Jordan: Guardians of the North, #2

By Kali Hart

Ella

Today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life.
But I couldn't do it.
I couldn't walk down the aisle and marry the wrong man.
So, I ditch my own wedding and board a plane.
I'm probably crazy for showing up in North Haven, Alaska unannounced.
It's been ten years since I last saw Jordan Harris.
Considering I was the one who broke his heart, I doubt he'll want to see me.
But I have to know if what we once had is possible to have again.
I've never stopped loving him.
I only hope he'll forgive me before my overbearing mother discovers where I ran off to and tries to break us apart a second time.

Jordan

Another birthday, another year older, another girlfriend caught cheating.
The pathetic thing is that I'm not even surprised.
Or hurt.
I knew she wasn't The One.
It doesn't matter that Ella McKay broke my heart ten years ago.
I still compare every woman I date to her.
The end result of those relationships has been the same time and time again.
Even after a decade, Ella is the only one who ever made my heart come alive.
But that doesn't prepare me for the shock of seeing her in North Haven.
She was supposed to get married today.
Instead, she left the man at the altar and came running to me.
As much as I want to believe fate has given us a second chance, the complications that broke us up the first time haven't gone away.
If she breaks my heart again, I don't know if I'll survive it.
But I've never stopped loving her.
Since I can't resist her, I'm going to make her mine for good this time.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Jackie M. Wallick
• Release date: Feb 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9798223586289

Book preview

1

ELLA

This is your chance, Serenity, my best friend since the second grade, says to me in all seriousness. She caps my shoulders with firm hands and squeezes. Our gazes meet in the oversized dressing room mirror. "Probably your only chance."

Today is supposed to be the happiest day of my life, but the knots in my stomach have only tightened as the morning’s progressed. There aren’t enough mimosas in the world to change how I feel. This isn’t cold feet. This is reality giving me a gut punch.

I can’t marry him. Speaking the words out loud for the first time, even whisper quiet, my world seems to shift on its axis. I feel like such a horrible person, but those four little words have been twisting on repeat in my subconscious for months. I stare at my reflection, hardly recognizing the woman in the mirror cinched in a twelve-thousand-dollar wedding dress I never liked but my mother insisted I had to have. I’m tired of my life revolving around making the right impression.

"I won’t marry him. I blink, surprised by the force in my declaration. But I can’t walk down the aisle and marry the wrong man. I can’t do it. I squeeze Serenity’s hand where it rests on my shoulder. Oh boy. I’m really going to do this, aren’t I? And I hate this dress."

I hate it too.

Our shared laughter breaks the tension for the briefest moment. Sure you’re up for this? I ask my bestie. In a life that’s been so carefully controlled by my overbearing mother, I feel lucky to have Serenity in my life. She’s bold and fearless in ways I’ve only ever dreamed I could be. Damage control is a big ask.

Your mother doesn’t scare me.

She should. My mother’s a very powerful, well-connected woman in this city. She doesn’t take kindly to people crossing or embarrassing her. She tends to make very public examples of those who do. The only reason she isn’t hovering right now is because she’s at a board meeting two blocks away. After it concludes, she’s promised to be by my side until I leave for my honeymoon. My escape window is narrow. If I don’t go now, I might not have another chance to run. You could come with me.

To Alaska in winter? Serenity shakes her head. No thanks.

This is crazy, right? Not only am I planning to skip out on my own wedding, but I’ve decided the logical place to run is North Haven. It’s only because of social media that I know Jordan Harris lives there and is most likely single. After ten years, I doubt he’ll be happy when I show up unannounced.

When you close your eyes and imagine walking down the aisle, who’s at the altar waiting for you?

Not Theo. The only man I’ve ever pictured vowing to share my life with is the one whose heart I broke a decade ago. It doesn’t matter that I did it to save his career, or that he thinks it was all about college money. It doesn’t matter how hard I’ve tried to move on. Jordan is the only man I’ve ever truly loved. When I gave him my heart, I never really got it back. Not in one piece, anyway.

It’s your coast guardsman, right?

This is a horrible idea.

More horrible than marrying the wrong man? Do you think you’d ever be happy never knowing what might happen if you went for that second chance with Jordan?

I don’t say anything, I don’t have to. I know she’s right. It wouldn’t be fair to marry Theo when my heart still aches for my past. The man my mother wants me to marry because the match creates all the right connections isn’t right for me. I’m pretty sure he knows it, too. But love was never a priority for her. I don’t think he’s cheated on me, but the way his eyes flirt with other women whose waists are skinnier than mine is enough for me to know that someday he will. I should tell Theo.

There’s no time, sweetie. Not if you want to dodge your mother. There’s an Uber outside. In one push of a button, I can have a plane ticket waiting for you at the airport. Serenity pulls me to my feet since the corset of my dress makes it hard to move. Because I didn’t lose the extra pounds Mother demanded, she punished me. Instead of having the seamstress let out the dress, she insisted all I need was tighter strings. It didn’t occur to me how much that comment was a metaphor for my life until this moment. It’s now or never.

Help me get out of this dress?

Serenity’s phone pings. Even though her expression stays calm and focused, I don’t miss the flash of panic now dancing in her eyes. Your mother’s on the move. There’s no time.

I can’t wear this on a plane! I hiss, waving my hands to indicate the obnoxious, flashy dress. Any sudden movement seems to make the damn thing constrict, making it almost impossible to breathe. Not exactly ideal for a quick getaway. At least the form-fitting gown doesn’t have hoops.

Serenity drags my suitcase out of the closet. Theo and I are supposed to leave for our honeymoon tonight, which is the only reason I have it with me. But it’s packed for the Bahamas, not Alaska in the winter. I’m completely unprepared outside of a toothbrush.

Serenity squeezes me in a quick but suffocating hug before she pokes her head out the dressing room door.