Chapter 29

TWENTY-NINE

“Girlfriend, you are amazing! What is this magic?” Tatum exclaimed, holding up her spoon.

Bella grinned. “It’s called Sassy Lassy. It’s good, right?”

“Freaking amazing!” Tatum looked over at Meg, Maddie, Sofia, and Phoebe, who were all sampling the same flavor. “I can’t believe you’re an ice cream maven, now.”

“I know, right?” Bella grinned. “I had no idea how much fun it would be to create new flavors of ice cream. It’s actually so complicated to get it right. And now that we’re selling the vegan line too, it’s very challenging. I love it.”

Meg raised her brows. “How much did you make this year in your gourmet ice cream business?”

Bella grinned. “We just hit eight figures for the year. We added ten trucks in three cities, and I’ve picked up a couple huge retail accounts.”

“You’re a marketing genius,” Tatum said. “I’m going to have to hire you away from yourself.”

Bella laughed. “No way. I love this.”

Sofia waved her spoon. “And to think you invested because you felt bad about pulling out of the catering gig. Just goes to show you never know where life leads you.”

“And then you went and bought the catering business anyway,” Meg said, “when Diana was reluctant to walk away from her legacy. You’ve made such a difference to LaToya and all the women she has hired to run it. Complete empowerment and opportunity for underrepresented women.”

Joy flooded Bella. LaToya Johnson had been working at a crappy restaurant, a single mom without the resources to get out and start her own business. When Bella had found her and hired her, LaToya had fully staffed the entire catering business with underrepresented women, all of whom had had a tough break in life and needed a chance that no one else would give them.

Bella was proud to be a part of that movement, and she’d started looking for more opportunities to reach out into communities to help talented, underrepresented women who were ready to flourish with just a little bit of help.

But the ice cream business filled her creative side like her soul needed. “I got lucky. Diana and Jessie are smart and amazing, and they were the right people to grow the ice cream business. When I suggested we make our own gourmet ice cream, that changed everything.” She held her hand out toward her friends. “And I have to thank you guys for always coming over here and trying my new flavors. You’ve made a big difference.”

Tatum took another scoop. “You guys help me with my songs, too. My new album has a release date. Next month, on the fifteenth.”

“What?” Bella shrieked, and everyone cheered. “What did you call it?”

Tatum looked pleased. “ Her .”

“Oh my God, that’s so perfect,” Sofia said. “An entire album focused on the power of women. No one does that. Literally no one.”

“Well, I’m at the top of the food chain in the music industry, so I can do whatever I want,” Tatum said with a wink. “And I want little girls all over the world to listen to the lyrics and feel like they can be strong, powerful, and create whatever life they want, no matter what.”

“Amen to that, sister.” Phoebe raised her glass. “The women in my confidence program are going to freak out when they find out you’re doing a class on unleashing your inner badass.”

“I’m very expensive,” Tatum said. “Don’t forget you’ll owe me a free lunch by Hart Pond.”

Bella grinned. “God, I love you guys. I never thought I’d feel so happy and comfortable with you all, but it’s amazing what has happened in a year, isn’t it?” It had taken only a few weeks for Dylan and his team to solve the situation with the man who had tracked them to Cape Cod. It turned out, it had been a man who was owed money by Falcon’s biological father, and he’d decided to try to get the money from the Harts. Simple, clean, and easy to unpack.

Bella’s stalker had found her one evening when she’d been doing a photoshoot in LA. And for the first time in her life, she’d stood up for herself with her voice, and using some of her magical self-defense skills, with Falcon looming over the situation looking quite monster-ish.

Her stalker had wound up needing stitches and a cast. He’d never bothered her again, and she’d spent weeks feeling like a goddess. Still kinda did, actually.

Phoebe leaned forward. “Is Falcon around this weekend?”

Bella nodded. “He’s due back any minute. He went for a ride. Why?”

“The healing he did with Annie a few days ago made such a difference. I know he releases trauma that is stored as energy blocks, but I still find it amazing. I’m also like a different person. Even Jacob noticed, and he’s decided to work with Falcon.”

“And my hands—” Tatum held up her hand and wiggled her fingers. “For years, I’ve had stiffness in them, and they’re completely fine.”

Bella smiled, immense satisfaction spreading through her. “He’s going out to Sedona next week for a five-day intensive on physical healing. He’s so passionate and so talented.”

Meg sighed. “It’s so amazing how both of you have lit up since finding each other and your passions. I’m not going to lie, I’m massively jealous of all of you. I feel like I’m still floundering. Don’t get me wrong, I love using my financial wizardry as your ice cream CFO, but it’s your business, not mine.”

Bella put her arm around her sister and gave her a quick hug. “You’ll find your place, Meg. I didn’t think I would, but I did.”

Meg nodded. “I know. You inspire me.” She grinned at them. “You guys all inspire me. You’ve all found your career passion and love, so it’s my turn.”

Tatum smiled warmly. “It’ll be your turn when you’re ready. You ready?”

Meg looked around at them all. “I think I might be.”

They all cheered and pulled Meg into a laughing hug. God, Bella was so happy. She never knew she could be so happy?—

The front door suddenly opened, and she looked over as Falcon walked in the door. He was dusty from his ride, looking rough and rugged and extremely delicious. He’d discovered he liked being clean-shaven, and he looked so much younger without the scruffy beard. His cowboy hat was tipped back so she could see his beautiful face, and he flashed her that smile that made his eyes crinkle up with laughter.

God, he looked happy. Relaxed. Carefree.

She knew it was because he was living his purpose work, the life he was meant to live, and she was so lucky that it included her. “Hey there, gorgeous,” she said.

He blew her a kiss, his wedding ring catching the light coming in through her picture windows. The wedding ring they’d picked out together. “Sassy Lassy a hit?” he asked, aware that today had been a final tasting of the new flavor.

“Of course,” Tatum said. “Your wife is a genius.”

“I know.” Pride was evident on his face and in his voice, and Bella’s heart expanded. “She’s incredible. I fall more in love with her every day.”

“Aww...” Meg put her hand over her heart. “You guys are literally the sweetest---”

“Mommy! Mommy! I galloped today! I galloped on Night Blade!” Gordy came running in behind Falcon, his little cowboy hat askew, and his red cowboy boots finally covered in dirt, after months of Gordy being afraid to get them dirty, because they were the best thing he’d ever had in his life.

“Wow! I’m so proud of you!” Bella crouched down, catching Gordy as he flung himself into her arms. She stood up, propping him on her hip as he filled her in on all the details of his trip.

His brown eyes were twinkling with joy, making her heart dance. “Daddy said today was the day. Is it really today?”

She grinned and looked at Falcon. “Is it today?”

He nodded. “Yep.”

“Today! Today!” Gordy bounced in her arms, then wiggled to get down. “I made her a bed. I’ll go get it.” He sprinted up the stairs, his little feet pounding.

Meg raised her brows. “What’s today?”

Bella looked at Falcon and smiled. “Today’s the day we’re picking our new dog.”

“A new dog? You’re getting a dog?” Phoebe grinned. “Cupcake will be so happy to have another dog on the ranch! What is the dog like?”

“A three-legged, eighty-pound pit bull,” Falcon said.

“Named Athena,” Bella added. “She was rescued from a terrible situation, and it took her foster mom months to build her confidence back up. She was forty pounds when they took her in.”

“Oh…” Meg put her hand over her heart. “And now she has you guys.”

Bella nodded, smiling as Falcon walked up, put his arm around her waist, and kissed her cheek. “Gordy picked her, but we all felt the bond with her. She’s going to learn to feel safe again.”

“And love,” Falcon said. “She’ll get to know what it feels like to be loved.”

Bella smiled at him. “Always loved. By all of us.”

Falcon’s smile was just for her. “Always loved, Bells. Always .”

Things get sassy and spicy in When We Least Expect It ! If you can't stand the heat, get out of the wedding! Except that the chemistry between wedding planner Piper Townsend and her fake fiancé, ex-cop Declan Jones, is scorching hot…and in danger of combusting into something more real than either of them wants. Sparks fly when the sassy runaway bride recruits her reclusive landlord into her world of romance, tuxedoes, and happily-ever-after when she and Declan make a deal to fake an engagement for twenty-one scorching hot days. Treat yourself to When We Least Expect It today or keep reading for a sneak peek!

CHAPTER ONE

There was a shirtless, muscled man in Piper Townsend's shower, and that was just not going to work for her today.

Or ever, quite honestly.

But especially today.

She put her hands on her hips as her landlord, Declan Jones, reared back with a freaking sledgehammer and aimed it at her still-intact shower wall. "Declan, don’t?—"

Her grumpy, ex-cop demolition squad slammed his sledgehammer into the tile, shattering the wall and eviscerating the last vestiges of composure she'd been clinging to when she'd walked in.

"Declan!" She strode into the bathroom and poked him in his shoulder.

He spun around so fast that he bumped into her, knocking her off balance. She tripped on his toolbox, and he grabbed her arm, swearing as he averted her certain death and hauled her upright again.

Of course he could toss her effortlessly to her feet. That was so irritatingly attractive in a man, and she didn't have time for irritatingly attractive men.

He pulled his earbuds out and scowled at her. "Don't sneak up on me when I have a sledgehammer. It's not safe."

"I literally shouted your name twice."

He frowned. "You did?"

She pointed to his earbuds. "Noise-cancelling?"

He looked down at his hand, then swore. "Sorry." He shoved the earbuds in his pocket. "You okay?"

Okay was such a vague term. "Technically, yes."

His brows went up. "You're not okay?"

"You didn't hurt me," she clarified, because did she want to have to explain to him what had happened to her in the last twenty-four hours? No, she didn't. Home was her oasis, and Declan was probably the only human within a few hundred miles who didn't know what had happened.

Or maybe that was an exaggeration, but that's what it felt like, so she was going with it.

"All right." He picked up the sledgehammer. "What do you need?"

"My bathroom, but that feels like a reach right now." Normally, a glimpse of Declan's gorgeous shoulders was enough to boost Piper's mood in an art-appreciation kind of way, but today his royal hotness was simply a big mass of muscles and man in her way. She did not have time for her bathroom to be in a pile of rubble.

Declan glanced over at her with those bright blue eyes that always startled her with their intensity. "I told you I was starting the renovation today." He sounded cranky and tired.

Well, that was great for him that he was cranky and tired. So was she, and it was her bathroom that he'd just punctured a hole in. "Wednesday. You said you were starting Wednesday."

He frowned. "I said today."

"No, you said that you had to finish the molding in your kitchen, so you weren't going to start until Wednesday." It was currently Monday afternoon at five, which was not the time for Declan to be in her shower.

Well, in an alternate life, maybe any time would be the perfect time for Declan to be in her shower, but in this life? Never.

He narrowed his eyes, staring at her.

"Hello?"

"I think I did say Wednesday," he finally said.

Piper blinked. "I don't think I've ever heard you admit you were wrong about anything."

He flashed her a grin as he rested the sledgehammer against his leg. "I'm not that stubborn."

"You are, but I'm used to it." She waved her hand at her bathroom. "But about this?—"

He'd offered to pay for a hotel while he redid her bathroom, but this was her oasis, and she'd needed the comfort of being there. She had a tiny powder room that had a toilet and a sink, and she could shower at her gym, so she'd decided it would work. "I didn't plan for this tonight. I need a shower."

And a miracle, but first things first.

Declan sighed and ran his hand over his short hair, his chiseled bicep flexing like God's gift to women. His hotness had never dawned on her prior to the last few weeks, but her trio of besties had recently been on a mission to get Piper back into the dating game, and they'd fixated on Declan as a good start.

She disagreed, but their constant harping on his physical attributes was working its way into her subconscious, which was incredibly distracting and annoying, especially when he was shirtless and sweaty.

Fortunately, she had a will of steel and enough relationship trauma to withstand any temptation, so it was all good.

"It was my mistake," Declan said, "so you can shower at my place."

"Your place?" Piper had never been in his gorgeous house that shared a gravel driveway with her little carriage house. She'd never even peeked through those beautiful French doors or tiptoed past his gorgeous, landscaped pool. Declan was private, closed-off. Almost a loner, from what she'd observed from her little vantage point in his guest house. He kept people away, except for the occasional visit by his parents, brother, and sister, whom she'd met a couple times.

Declan was a reclusive ex-cop who spent his life in jeans, boots, T-shirts, and a five o'clock shadow. His sole existence appeared to be working on his house, playing ball with his dog, and bartending part-time at a neighborhood bar.

His family was well-dressed, sociable, and always looked like they knew what a shower was for. She had no idea how they were related.

"Yeah. Back door is unlocked." Declan looked at his watch. "I'll be working until six, so you'll have privacy. Use the guest bath to the left at the top of the stairs. It's the blue bathroom."

Piper stared at him. "You're inviting me unattended into your sanctuary?"

He cocked a brow. "Why? Should I not trust you?"

"No. I'm very trustworthy." Well, apparently she was also demon spawn cursed to destroy love and romance in all its earthly forms, but she doubted Declan would be worried about that apparent flaw in her character. He didn't seem the type.

He grinned. "I know you're trustworthy. I ran a background check on you before I rented you the carriage house. You have an hour. Once I'm finished in here for the night, I'm kicking you out, so make it quick."

A background check? Sudden alarm gripped her. Did he know about her past? He was an ex-cop. If he'd decided to dig deep, his tentacles would have gone far. "What did you check?"

His smile faded. "Credit. Prison record."

"That's it?"

He leaned on his sledgehammer, studying her with open curiosity now. "What else is there to find, Piper?"

"Nothing." She shook out her shoulders. If Declan had uncovered her past, he wouldn't have rented her the carriage house. It was fine. Her past was still hidden. No one except her friend Maddie Vale knew. Relax, Piper. She ducked past him and grabbed her shampoo and conditioner off the sink where he'd moved it. "I'll be on my way?—"

"You getting married?" he asked.

"What?" Alarm leapt through her, then she saw he was looking toward her left hand. Where there was no longer an engagement ring. Had he heard what happened?

He pointed. "The magazine."

She looked down and saw that her copy of the June issue of Elite Bride was facing him. Relief rushed through her. He didn't know. "No. I'm a wedding planner."

Or rather, a wedding killer, according to Kathryn Vespa, one of her bridal clients.

Kathryn had also called her cursed.

And bad luck.

And, most significantly, fired.

A second bride had also fired her today. And social media had embraced the new, viral hashtag #weddingkillerpiper.

And a third bride, the biggest client her firm had ever acquired, had left Piper three voicemails today, demanding that Piper call her back. She wasn't going to do that until she figured things out, since bride #3, April Hunsaker, was definitely going to fire her.

April was her last chance. If April fired her, Piper's career would be over.

Everything she'd worked for…destroyed.

Which meant she had to figure out how to regain April's trust tonight.

As in, within the next few hours.

Tomorrow, it would be too late.

Game over.

Piper had twelve hours to fix the unfixable. Hence the need for a miracle.

She'd find a way, but right now, she had no idea what that path was. She was worried that there wasn't an out, and that scared her more than she wanted to admit.

"Wedding planner?" Declan looked amused. "That job title brings fear into every man's heart."

"What? Why? I make dreams come true. And very well, I might add." Well, except for the string of bad luck over the last ten months…beginning with her own. But that wasn't bad luck so much as a nightmare of her own creating. Either way, same result, though.

"The bride's dreams, maybe, but that poor groom?" Declan chuckled. "Now he's got two women to complicate his life. All he wants is to get married, and now he has to deal with things like tablecloths, seating charts, and table centerpieces."

Piper rolled her eyes. "That's so unromantic! Just wait until you fall in love. You'll realize that your greatest joy is seeing your bride's face light up as her dream day comes to life."

His amusement faded, and his jaw got hard. "No chance. No wedding in my future."

It was her turn to be curious. His reaction had been intense and unyielding, far beyond a typical marriage-averse manly-man reaction. "Really? Why not?"

Something flashed across Declan's face, an emotion so raw and ragged that she sucked in her breath. "Because it's not." He turned away, picked up his construction assault weapon, and slammed it into the wall of her shower again.

Piper didn't move for a moment, stunned by the expression she'd seen on his face. Declan was always so reserved, so controlled, so grumpy, but that had been pure, raw emotion raking across his face for that brief second.

Declan had secrets, she realized. Secrets that would probably rip him to shreds if he let them out.

Wow. Just…wow. She'd had no idea that her reserved, solitary landlord was a boiling cauldron of secrets.

He looked over his shoulder at her. "You're down to fifty-eight minutes."

"Right. I'm going." She grabbed the rest of her toiletries and bolted.

Declan had just gone from annoyingly attractive on a physical level to maddeningly intriguing on an human level.

Which didn't fit into her life.

At all.

Piper was standing on the ruins of a promise she'd made to her mother before she'd passed away. If she failed to fix things in the next twelve hours, the dream she and her mom had created together would be shattered.

She needed miracles right now, not mistakes.

And Declan would be a mistake.

A huge, irrecoverable mistake.

Which meant she was keeping her distance from him.

In every way.

Because she was a woman on a mission, and she wasn't going to mess it up with romantic dreams of knights in shining armor.

She'd done that twice already, and the scars still burned.

Never, ever again.

Declan could still smell the flowers.

Piper was gone, and yet, he could still smell the flowers. Was it her shampoo? Her soap? Some sort of body lotion?

The thought of body lotion put a visual in his head that made him swear.

He set his sledgehammer down and stepped back, trying to focus on the carnage around him. Demolition was always satisfying. He knew damn well that he'd told Piper he was starting on Wednesday, but a few hours ago, he'd run into someone he used to know, and his past had been triggered.

He'd had to do something to distract himself. From the memories. From the pain in his gut. From the truth that wouldn't stop haunting him.

Declan had grabbed his tools and almost sprinted to the guest house, ignoring the instability in his knee. That first swing of the sledgehammer had reverberated through his body, jerking him back from the grips of the past and returning him to the present.

Now? He felt back in control again, locked down, focused…except for the fact he could still smell the scent of flowers that seemed to follow Piper wherever she went.

He fucking loved how she smelled.

He was going to have to find a way to get over it.

Because he wasn't ready for a woman, and he never would be.

That part of his life was over, and he was never going back.

At that moment, his phone rang. He pulled it out and looked at the caller. When he saw who it was, he had to take a breath before answering it. "Declan here."

He listened for a moment, his gut tightening the longer they spoke. "Yeah, I can come in on Friday at eleven. Thanks."

He hung up and let his hand fall to his side, stunned.

He'd passed the physical to return to police work.

Interview on Friday.

After three years on the sidelines, fighting to get his body to work again, he'd done it.

It was all he'd been focused on. The only thing that mattered.

But now that he was going back there on Friday… Fuck.

It was only for an interview, but the nightmares were going to start again. He could already feel it.

He took a breath. Nightmares were fine. He was fine. He had a bathroom to destroy and that would get him right.

But as he picked up the sledgehammer, he caught a whiff of flowers again.

This time, he closed his eyes, paused, and inhaled, using that light, delicate scent to steady himself.

Piper was freaking sunshine, and she had no idea how she grounded him every time he saw her.

And she never would know, because he was never going there with her.

But would he take a minute to breathe in the flowers and let it settle him?

Yeah. He would.

Because he had only a few days to figure out how to make himself walk back into that station, and the life that had nearly destroyed him.

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