Ever After: The Christmas Cottage, #2

By Samantha Chase

She could have had the fairy tale wedding of her dreams. Instead, she walked away to find her true happily ever after.

 

But it found her before she could even start her search.

 

It took her eight months, but Ava Callahan finally has her life just how she wants it after walking out on her own wedding. But it doesn't take long for chaos to reign once again thanks to a chance encounter with the man who threw her world into complete disarray in the first place.

 

Brian McCabe has spent eight months seeking the women he loves but he's about to run out of patience. There's no time left for subtlety and he'll do what it takes to get Ava's attention, including purposefully putting himself in her path even when it doesn't always work out the way he wanted. Now he just needs to hope that she'll finally see him for who he is.

 

Her happily ever after.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Samantha Chase
• Release date: Jun 9, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201071448

Samantha Chase

New York Times and USA Today Bestseller/contemporary romance writer Samantha Chase released her debut novel, Jordan's Return, in November 2011. Although she waited until she was in her 40's to publish for the first time, writing has been a lifelong passion. Her motivation to take that step was her students: teaching creative writing to elementary age students all the way up through high school and encouraging those students to follow their writing dreams gave Samantha the confidence to take that step as well. When she's not working on a new story, she spends her time reading contemporary romances, playing way too many games of Scrabble or Solitaire on Facebook and spending time with her husband of 25 years and their two sons in North Carolina.

Book preview

Prologue

It was hard to stand there feeling sorry for yourself when everyone around you was so damn happy. On what was supposed to have been her wedding day, Ava Callahan willingly relegated herself to the role of maid of honor due to a last-minute substitution of the bride and groom in the form of Ava’s brother and her best friend, Lacey. While she could admit there was some lingering sadness at the breakup of her engagement to Mason Brooks, her primary emotion was relief.

She hadn’t really loved Mason. She’d loved the idea of getting married and having her fairy tale wedding.

A wedding that was now being celebrated by another bride and groom. Looking across the room at the happy couple, Ava couldn’t help but smile. Dang it! She’d always known Lacey had been in love with Ean, and seeing them dancing together now, Ava did envy them just a little. Not in a green-eyed-monster kind of way, but in a wistful, can’t-help-but-sigh kind of way.

They hadn’t seen each other in a dozen years, and yet in less than two months Lacey and Ean were so in love, and it was obvious to anyone who was in the room with them. How did one find that kind of love? How do you find your soulmate? Was there even such a thing?

Ava took a long sip of her champagne and looked around the room. Everyone was happy, everyone was smiling. Occasionally she’d catch someone looking at her with a little sadness, a little pity, but she could understand why and didn’t hold it against them.

Earlier in the day, when she and Mason had decided not to go through with the wedding, it had all been very civil, very dignified. She guessed that’s how it went when neither party felt overly emotional about the other.

How had she missed all the signs? When had she and Mason gone from being in love to being just two people planning a wedding? When had they fallen out of love? Ava wracked her brain, trying valiantly to remember the last time she had actually felt anything resembling love for the man she almost married, and was shocked to realize that she couldn’t.

That wasn’t a good sign.

In the last couple of months, she’d immersed herself in wedding planning and ignored the now obvious signs that something was wrong with their relationship. The chance at having her fairy tale wedding, including her night in the famous Callahan Christmas Cottage, a place that promised love everlasting to any couple who stayed there, was too strong of a draw to slow her down enough to see reality.

She didn’t love Mason and he didn’t love her. End of story.

They both had an agenda. Ava’s was to get married; Mason’s was to have a wife to help cement his image in his law firm. In the end, Ava realized that the kind of wife Mason wanted was never something she was capable of.

Thank goodness they had come to their senses before walking down the aisle!

As the wedding had drawn closer, people tried to warn her, especially the now happily married Lacey and Ean. Unfortunately, Ava’s stubborn streak refused to let them be right. When she and Mason had finally come to an agreement earlier in the day, it turned out he’d had people warning him as well.

Particularly vocal on that end was Mason’s friend and former best man, Brian McCabe.

A shiver ran down Ava’s spine at the thought of Brian, and she could feel a blush creep up her cheeks. She turned to look out the window just in case anyone had noticed. Looking out at the wintry landscape, she vowed that no one, not Mason or Lacey or anyone, would ever know Brian had come to see her last night or his reasons why he was so opposed to her marrying his best friend.

I’d like to make a toast, someone yelled from across the room. Ava turned, a genuine smile on her face, her glass raised. To Lacey and Ean! May you have a lifetime of love and happiness and may your fairy tale never end!

Everyone raised their glasses and cheered as the happy couple sipped their drinks and then kissed. Ava sipped her own champagne before turning to look out the window again, wondering When will my fairy tale begin?

Chapter One

You’re doing it again.

Doing what?

You’re looking.

Looking at what?

The bump.

Ava rolled her eyes. You are almost eight months pregnant, Lacey! Stop calling it the bump!

Smiling, Lacey ran a hand over her rounded belly. Doesn’t change the fact that you were staring at it. What’s up with that?

Why can’t you just call it a baby?

Now it was Lacey’s chance to roll her eyes. Because your brother is making me crazy! When I refer to it as a she, he reminds me that we could very well be having a boy. Then he gets suspicious that I’ve had some secret ultrasound he wasn’t invited to and that I actually know the sex of the baby! I don’t know who’s going to be more of a handful when I give birth, the baby or your brother!

So because you can’t say anything gender specific, you’ve decided it’s better to call the baby ‘the bump’? Ava asked. That’s just weird.

No, what’s weird is watching an intelligent, grown man trying to wrap me and everything around me in bubble wrap so I don’t get hurt.

Ava had to agree on that score. He loves you and he wants to make sure you’re okay. I think it’s sweet.

Oh, it is, and believe me, I love him more every day because of it. I just wish he’d relax a little bit.

Ean doesn’t know how to relax. You’ve known him your whole life and you married him. Clearly this can’t be news to you?

It’s not, Lacey sighed, but it’s exhausting, too.

Ava would have been worried, but Lacey’s tone held nothing but affection. As much as she might be griping, there were no two people more in love than the expectant parents. It was enough to make a person sick.

So, you invite a pregnant woman who cannot have caffeine to a coffee shop, Lacey began as she inhaled deeply. This must be important.

He’s getting married. Who?

Mason.

Lacey was glad she wasn’t drinking anything because she surely would have spit it out. How did you find out?

I ran into him.

Where?

Here.

Knowing Mason wasn’t here at the moment, Lacey still couldn’t stifle the urge to look around. Is this the first time you’ve seen him?

Since the wedding?

Lacey nodded.

Yes, it is, Ava replied, finally taking a sip from her own now-cool latte. It’s weird because we used to come here all the time, and to not run into Mason once in eight months seemed unusual.

Was he alone or was he with…her? Lacey asked cautiously.

Geez, you don’t have to be so dramatic, Lace. I was in line and Mason walked in, alone, and it was a little bit awkward but we got our drinks and sat down and that’s when he told me.

Lacey waited to see if there was going to be more to the story, and then got tired of waiting. And?

And what?

Talking to you is painful sometimes, Ava, you know that?

Her name is Melissa. She’s a paralegal at his firm. They met three months ago. Funny, but it didn’t even bother her to say those words out loud.

"Wow, how very When Harry Met Sally of him."

Ava’s brows furrowed. What?

Oh, come on! Remember the movie? When her ex announced he was getting married to the paralegal?

"Seriously? You think now is the time to go quoting romantic comedies to me?"

Immediately Lacey felt remorseful. Sorry, I was just trying to lighten the mood. Are you okay?

The thing is, I’m fine. I really am. I thought I would be more upset. It’s just that…

Are you still upset that you didn’t marry Mason?

Oh, gosh no! No, I realize that would have been a huge mistake. It’s just that…

Are you upset he found someone so quick?

Ava almost growled in frustration. No, I’m not upset that Mason found someone else. I want him to be happy. It’s just that…

Was he unkind? Did he gloat?

"For the love of it, Lacey, if you would just shut it for one minute I could tell you exactly what it is!"

Ava’s tone was a bit loud and several heads turned to stare at them.

Sorry, Lacey mumbled and sat back in her seat.

It’s just that I thought I’d be married by now. What’s wrong with me that I’m not on my way to being married? Am I that horrible?

Lacey reached across the table and grabbed her friend’s hand. Oh, sweetie, that’s not it at all! You aren’t a horrible person. You’ve taken the time to pursue your education and you’re getting your degree in less than a week! Don’t focus on what you don’t have, Ava, think about all that you do!

Well, a library sciences degree is not helping me get down the aisle or start a family.

Dramatic much? Lacey asked, her light sarcasm bringing a smile to Ava’s face.

I’m twenty-seven. I’m just beginning to doubt that it will ever happen for me, Lace. I was so wrapped up in reaching the goal of getting married that I almost married the wrong man!

But you didn’t! You came to your senses, and although your timing was a bit off, you knew Mason wasn’t the one for you.

I guess.

Look, falling in love is not something you can arrange or mark on your calendar. It just happens. It’s going to happen for you, she said and then paused. You do realize that would mean you’d have to actually start dating again.

Ava frowned. I was afraid you’d mention that.

It’s been eight months. Enough time has gone by and it’s time for you to go out and meet some people.

I meet people all the time, Lacey.

Right. Other students, in the bookstore where you work. All very safe. How’s that working for you?

Gosh, you’re annoying when you’re right, Ava mumbled. I hate the dating scene! That’s what was great about Mason, he struck up a conversation with me in a coffee shop.

I think you need therapy. You spend way too much time in coffee shops…

So what am I supposed to do, huh? Online dating? Place an ad in the personals? You’re right, there’s no one at work I’m remotely interested in. I’m telling you, Lacey, dating is hard work. The hair, the makeup, the fake giggle… It’s not me!

Who says it has to be? Why can’t you just strike up a conversation with a man you find attractive, even if it is here in a coffee shop?

Ava looked around and frowned. There’s no one here, Lace. And in case you haven’t noticed, no one is tripping over themselves to come talk to me, either. She sat back in her chair and her look dared Lacey to argue with her. You see? It’s just…

Hello, Ava, a masculine voice said from directly behind her.

Oh gosh! Oh no! Ava squeezed her eyes shut and prayed that her subconscious was playing tricks on her. There was no way this was happening right here, right now. Slowly opening her eyes, she looked at Lacey, who was staring back at her, her eyebrows raised expectantly.

Swallowing the lump that had lodged itself in her throat, Ava slowly turned around. Oh, hi, Brian. She took in the sight of him: all six-foot-plus of solid muscle that shouldn’t look as good as it did in a pair of faded jeans and plain T-shirt.

May I join you?

Of course! Lacey said before Ava could stop her.

Brian grabbed a vacant chair and pulled it up to the table. So, Ava, how’ve you been?

Fine, thank you, Ava replied nervously. God, how she hated small talk. It was tedious and annoying, and what was worse was having an audience to her misery. Brian, this is my friend Lacey.

Lacey leaned forward to shake Brian’s hand. Nice to meet you, she said, smiling.

You too, he responded and then nodded toward her belly. Congratulations. When are you due?

Another five weeks and believe me, I cannot wait!

Honeymoon baby? he asked and both Lacey and Ava’s eyebrows shot up. Brian cleared his throat before speaking. Oh, um, Mason mentioned that you and Ava’s brother took their places back at Christmas.

Ava was shocked but before she could say anything, Lacey was speaking. As a matter of fact, it was! Ean and I couldn’t be happier. After waiting so long to be together, it didn’t seem necessary to wait to have a baby.

Well, pregnancy certainly agrees with you, he said with a wide grin. You are positively glowing.

Lacey blushed. Thank you, Brian. She was about to say more but noticed the scowl on Ava’s face and quickly silenced herself.

Brian continued to smile as he turned his attention to Ava. He took a slow sip of his coffee and had to stifle a sigh. He’d waited. He’d kept his distance. Now that Mason was engaged again and Ava was ready to graduate, Brian felt the time