Page 21 of Finding Happily Ever After

“I do,” he said with a nod. “Which is why I wanted to ask you about the guest house at ElkView Ridge.”

“The guest house?” She sat back with surprise. “Damon and Katie’s guest house?”

Why would Nick want to ask her about their friends’ guest house? It’s not like she—ah. Steph laughed with understanding the moment it all made sense. “I’m guessing you were hoping to move into the guest house at ElkView?”

He didn’t hesitate to nod. “Not forever. Just until the renovations on the new place are done. I found a great spot right in town, but it needed a little updating.”

Of course it did.

“And I know you’re out of town working, and I was just—”

“Of course.” Steph didn’t hesitate to give her answer. If it meant that Nick moved to Glacier Falls with his sweet baby sooner, rather than waiting, she’d do anything. Nick was a great guy, and he was doing an amazing job as a single dad, particularly when the whole situation had caught him off guard and he was almost positive that he was not Amelia’s father. But he still needed help and support, and he’d have that in Glacier Falls.

“You should move in,” she said. “And you’re right, I’m not even going to be there much.”

Not much. But some.

With the Big Rock Inn lost in a recent fire, and the cabins at Lynx Creek not near completion yet, she really didn’t have a lot of options as far as where to stay when she went to visit. And shewouldbe going to visit. How could she not with now not one, but two babies who needed her cuddles?

“Thanks, Steph.” Nick was talking, but Steph was only half listening. “And if you need a place when you come to town, you know I’ll always make room for you.”

He wiggled his eyebrows, and Steph couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

After signing off with Nick, Steph poured herself a glass of wine and moved outside to the deck by the pool. The end of February, it was still cool, even in Los Angeles, but it was a lot warmer than back home. She wrapped a throw blanket around her legs and stared into the blue water, lit by the underwater lights.

It was a nice house. Nothing too flashy, but big enough for both Steph and Bella. And, of course, Jeremy when he came to visit. And sure, she could have rented a place by herself, but more and more, Steph was enjoying being with people. Withfamily.And even though Bella wasn’t blood related, she’d become a fast friend. And someone Stephanie definitely considered part of her family. Besides, if she could help her friend, who was new to the world of Hollywood, navigate what could be the somewhat turbulent waters of becoming a massive star, she wanted to do what she could to help. It wasn’t easy.

“Hey. Am I interrupting?” Bella, along with the bottle of wine in her hand, sat on the chair next to her.

“Not at all. I was just thinking.” Steph smiled and returned to gazing over the pool.

“About anything in particular?” Bella took a sip of her wine and sighed as she reclined into the chair. “This is lovely.”

“Itislovely.”

“So,” Bella pushed, “what are you thinking about?”

Steph looked at her new friend. Bella’s shiny dark hair hung over her shoulders in waves. Even in sweatpants and a T-shirt, she was beautiful. Abombshell.Which was exactly what she was. With her voice, and that gorgeous face, never mind her sweet, down-to-earth personality, she was going to be a massive star. She didn’t even fully understand it yet, but her entire life was about to change when this movie was released.

“I was just thinking how things always seem to have a way of working out the way they’re supposed to.”

“That’s a very deep thought for a random Thursday night.” Bella raised her eyebrows and took a sip of her wine. “Is there anything in particular you’re hoping will work out?”

“Oh no.” Steph laughed. “It’s not that I’mhopingit will work out. I’m just saying, I know it will.” She pulled her phone out from where she’d stashed it under her leg.

“How can youknowthat? I mean, it’s one thing to hope and want things to work out, but I don’t think we can everknowthat it will all work out the way we want to,” Bella said seriously as she considered what Steph was saying. “No one can actuallyknowit, though.”

Steph held out her phone and wiggled it. “Well, from my experience, there’s one way to move things along in your favor.” She unlocked the screen and opened up her text messages, scrolling until she found the name and number she was looking for. She quickly typed a message.

Timeline is moving up. When can you have the bankside cabin ready?

She grinned at Bella before hitting the Send button. “You just have to ask.”

ChapterEight

“This is amazing, Aiden.”

Natalie put another bite of the halibut in her mouth and closed her eyes, just as she had every bite previously. To say it was distracting to watch her eat would be putting it mildly. Aiden fought a constant and continuous war within himself every single time he saw her do that.

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