Page 37 of Wanting Happily Ever After

“Nicole?”

She nodded slowly and, for a second, her smile faded. “I know you said Faith wanted a couple, and I’ll work it out and find someone to be your bride,” Amy said quickly. “But I really think that this will be…well, you don’t think that will be a problem, do you? I mean…I know that’s not really what she asked for but—”

“I actually think it’s a great idea,” Brody answered honestly. “And I have a feeling that Faith will feel exactly the same way.” It was the truth, and seeing his head chef’s face light up with the idea of it, gave him hope. After all, love was love; no matter what it looked like, it felt the same and it was incredible and needed to be celebrated.

Which was why he needed to get through to Sarah. Because with each passing moment, everything became clearer—he was desperately in love with her and more than anything, he needed her to understand that and see it too.

It had been a long day and by the time Sarah saw the last patient out of the office and locked up behind Doctor Friesen, she was dead on her feet. All she wanted to do was go home, kick up her feet, and forget about…well, everything.

Especially Brody.

It had been two days, and it still made her cringe to think about everything that had happened.

And what she’d done.

How could she have slept with Brody? All she’d done was make a complicated mess of everything. More complicated than it already was. And it already was.

Sleeping with him. Feeling his hands on her skin. His lips on her. His body making love to her body…it had been…perfect.

Sarah hated to admit it, but it was true. If she closed her eyes, she could still feel him inside her, making her feel things that she had never felt before.Never.

But then she could remember the rest, too. The dream.Nightmare.And the subsequent reality of everything.

No.

None of that had been perfect. Far from it. She’d screwed up, and for the life of her, Sarah had no idea how she was ever going to face him again. She’d been doing a good job of ignoring him and his text messages so far, but that couldn’t go on forever. Especially with the soccer game in Cedar Springs and wind-up party on Sunday.

Shit. The wind-up party.

With everything going on, she’d completely forgotten.

Sarah leaned back against the building and dropped her head. She’d completely spaced on the party and after she’d made such a big deal about it to Audrey Hill, she’d never live it down.

Not that she cared.

Not really.

But even if she didn’t care, the kids deserved a celebration and there was only one way they were going to get one at this point. The game and party were meant to be on Sunday, and even if she had the time—which she didn’t because she’d promised Nicole she’d help out with some sort of project she needed her for on Friday night—she’d never pull off the party in four days.

There was only one thing to do. Sarah pulled her cell phone from her purse, ignored the unread text messages from Brody, and scrolled down, to another series of unread texts—from Audrey.

Hi there. Can I help with anything?

Any info on the party?

Need any help, Sarah?

Haven’t heard anything…

Sarah groaned. Brody hadn’t been the only one she was avoiding. Although maybe if she’d actually opened any of Audrey’s texts, Sarah might have remembered the party earlier. No help for it now.

She hated to do it, but Sarah moved her fingers across the screen and quickly typed out a message to her rival.

So sorry. Something has come up and I just haven’t had time to organize anything for the kids. Do you have any time this week?

Sarah held her breath and sent the message. Seconds later, the reply came in.

No problem at all!! I have a great idea. You just take care of yourself.

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