Not Until This Moment: Novella (Hope Springs Book 2) Read online

  Not Until This Moment

  -A Hope Springs Novella-

  Valerie M. Bodden

  Not Until This Moment © 2019 by Valerie M. Bodden.

  Scriptures taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™

  All rights reserved. No portion of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission from the publisher, except as permitted by U.S. copyright law.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Valerie M. Bodden

  Visit me at www.valeriembodden.com

  Contents

  Books in the Hope Springs Series

  A Gift for You…

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  More Hope Springs Books

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Books in the Hope Springs Series

  Not Until Christmas

  Not Until Forever

  Not Until This Moment

  Not Until You

  Not Until Us

  A Gift for You…

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  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

  Jeremiah 29:11

  Chapter 1

  Peyton wiped her frosting-smudged hands on her apron and eased the kitchen door open to peek into the empty ballroom. Her eyes roamed the elegant table settings, the tall vases filled with amaryllis and orchids, the fairy lights that floated above the room like stars. The bride and groom were at the church, probably exchanging their vows at this very moment, but soon they’d come into this perfect room. Peyton could picture exactly how the bride’s face would look. She’d seen that look on every bride’s face at every wedding she’d ever been to. It was the look that said this was the happiest day of her life.

  Peyton pulled her head back and let the door close, barely suppressing a sigh.

  A year ago, she’d thought her own happily ever after was just around the corner. But now it seemed further away than ever.

  Leah bustled past with a stack of serving bowls. She shuffled them and reached over to pat Peyton’s arm, the same way she had at every wedding they’d worked together in the past year.

  Peyton straightened her shoulders and marched to the counter. Standing here dwelling on regrets wouldn’t get the cake done.

  She surveyed the four tiers she’d already stacked and grabbed her bench scraper to smooth the spots where her fingers had left impressions in the buttercream, exposing the red velvet swirl underneath. It was exactly what she would have picked for her own wedding cake—if Jared had ever proposed.

  She blinked against the sting behind her eyelids. She had to stop feeling this way every time she set up a wedding cake. It’d been almost a year since he’d told her he never intended to get married. Almost a year since she’d decided she couldn’t be with a man who couldn’t commit to a future with her. Almost a year since she’d pulverized her own heart when she’d broken up with him.

  Time to move on.

  With a sudden decisiveness, she grabbed her piping materials and filled them with the buttercream she was becoming famous for. Okay, maybe not famous, but well-known enough around Hope Springs to keep her busy most weekends of the summer and even a few in winter—like this one. She set to work adding the delicate beading the couple had requested for the edges of their cake. She let the noises around her fade as she concentrated on making each tiny circle perfect, just barely connecting it to the next one. The intense focus was soothing.

  “You’re coming to Tamarack with us next weekend, right?” Leah’s voice right next to her made Peyton jump, and she almost yanked the piping tip back from the cake. Fortunately, years of practice had given her a steady hand, even in the face of Leah’s enthusiasm. She finished the last four beads, then pulled the tip away and spun the cake to examine her work. Not too bad.

  “It’s perfect.” Leah pretended to swipe a finger toward the frosting, but Peyton batted her hand away.

  “Tell me you’re coming, or I’ll do it.” Leah held a finger toward the cake again, her eyebrows waggling as if daring Peyton to tempt her.

  Too bad Peyton knew it was an empty threat. Leah didn’t have an unkind bone in her body, and she’d never ruin Peyton’s work—or a couple’s wedding cake.

  “I don’t think so.” Peyton couldn’t meet Leah’s eyes. She hated to disappoint anyone, least of all the friend who’d come to feel like a sister, but there was no way she could go on the annual skiing trip. Not if Jared was going to be there. And anyway, he was the only reason she’d been invited in the first place. Now that they weren’t together, it would be awkward if she tagged along.

  “Sawyer specifically told me to make sure you knew you were still invited.” Drat Leah’s ability to read her mind.

  “I’m sure he was only being polite.”

  Unlike the others who went on the trip every year, Peyton hadn’t grown up in Hope Springs. She’d only met Sawyer a few years ago when she’d gone with Jared and his friends to the ski resort Sawyer’s family owned.

  “Well, if he was, then saying no would be rude.” Leah gave her an impish smile, obviously certain she’d won the argument.

  But Peyton was tougher than that. “I have another wedding that weekend.” Which also happened to be Valentine’s Day. Not that she cared about her former favorite holiday anymore.

  “I know. I’m catering that one, too. But we’ll be back by Wednesday. Try again.”

  Peyton reviewed her mental calendar. Why couldn’t she come up with something else?

  “So it’s really about Jared.” Leah gave her the same half-sympathetic, half-stern look she did every time Jared’s name came up.

  Peyton snatched her scraper and smoothed a nonexistent dent. Of course it was about Jared. “Don’t you have a wedding dinner to get ready?”

  Leah planted a hand on her hip. “You said you were over Jared.”

  She had said that. Multiple times. She’d told it to herself every day, hoping that one of these days it would be true.

  “I am over him. I just—”

  “Then prove it.” Leah crossed her arms in front of her. “If you’re over him, you won’t have a problem coming skiing with all of us. Maybe you’ll meet someone new.”

  Peyton studied her friend. She should say no. Leah was intentionally pushing her buttons. But her friend knew her well. Knew she was incapable of backing down from a challenge.

  “Fine,” she huffed. “I’ll come. Now let me finish this cake.”

  Leah gave her a triumphant smile and a quick squeeze. �
�Gotta run. I have a wedding dinner to prepare.” She rushed to the other side of the kitchen, where the rest of her crew worked to unload carts filled with chicken, potatoes, and all kinds of food that made Peyton’s mouth water.

  Peyton shook her head and tried to force her concentration back to her work. This was one challenge she should have walked away from.

  Chapter 2

  Jared drove the monstrous conversion van he’d just picked up into the parking lot of the Hidden Cafe.

  He’d been waiting for this Friday morning for weeks now. He was ready for this ski trip like he’d been ready for few things in his life. The past year had been rough, and he needed to get out of Hope Springs for a few days. Just enough time to clear his head. To escape the constant fear of running into Peyton. To finally get over her.

  As if that will ever happen.

  But it had to happen. Peyton had made it clear what she wanted—marriage, a life together, a family. Much as he would do anything to give her the moon and stars, the thing she was asking for—that was the one thing he couldn’t give her.

  Which didn’t stop him from glancing around the parking lot, just in case her car was here.

  That sinking feeling in his stomach when he didn’t spot it was stupid. He’d known she wouldn’t come this year. Or any year, now that they weren’t together.

  He turned off the vehicle and jumped out. Anyway, it was for the best, he reminded himself as he strode into the Hidden Cafe.

  The moment he stepped through the door, he stopped to inhale deeply, just as he did whenever he came here. The scents of home cooking got him every time. His home had never smelled like this growing up.

  It had smelled more like . . .

  Did fear have a smell?

  “Hey, man.” Ethan clapped a hand on his shoulder. “Got some muffins for the road.” He opened the paper bag in his hand and pulled out a giant muffin, passing it to Jared.

  “Thanks.” Jared took a big bite of the still-warm pastry, savoring the apple and cinnamon melting on his tongue. “Everyone here?”

  “Just about. Ariana’s over there.” Ethan glowed at the mere mention of his wife’s name. “And Leah. Her brother Dan is coming, too. I guess he just moved back to town to serve with his dad at the church.”

  Jared nodded shortly. He didn’t need to know what was going on at the church.

  “Emma’s on her way. And Sophie and Spencer just called. They’ll be here in a few minutes, and they’re bringing Spencer’s brother Tyler. Vi can’t make it this year. She didn’t want to close the store.”

  Jared tallied the group in his head. “So we’ve got five here, and we’re waiting for four.”

  “Actually—” Ethan cleared his throat and didn’t meet Jared’s eyes. “We’re waiting for five.”

  Jared did a quick recount. “I only count four.”

  “That’s because you’re not counting Peyton.”

  “Pey—” Jared ran a hand up and down his rough cheek. “Peyton’s coming?” His throat went dry. He’d been so sure she wouldn’t come. So sure he’d be able to use this time to get over her.

  Ethan watched him. “You okay with that?”

  Jared gave a tight smile and a quick nod. “Of course.”

  But Ethan tipped his head to the side. His partner on the volunteer first responder squad knew him better than anyone else. Knew how hard not being with Peyton had been for him. He was the only one who knew why Jared would never marry, too.

  “Well, I guess I’m going to have to be, aren’t I?” he muttered as the door opened and Peyton stepped inside.

  Jared caught his breath as her eyes landed on his for a second, then skipped away. Her mouth was set into a faint scowl as she gazed past him, clearly searching for someone else—probably anyone else.

  He shuffled to the side to get out of her way. No reason to make this harder than it had to be.

  Her lips curled into a smile, and for half a heartbeat he let himself think it was for him. But she slid past him and let Leah wrap her into a hug.

  Jared tried not to think about how long it had been since his arms had been around Peyton. Tried not to notice how they ached to hold her again.

  So far so good on being okay with this.

  He moved toward the door. “We should get the van loaded.” He said it loudly so everyone would hear, but his gaze locked on Peyton and refused to budge. She wore the white ski jacket with pink trim he had helped her pick out the first year they’d gone skiing together. Her pale hair was swept into some kind of messy bun on top of her head, making her look casual and sophisticated at the same time. And her eyes. Her eyes were what had drawn him to her in the first place. So impossibly light they were almost transparent. But it was more than their color. It was their warmth. Their sincerity. The way they revealed everything she felt.

  Which was also what scared him about them.

  He held the door as Ethan and Ariana filed past, then waited for the others.

  But Leah was introducing Peyton to a dark-haired guy with his back to Jared.

  When Peyton smiled at the guy and held out a hand to shake his, Jared’s stomach clenched. He’d been waiting for the moment he learned she’d met someone else. But that didn’t mean he wanted to witness it.

  His eyes flicked to hers again. But all he saw in them was polite interest as she talked to the stranger.

  After a second, the three of them moved toward the door. Caught watching them, Jared considered making an escape out to the van. But he couldn’t very well close the door in their faces.

  He stood his ground as they approached.

  Peyton passed through first, barely acknowledging him, though he was pretty sure he heard a mumbled “thanks” before she scooted toward the van. That woman couldn’t bear to be impolite, even to him.

  “Hey, Jared.” He tore his eyes off Peyton’s retreating figure and forced them to Leah. “You remember my little brother Dan? He was a couple years behind us in school.”

  Little brother? The guy easily stood two inches taller than Jared’s six feet. But now that Leah mentioned it, he did vaguely remember she had a younger brother, along with a whole slew of older siblings.

  The guy gave Jared a warm smile and held out a hand. “Thanks for letting me tag along.”

  Jared returned the handshake. “No problem.” As long as you don’t steal my girlfriend.

  But that wasn’t right. If Dan ended up with Peyton, he wouldn’t be stealing her. Jared had already let her go.

  Too bad his heart didn’t know that yet.

  Outside, Sophie, Spencer, Tyler, and Emma were getting out of their cars. Jared opened the back of the van and everyone stashed their bags, exchanging greetings and laughs as they did. Only Peyton seemed quiet.

  The moment he opened the doors of the van, she launched herself inside and scooted to the corner of the backseat.

  Clearly, she wasn’t going to be riding shotgun this year.

  Jared waited for the others to load into the vehicle, then jumped in, glancing at Leah, who’d taken the seat next to him.

  “We ready for this?” Jared turned the ignition as a resounding chorus of yeses hit his ears.

  As he backed out of the spot, his eyes flicked to the rearview mirror. They landed instantly on Peyton, but she was staring out the window, her lips drawn into a thin line.

  He was tempted to tell a stupid joke, the way he had a hundred times before to erase that look from her face. But this time he was pretty sure hearing from him would only make the line thinner.

  Chapter 3

  Trees. Trees. And more trees.

  The view never changed.

  Not that Peyton didn’t like trees. Especially when they glinted with a dusting of snow as these did.

  But it was taking a monumental effort to keep her gaze directed out the window. If she let herself peek into the car for even one second, her eyes would seek out Jared. And that electric current she’d felt during the brief second their gazes had collided in the cafe th
is morning had been enough to warn her away.

  She’d never get over him if she couldn’t look at him without feeling their connection. So she just wouldn’t look at him.

  “We’re here.” Jared’s voice reached to the back of the van, a hint of weariness behind the words, and she couldn’t help it.

  Her eyes tracked to the rearview mirror, and she caught a glimpse of the short stubble on his cheeks and the sharp line of his nose. The color-changing hazel of his eyes. Fortunately, he was peering ahead, not into the mirror.

  She shifted her gaze away before he could catch her looking.

  Jared steered the van down the long, winding driveway that led to the ski lodge. Peyton focused out the window again, peering toward the massive building. It was chic in a retro-mid-century-modern sort of way, everything chunky and angular and oversized. The first time she’d come here, she’d found it garish, but it’d grown on her. Now she could see how it worked against the backdrop of rolling snow-covered hills and the sharp lines of the trees.

  They passed a small stable, with several horses grazing in a paddock beyond it, and Peyton’s heart jumped. She could still pick out the two she and Jared had ridden last time they were here. Was that really only a year ago? How had everything gone so wrong since then?

  That weekend, she’d been so sure Jared would ask her to marry him. She’d even thought it might be while they were out riding horses. What could be more romantic? Horses. Snowfall. Privacy. It was like God had set everything up for the perfect proposal.

  Except it had never come.

  Peyton had tried not to be disappointed. Tried to tell herself it didn’t mean anything. That Jared was probably waiting for the next weekend—for Valentine’s Day, when they’d be back home in Hope Springs. After all, they’d been together three years already, and she knew without a doubt that he loved her. She just wanted to make it official and start their life together.

  She had waited until the last possible moment on Valentine’s Day, after they’d gone out to dinner, after they’d strolled along the lakefront, after they’d done everything romantic she could think of. But when he’d walked her to her door and said goodnight, when he’d turned and walked down her porch steps, when he’d almost reached his car, she couldn’t hold it back any longer.