Change of Plans_An Echo Ridge Romance Read online

  “What is it, Kait?”

  “You know I’ve loved you since I was sixteen.”

  He nodded.

  “But I’ve changed. We’ve changed.”

  “Guess the dating other people went differently than I’d hoped.”

  She placed a hand on his forearm. “I’m so sorry, Mace. You’re one of the best guys I know, but haven’t you felt it the past year?”

  He stared at her like she was a stranger to him. “Felt what?”

  “You and I drifting apart. You know why I started going to the Lizard’s games, right?” The source of all of this angst. If she’d never gone, she never would’ve had Axel give her that ball, then touch her, then kiss her. She might be a royal mess in the head right now, but if she’d never gone, she would never have known Axel, and she would’ve lived a shallow shell of a life. Maybe she would never have realized she could have the joy and fulfillment Axel had brought to her life.

  “Because you love lacrosse?”

  Kaitlyn pulled her hand away and shook her head. “I do love lacrosse, but I went to feel a connection to you again.” She bowed her head. “And to give us something to talk about when you called.”

  Mason studied her. “You tried to tell me, but I didn’t want to hear it. It’s always just been us for me, you know?”

  “I know.”

  He pushed a hand through his hair. That beautiful reddish-blond hair that she used to love to run her fingers through. “I feel like I’m losing one of my best friends.” He gave her a smile that wrenched her heart.

  Kaitlyn completely agreed and she couldn’t resist hugging him. He squeezed her back, but released her quickly and backed up a couple of steps.

  “I’m sorry.” She barely managed to get the words out.

  He shook his head. “It’s not your fault.” He swallowed then asked quickly, “Are you dating Axel?”

  Kaitlyn blinked. “Yeah.”

  “He’s a good guy.”

  “He is.”

  “Take care of yourself.” He whirled and strode away.

  Kaitlyn watched him go. I feel like I’m losing my best friend, rang through her head. Why did life have to be about so many hard choices?

  Chapter Thirteen

  Kaitlyn woke up early the next morning, determined to find Axel. She could text or call, but she wanted to just show up and see his face without anything premeditated.

  She asked Siri to navigate her to Hofstra University. It was a Saturday. He probably wouldn’t be there. What if he was off at some city doing a camp or a promotional thing? She had to try. If he wasn’t here, she’d call him and pray he wanted to see her.

  The stadium looked deserted when she pulled up, except for a silver Lexus LX. Kaitlyn gripped the steering wheel tightly as she maneuvered into a parking spot. She popped out of her Elantra and ran for the field. Her breath was coming in short puffs, and her stomach was hopping faster than her legs.

  She went through a side gate and came out directly onto the field. Axel was across the field, his back to her. She stopped and watched as he scooped a ball off the turf, fired it at the goal, drilled the back of the net, and then picked up another ball with his lacrosse stick. She knew his shot was over a hundred miles an hour, but it felt like her heart was pounding faster than he could throw that ball.

  On quavering legs, she forced herself to walk onto the turf. “Axel,” she whispered, her throat too constricted to push his name out with any force. She cleared her throat and tried again. “Axel!”

  He whipped around, and his eyes widened. Dropping the stick, he started in her direction. Kaitlyn’s legs found renewed strength. Her shaky walk turned into a jog and then a full-on run. Axel met her pace effortlessly. When he reached her, he swept her off the ground and into his arms. He swung her around then set her on the ground, framed her face with his hands, and simply stared at her.

  “Kaitlyn?” He whispered her name like he thought she was an apparition or figment of his imagination.

  Kaitlyn ran her hands over his chest. He was so solid and real, and her tingly receptors were going nuts. There was so much to say, but Kaitlyn didn’t complain when he bowed his head and his lips met hers. The kiss was hungry and full of longing, and even though it was amazing, she’d need a few hundred more to start satiating her need for him.

  He pulled back and kept her face in his hands. He studied her carefully. “You came.”

  “I came.”

  “Does this mean—? I don’t want to push you.” He shook his head and stepped back, his hands dropping to his sides.

  Kaitlyn felt the loss like a punch in the gut. She opened her mouth, but he held up a hand and then said quickly, “I love you, Kaitlyn. You may not know me very well yet, but I’ve never felt like this, and it’s not going to go away. If you think you’re meant to be with Mason, I’ll leave you alone. Even though it will kill me, I will.”

  Kaitlyn stepped up to him. She put her finger on his lips. He smiled against her finger. She traced her hand over his jawline and up into his hair.

  “Am I saying too much?” he asked.

  “No. You’re saying it just perfectly. All I’ve wanted these past two weeks is to be with you, and now I’m free to chase after you.”

  His breath rushed out with a loud pop like she’d just released all of his worries with one sentence. “Oh …” He arched his eyebrows. “You’re going to be chasing me now?”

  “Sounds like a fun idea to me.” Kaitlyn bit at the side of her lip and ducked her head.

  Axel’s grin came quick and sure. Then he whooped and swept her completely off her feet. Even before her feet touched the ground, he was kissing her again, and Kaitlyn knew all the things they needed to talk about were going to work out just fine.

  Mason’s Happily Ever After

  I hope you don’t hate me for breaking Mason’s heart. One of my editors couldn’t stop laughing at all the guilt I’d written into this book, but I couldn’t help it. I love Mason! I promise Mason gets his happily ever after. Read on for an excerpt of Counterfeit Date, available June 20, 2018.

  Hugs,

  Cami

  Excerpt - Counterfeit Date

  Lolly Honeymiller danced her way along the sidewalk toward Kenworth’s Department Store. It was a gorgeous summer day in Echo Ridge, New York, the sun shining and the promise of all happy things to come. She was dressed to impress in a knee-length, sleeveless silk black romper with white flowers on it. Her own creation. She loved designing clothes and could hardly wait to see how she and Kaitlyn’s new line of casual wear looked displayed on Kenworth’s wall. She squealed and did a little dance. It was finally happening. Their swimwear, workout apparel, and casual line were selling fabulous online but to finally be in brick and mortar stores was a goal she’d always dreamed of. Maybe it was silly and old-fashioned. They were successful enough they didn’t need brick and mortar, but she and Kaitlyn were destined to sparkle and shine, that meant getting their clothes everywhere.

  A man walked toward her on the sidewalk and Lolly took in broad shoulders, blondish-red hair that was a little bit long but a nice style, and a face that … Aw, crap. That wasn’t a face she could drool over. Mason Turner. Her best friend and business partner’s ex-boyfriend. Kaitlyn was now happily married to lacrosse superstar Axel Olsen, but it still felt like a betrayal of best friend status to be ogling her ex. Dang what an ogle he would be. Mmm-mmm, he was yummy from head to toe.

  He glanced at her and gave her half a smile. Man she liked his lips almost as much as his blue eyes. He used to have long, flowing hair when he played lacrosse at Syracuse University but now it was short and showed off his strong jawline even better. She’d thought he was hot before, he was perfect now.

  Recognition lit his eyes and he paused. “Oh, Lolly, hey.” It was awkward. What did she expect? Kaitlyn had dumped this perfect specimen three years ago to be with the man she was destined to love. Lolly knew it had devastated Mason and his family. Her loyalty was to Kaitlyn so she tried to r
eign in her attraction. Mason deserved a nice girl who wouldn’t dredge up any painful memories.

  “Hey, Mace. How’s life?” She dangled her purse from between her fingertips and swung it back and forth.

  “Good.” He nodded and brushed a hand through his hair. She could tell it was a nervous gesture but dang it did good things for him. In his short-sleeved button-down shirt the hair brush move showed off his nicely-formed biceps and it mussed his hair just perfectly. Ooh, what she wouldn’t give to muss up that hair. Stop it, brain. He’s Kaitlyn’s ex.

  “How long have you been back in Echo Ridge?” she asked.

  “A little over a year.” They had all graduated college over a year ago and he was definitely all man now. She was pretty partial to the hunky men types.

  “Doing … accounting?”

  “Yeah.” He smiled. “Good memory.”

  “Yep, I’m a smartie like that.”

  His smile grew and butterflies erupted in her abdomen.

  “Are you here visiting Kaitlyn?”

  Lolly listened closely for voice inflection, tone, body language, the way his lips moved. Wait, maybe the lips moving was just extremely appealing and had nothing to do with the evaluation of how he said Kaitlyn’s name. Kaitlyn and Axel had a home in Echo Ridge though they were usually only here in the off-season. Did Mason still long for Kaitlyn, that was the question that must be answered. No, it didn’t matter. He was still off limits. She and Kaitlyn were too close to let a man come between them. Lolly loved this darling town and especially the lush mountains and hiking trails, but it was good she’d only be here a few weeks. She obviously needed to get back to her roots, the big city of New York, with men everywhere and nonstop date offers. Then she wouldn’t be salivating over her best friend’s ex.

  “No,” she said quickly. “Well, yes I’m staying with her and she’s just inside, but I’m here setting up our inventory with Kenworth’s for our casual-wear line. By next summer we’ll be launching swimwear and active wear in stores throughout upstate New York, from there—the world!” She beamed and swung her purse extra hard, hitting him in the arm with it. “Oops, sorry.” Lolly released the purse with one hand and rubbed his arm, his very, very nicely formed forearm. Oh, my, goodness who knew skin, muscle, and bone could feel so good?

  Mason’s eyes flew from her hand on his arm to meet hers. His eyes were the most lovely shade of summer-time blue skies, but they looked a little shell-shocked. “It’s okay,” he said quickly.

  She pulled her hand back to her side of the line. Dang it, that was no fun. “I can be vicious with this thing.” She lifted her pink polka-dotted purse up.

  He arched an eyebrow. “I don’t think you could be vicious with anything. Good luck with the launch.”

  “Thanks. It was really, really fabulous to see you again.” She grinned, hoping he wouldn’t think she was coming on too strong. She’d been guilty of that a time or two, but she’d never had a man complain.

  “I liked seeing you too.” He dipped his chin to her and seemed to really be seeing her. The times she’d met him before, he’d always been dating Kaitlyn, back before Kaitlyn fell in love with Axel and had to say goodbye to her high school and college love. Lolly knew it had been painful for both of them as they’d been close friends for years, but that was life, and Kaitlyn and Axel were definitely made to be together. When Lolly had been around Mason, he’d always been cordial, and laughed at her quips, and made her feel welcome to be the third wheel with him and Kaitlyn, but she didn’t know that he’d ever noticed her the way he was right now.

  “It is good to be seen,” she teased, winking at him.

  His smile widened. “Maybe I’ll see you around some more.”

  “If you’re lucky.” She wanted to stay and find out so much more about him. Was he dating anyone? How did he like being an accountant? Was he dating anyone? Did he miss lacrosse? Was he dating anyone? How was his family? And seriously, was he dating anyone?

  She knew it was a much smarter play to walk away and not make him have to be the one to break up this stimulating conversation. But maybe she could just ask if he was dating anyone? No. Walk away girl.

  She grinned and sauntered around him, swinging her purse onto her shoulder and swaying her hips as she walked. She wasn’t tall and willowy like her friend Kaitlyn or her famous model sister. She used to hate being short and curvy, but she’d grown to like her shape and she knew she had great legs. Her wedge sandals only helped that situation. Strutting away, she almost made it half a block before risking a glance over her shoulder. He was watching her go. When she caught him looking, he gave her the most adorable embarrassed smile she’d ever seen. Yeah, baby. She smiled back, flipped her dark curls over her shoulder and sauntered into the store. He’d been watching. That made her almost as happy as heading in to Kenworth’s to see the clothes she and Kaitlyn had designed.

  About the Author

  CAMI CHECKETTS IS A WIFE to a daredevil husband, a mother to four future WWF champions, an exercise scientist trying to make her corner of the world healthier, and a writer hoping for more time to write.

  Sign up for Cami’s newsletter to receive a free ebook copy of The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance and information about new releases, discounts, and promotions here.

  www.camichecketts.com

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  Also by Cami Checketts

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  Trusting the Billionaire

  How to Kiss a Billionaire

  Billionaire Bride Pact Romance

  The Resilient One

  The Feisty One

  The Independent One

  The Protective One

  The Faithful One

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  A Touch of Love: Summer in Snow Valley

  Running from the Cowboy: Spring in Snow Valley

  Light in Your Eyes: Winter in Snow Valley

  Romancing the Singer: Return to Snow Valley

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