The Ever After Groom (Last Play Masquerade Romances Book 3) Read online

  The Ever After Groom

  Last Play Masquerade Romances

  Carly Morgan

  Contents

  Copyright

  Acknowledgements

  Chapter 1 ~ Only Love

  Chapter 2 ~ A Private Plane Ride

  Chapter 3 ~ Ever After

  Chapter 4 ~ Hospital Food

  Chapter 5 ~ Follow the Recipe

  Chapter 6 ~ Goldie’s Carrot Cupcakes

  Chapter 7 ~ Sugar Cookies

  Chapter 8 ~ Jack’s Place

  Chapter 9 ~ Not a Love Letter

  Chapter 10 ~ Heart-Shaped

  Chapter 11 ~ Sheriff Buck

  Chapter 12 ~ Baking for Days

  Chapter 13 ~ Joli

  Chapter 14 ~ Break the Ice

  Chapter 15 ~ The Drippy Sound of Defeat

  Chapter 15 ~ So Very Concussed

  Chapter 16 ~ Come and See

  Chapter 17 ~ The Wrongs Are Righted

  Chapter 18 ~ Happily, Ever After

  The Bighearted Groom-Chapter 1

  The Blindsided Groom Chapter 1

  Also by Carly Morgan

  About the Author

  Copyright

  Copyright © 2018 by Carly Morgan. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. First eBook Edition: 2018 This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the creation of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

  Acknowledgements

  Special shout out to Chandi Keller for creating the butterfly necklace that’s the inspiration behind the one featured in the first chapter of this book. It’s absolutely stunning! Please visit her website at: www.chandifashionllc.com or follow her on Instagram @chandifashion. Also, thanks to Jaclyn Mayes Morgan for sharing her grandmother’s sugar cookie recipe. Try them. They are amazing! I’ll be talking more about them and wearing the necklace on my YouTube channel: www.youtube.com/RaShelleWorkman in February. Be sure to visit and subscribe!

  As always, check out my website at: www.rashelleworkman.org and sign up for my newsletter. I’m always hosting giveaways and sharing amazing deals.

  Chapter 1 ~ Only Love

  “This thing is strangling me,” Travis said, pulling at the knot on his tie.

  Nate Decker, offensive tackle for the Denver Storm, snorted. “Sorry, man.” He adjusted his own tie while he tapped his foot to the music, trying to make the best of the situation. He, Travis, and several of his other teammates huddled in one corner of the venue. They were all dressed to the nines in tuxedoes and masks for the Valentine’s Day Masquerade Ball, a charity event to support ALS. This year’s theme was Romeo and Juliet. While he had to admit the décor looked amazing, he wasn’t a fan of how the story ended, probably because he understood the lovers’ pain. Sure, he and his ex hadn’t taken poison and died, but their marriage had ended, killing off his belief in love conquering all. He snorted again, glancing around the room where several couples were already on the dance floor.

  “What’s wrong?” Travis asked, adjusting his mask. He was the team’s right guard. They were similar in height and weight but where Travis had dark hair, Nate’s was light, almost white-blond. Mainly because he spent so much time out of doors, even in winter. He loved to hike, ski, snowboard, snowshoe, ride horses… You name it, he liked to do it.

  “Nothing.” Nate usually didn’t mind charity events, especially since the money would go to a good cause. Plus, there were a lot of beautifully masked women here tonight. He didn’t even mind dressing up. Style was one of his favorite ways to show off his physique. He worked hard for it and liked dressing to impress. Tonight’s ensemble consisted of custom black and white checkered pants with a matching double-breasted vest and a medium blue jacket accented by a crisp white shirt, a medium gray tie and pocket square. His mask was the same gray as well.

  His only issue was the timing. Once the season ended, he’d booked himself a vacation. He wanted to surf, scuba dive, snorkel, swim with sharks, and whatever else he could think of. But because of the ball, he’d had to push things back. Still, he was leaving tonight. His jet was fueled up and ready to leave as soon as he arrived at the airport.

  “Guess we’d better take the bet, do as the boss said and ask someone to dance.” Travis made a beeline to a woman in a blue dress.

  “I suppose,” Nate said, perusing the room. Each ticket to the ball had been enormously expensive. The team’s owner had purchased tickets for all of them and then ordered the entire team to attend with the threat of dire consequences if they failed to show.

  There were many beautiful women, but when his eyes landed on her, he couldn’t continue. It was something about the way she held herself, as though she didn’t want to be there any more than he did. Her arms were crossed, and she leaned back, a serious look on her face. Her hair had been swept up off her neck, revealing a delicate heart-shaped face. She wore a butterfly mask, the “wing” on the left slightly higher than the one on the right. It glinted and sparkled in the low lights thumping to the beat of the music. Her lavender dress hugged against her body and cascaded at the waist with yards and yards of tulle. She looked exquisite and he found himself moving toward her without making a conscious effort to ask her to dance.

  As he made his way over, she took a step back. He slowed his walk, knowing his size, well past six feet and two hundred fifty pounds, could be intimidating. When he was no more than two feet in front of her, he smiled, his cheeks rubbing against his mask. “Hello, I wondered if you’d like to dance?” He held out his hand.

  Her eyes met his and a flicker of recognition filled his heart. “Nate. Um, hi.” Her voice was familiar, soft yet purposeful. Also, slightly confused.

  “Have we met?” It was hard to tell with the masks on.

  She snorted and chuckled. “Nate Decker, are you serious?” She took his outstretched hand and placed it on her waist. “Are you telling me you don’t recognize your ex-wife?” She reached up, wrapping her hands around his neck.

  Realization dawned. His heart raced with a combination of horror and exasperation. “Hazel?”

  “Hey.” She giggled and his heart clenched as memories of all the times he’d made her laugh bombarded his mind. He’d never admit how much he’d missed her.

  “You look different. Good.” He tried to smile though he wasn’t sure he accomplished the feat. “Beautiful,” he added.

  “So do you,” she responded, her gaze faltering.

  In that moment, their pasts rushed back through him. Their relationship started out like a fairy tale. They met through a friend. Hazel was on her final year of medical school, intent on becoming a pediatrician. They were drawn to each other after just one date. By their one-month anniversary, he knew she would be his wife. After four months, he asked. They’d married a year later. It’d been the happiest day of his life, even more than when he’d accepted a position in the professional football league. After six months, Hazel got pregnant. Nine months after that, she gave birth to a perfect baby boy and Nate had fallen in love all over again. It was a different kind of love. They named him Gus. For three years, they were blissfully happy. Then their perfect son started to fall down. After many terrible tests, the specialist they consulted revealed their son had cancer. It was terminal.

  Hearing the news, it was as though s
omeone had ripped his heart out through his chest. Some days, he struggled just to breathe. As hard as he took the news, it was worse for Hazel. As a pediatrician herself, she blamed herself for not seeing the signs earlier. Nate had tried to comfort her, but he’d been too wrapped up in his own grief.

  Gus died three months later. Six months after that, Hazel filed for divorce. That was over two years ago.

  Now, as he held her, he pulled her closer to him. “Hazel.” He whispered her name against her hair and felt her shiver. The song ended, and Hazel pulled away, but he held her fast. “Don’t go,” he said. She glanced up at him. There were tears in her eyes. He guessed she’d been thinking about their past and their beautiful son, the same as him. He twined her fingers with his as the next song started. “Shall we?” He thought for a moment she would leave. Instead, she leaned into him, resting her head against his broad chest.

  They stayed like that for the next several songs. As he held her, he couldn’t help but think about how much he’d missed her. He also felt guilty for the way he’d handled himself during Gus’s sickness as well as after he died. He’d been a mess. For days after the funeral, he couldn’t pull himself out of bed. He’d completely withdrawn into himself. The fact was, he hadn’t been there for Hazel. He could’ve supported her and asked for her support in return. Instead he’d been a ghost. A shell of a man. Their divorce was his greatest regret.

  As they swayed to the music, his heart seemed to unclench and start to beat again. In that moment he realized he still loved her. But could she love him again? Could she forgive him for pushing her away? His mind went through all sorts of different scenarios about how he might convince her to let him back into her life. A continuous prayer for help stayed in the back of his mind. They hadn’t spoken in two years. At that time, she was still a pediatrician. Since she was at this charity event he guessed that hadn’t changed. He was glad. She’d believed Gus’s death was on her. It’d taken her a month to go back to work after the funeral. Then she’d only gone in for two weeks before telling him she needed more time and had gone to stay with her family in Ever After, Montana. He’d offered to go with her, but she’d refused. It wasn’t too many weeks after she returned that she asked him for a divorce.

  He’d agreed out of anger, allowing the grief that was eating him up inside to fester and turn his feelings against her. Once she was moved out, the team’s owner, who’d just suffered the loss of his first wife, had called Nate into his office and ordered him into grief counselling. He still went once in a while. Nate had learned a lot about himself over the last two years, including how to better communicate his feelings. “I’m sorry,” he whispered into her hair.

  She lifted her head, confusion dancing in her glorious hazel eyes. “Nate,” she began, but at that moment her phone rang. She took it from her handbag, checking who was calling. “It’s my mom. I need to take it.”

  “Of course.” Nate released her and she answered.

  “Hello.”

  He watched her listen intently, noticing the necklace around her neck. A butterfly covered in flowers hung from a silver chain dotted with lavender beads and small pearls. It was delicate and beautiful, and it reminded him of Hazel.

  She ended her call. “Thanks for the dance, but I need to go.” She started to walk away, but Nate caught hold of her bare arm. Soft, yet strong. Muscled.

  “What’s wrong?” He couldn’t help the feeling of dread spreading through his stomach.

  “It’s my sister, Lox. She’s in the hospital in Ever After.” As she spoke, worry filled her voice. “I need to catch a flight. I need to get to Montana. It’s important I’m there for her.” She glanced at her phone, the light illuminating the anxiety on her beautiful face. “I need to cancel my appointments for the next—I don’t know—few days, a week.” Her eyes welled with tears as she clenched her hands together around her phone, strangling it.

  “I can take you. I have a plane gassed and ready to leave.” His recently unbound heart filled with determination. He hadn’t been there for her before, but he could be now.

  Chapter 2 ~ A Private Plane Ride

  “You have a plane?” She couldn’t hide her surprise, but he also saw relief.

  “I do.” Nervousness tumbled around in his chest. “Come on. I’ll call an Uber to take you home so you can pack a bag and then we’ll head to the airport.”

  She opened her mouth to say something but changed her mind. “Okay.”

  He nodded. “I need to let Roman know why I’m leaving. Want to meet up in…” He stopped, knowing if they separated, she would leave without him. The woman had always struggled to accept help, always choosing to do things herself. Her tenacity had taken her far, a quality he found both endearing and exasperating. In this instance, he had to help her see he was her best bet to get to her sister fast. “Come on.” His hand slid from her arm to her hand. She allowed him to hold it and didn’t pull away. He tried not to read too much into it.

  Nate found Roman seated at a table. Their eyes met and Roman stood.

  “What’s wrong?” His gaze went from Nate to Hazel and back again.

  “It’s her sister. Something’s happened and she’s in the hospital in Ever After, Montana. I’m going to fly her tonight. Right now.” He paused. “But I asked someone to dance and that someone happened to be my ex-wife. I feel like…” He stopped again.

  Roman took another quick glance at Hazel and then nodded. “Say no more. I understand. Safe travels.” He smiled at Hazel. “I hope your sister is okay and that everything works out.”

  “Thank you.” She removed her mask as they walked together toward the exit.

  Travis noticed him leaving and raised his hands in question.

  Nate shrugged and turned away, following Hazel, who now led the way out into the lobby. They didn’t need to call an Uber. There were several cabs sitting outside at the curb. Obviously waiting for just such a necessity. She went to one. Nate sped past her and opened the door. Once inside, the cab signaled to pull into traffic.

  “Where to?”

  “Denver International,” Hazel responded.

  “Don’t you want to change?” Nate glanced at her dress and realized she was shivering. He took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. Even though she was five eight, his jacket still made her look like a child wearing her father’s clothes.

  “Let’s just go.” She fixed her gaze on him a moment before turning away and setting her mask on the seat. He removed his mask as well. She pulled his jacket tight around herself and Nate sat back.

  “All right.” To the cab driver, she said, “Go to the airstrip assigned for private planes.”

  The cabbie glanced at Nate in the rearview mirror.

  “You know where that is?” Nate asked, verifying he was dealing with a seasoned driver and not a newbie.

  “Sure, man.” The cabbie looked away and pulled out.

  As they drove, Hazel called her office, advising them to cancel and reschedule her appointments over the next week. Nate called his pilot and told him he would be there in twenty minutes and about the change in flight plans. Once they finished their calls, they sat in silence.

  When they arrived at the airstrip, the plane’s stairs were already down. Thanking the driver, Nate paid the fare and motioned Hazel toward the steps. She stumbled once as her shoe caught on the back of her dress and it tore. Nate grabbed her waist, making sure she stayed upright until they were inside the plane.

  Inside, the attendant introduced herself and directed Hazel to a seat. “I’m Nikki. Have a seat over here, please.”

  “Thanks.” Hazel took her seat in the place Nikki had indicated.

  “I’ll be right back. I’m going to talk to the pilot.” Nate advised Hazel, studying her, trying to determine her needs.

  She nodded, numb.

  “Will you get her a hot water with lemon?” he asked the attendant.

  The young woman smiled readily. “Of course, Mr. Dalton.” He gave Hazel another glanc
e, but she was looking out the window.

  Satisfied she would be okay by herself for the next few minutes, he went to the door separating the cabin from the pilot and knocked. Whatever happened to Lox, please help everything to be alright, he prayed, knowing another loss would probably destroy Hazel. Thankfully the flight to Montana from Denver would be quick. He was grateful he’d been with her when she got the call.

  The pilot let him in, and they spoke briefly about the change in the flight plan. Thankfully, the pilot had immediately submitted the update after Nate’s call, and they could leave in fifteen minutes.

  After thanking the pilot, Nate headed back to his seat. Hazel had her eyes closed. He studied her face, thinking how she looked even more beautiful now. Gus’s death had taken a toll on the both of them in different ways. She’d put on some weight during the pregnancy, but it was obvious she’d lost it all and then some. Her extra weight hadn’t bothered him. But he knew it’d bothered her and had added to her depression after the death of their son.

  He sighed as he sat down. When she’d asked for a divorce, he’d been angry at her, at the world, and at anyone who had the audacity to try to talk to him. That was then. The past two years had helped to heal his head and his heart. He still missed Gus more than he could ever express. As he thought of Hazel, he realized how much he’d missed his wife, too. She’d been the love of his life. And, even though he’d dated since their divorce, not a single woman had come close to affecting him the way Hazel had. Without a doubt he still loved her.