Page 114 of Worth the Chase

Brooklyn had had her baby. It was not goo, or a mango, or a pumpkin, like Clara had predicted, but another little girl they named Ellabel. We called her Ella. She was the cutest thing, just like Clara had been when she was a baby.

Thomas was surrounded by women.

I was going to have nothing but boys.

“There’s going to be a lot of crying today,” she added with a nod.

“Girls.” I pretended to roll my eyes.

“Right. I expect you to shed a few tears when you see me walking down that aisle toward you.” She pointed a finger at me.

“Guess we’ll see,” I teased.

I was going to bawl like a fucking baby when I saw her. I just didn’t plan on admitting that to her right now.

“Don’t you have to get to work?” She refocused my attention.

I sucked in a breath. I did need to be at the resort soon. I’d been shadowing my dad for over a year now, and I loved the job more than I could have ever hoped. It wasn’t hockey, but it was our family’s legacy.

My brothers had been right; the job suited me. And I was damn good at it. I was certain that if our mom were still around, Dad would have retired by now. But he wasn’t in a rush to have nothing to do all day long, and I liked that he was still there. He’dmentioned stepping back from his CEO role, but he was still hanging around, and I had zero issues with that plan.

The four O’Grady men were working side by side to run our family’s resort. It was kind of a dream come true, even though that had always been the plan. Still, reality could sometimes turn out differently. I was so grateful it hadn’t.

BELLA

Everything felt like a dream. This person I’d loved as a boy had grown into such an incredible man. And he wanted to spend his life with me. Had anyone ever been luckier? I was sure that every woman felt this way, but I still felt like I’d won the lottery.

In a couple of weeks, Matthew O’Grady was going to be my husband.

Husband.

Just thinking that word did funny things to my insides.

I navigated my car down Main Street toward the dress shop as butterflies started flapping their wings inside my stomach. I wasn’t nervous. I was excited. This was the last fitting before I got to bring my dress home, and I prayed it would fit.

There was a parking spot a couple of rows down, and it was a freaking miracle. I shut off the engine, grabbed my purse, and hopped out. Right in time to see Brooklyn walking in my direction, holding Clara’s hand, with little baby Ella strapped to the front of her body.

“Hey,” I shouted as she waved with her free hand and let go of Clara’s.

Clara came running to me, and I bent down to give her a hug. “Hi. I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Me too, Auntie Bells.”

I never knew what name Clara was going to call me, but Auntie Bells had been sticking a lot more lately.

“I am so excited to see you in your dress!”

“But we can’t tell Uncle Matthew anything about it, remember?” I asked as I looked her in the eyes.

“I know. Mama Waffles says it’s a secret only the girls get to know.” She spun in a circle.

“She’s right,” I said. I stood up and gave Brooklyn a soft hug, trying not to squish Ella in the process. “Is she asleep?”

“Milk coma,” Brooklyn said, and I laughed.

“Little Miss Ella Beans the Goo is always in a milk coma,” Clara added, and Brooklyn just shrugged.

We walked toward the dress shop, and Clara tried to open the door, but it was too heavy for her. I stepped behind her and pulled it open. The bells jangled, and I noticed my mom and Addison standing near the cash register with the owner, Sandy. Her face lit up when she saw me.

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