Collection
Nothing Stays in Vegas
Return to Vegas
Drawing Free
Sugar Crash
Composing Myself
Betty & Veronica
The Escape Collection
Halfway Series
Halfway to Nowhere
Halfway in Between
Halfway to Christmas
Copyright © 2017 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.
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.
