Page 5 of Happily Ever Never

My aunt grumbled after I finished telling them the detailsof the date. “I am going to hurt that man. Or tell my accountant. Because…screwhim. And not in the fun ways.”

“You shouldn’t tell your accountant that. I don’t want thisto be a thing,” I warned her.

“No, no. We’ll figure this out. Now, you know the rules. Youarrange your own date next, and we will set up the one after that. Hopefully,we won’t get to use him, though. Maybe this next one will be forever.”

I sighed, knowing they were doing this because they lovedme. But I was just tired. Tired of dating and trying to find love when sometimesI was afraid it wasn’t for me. I had promised my father I would find a husbandand try to look into the future, not letting my heart close offbecause I was afraid of pain and loss. So, I’d assured him I would date until Ifound that happily ever after. And while I’d agreed to the plan because Iwanted my father to smile when there hadn’t been many smiles left, I’d alsodone it because I wanted to find happiness.

Thus, this had been a promise made in desperation: that myfamily would arrange every other date until I found the one.

All I wanted was love.

Every time my mother tried, I knew she was doing it becauseshe loved my father with such unending grace it burned, and she wanted that forme.

My father wanted me to be happy, so I said I would try.

That meant, eventually, one day, I would find my happiness.I would find the person who gave me that spark. Who wouldn’t make me feel badabout myself. Who would make me smile. I would find the person that was myeverything.

Or at least I would try.

Because in the end, all I wanted was love.

I was just afraid I would never find it.

Chapter 2

Leo

I stood back as my client looked in the mirror, a smallsmile slowly creeping over her face before it turned into a wide grin.

“I can’t believe it. It doesn’t feel real.” Her voice went abit breathy as if she’d forgotten I was there and could only stare at the newart on her skin.

“You were a trooper. Barely winced. I can see why you don’tthink it feels real.”

She stared at the new art under her breasts, transfixed.She’d wanted a tattoo to showcase her assets—her words—because hermother had recently gotten a bilateral mastectomy, and she wanted to dosomething for her mom.

I didn’t know what it felt like to have a mother with breastcancer, but I’d met the woman and knew she was damnstrong. She had to be to fight the battle she was currently in.

The delicate lace that went in loops under my client’sbreasts looked damn impressive if I did say somyself—some of my best work.

We went over the aftercare as her mother wept softly,kissing her daughter’s cheeks. My client kissed the top of her mom’s bald headbefore they both laughed and burst into tears again, hugging each other.

I smiled, hugged them when they reached out for me, and evenshed a tear myself. I didn’t think I was that emotional, but it had been a bigday.

“I have the gene, just like Mom, so I know the tattoos mightbe the only thing left after I make a hard decision someday. So, thank you formaking this day perfect for both of us.” She rose on tiptoe, kissed my cheek,then waved as she left, leaving me staring with wide eyes.

“Well, that even choked me up,” Nick saiddryly, though I knew he wasn’t lying. The emotions were clear on his face.

I snorted, clearing my throat. “Pretty much, man. I can’tbelieve she didn’t wince or make a sound during the whole process. But as soonas she saw her mom, she broke out in tears.”

Nick met my gaze, then shrugged. “Makes sense she would. Areyou done for the day?”

I looked at my phone and nodded. “Yeah. I said I would meetCaroline in the park. She’s wrangling all the kids on her own today andbringing cold fried chicken as a bribe—not that I need one for family.”

“Cold fried chicken sounds pretty good,” a familiar voicesaid. Sebastian Montgomery walked in with a bundle strapped to his chest.

The kid was no longer a kid. He was now a single father tothe cutest baby girl ever.

Lake pushed past me before I could say anything and pluckedher cousin from Sebastian’s arms. “I need some baby time. Thank you.” Shewinked at Nick, who just shook his head.