Read The Bridge to a Better Life Online
Authors: Ava Miles
Tags: #women's fiction, #Romantic comedy, #series, #suspense, #new adult, #sports romance, #sagas, #humor
The Bridge to a Better Life (43 page)
“I’m glad you didn’t wait. Natalie, do you think you can help me in the kitchen? I need to make another batch.”
That was probably code for a little necking in their food pantry, which they’d always done when hosting parties. “Sure thing, babe.”
“Blake,” Moira said. “You didn’t tell us your secret to the margaritas?”
His mouth twitched. “It’s a new brand of tequila. You can thank my friend, Jordan. It’s very…intoxicating.”
Natalie waggled her brows at him. “Har-de-har-har.” The next time she saw Jordan, she planned to give him a big kiss for pushing that tequila on her, which Blake had confessed his friend had done on purpose.
“And we added blue Curacao,” Blake shared.
“Oh! Is that why Caroline’s tongue is blue?”
“Yours is too, moron,” her sister said.
“We’ll have your drinks in a jiffy,” Blake said, rolling his eyes at them.
Natalie linked her arm through his and leaned in to whisper. “Are we really going to make them drinks right now?”
“Of course not.” He bumped her with his hip. “I thought we could take a little time for ourselves and then make some more margaritas. In say…ten or fifteen minutes.”
“I thought so,” she purred. Her body was already revving with desire. Maybe they could have more than a necking session in the pantry.
She was already imagining a quickie when they entered the kitchen. Jane and Matt caught sight of them first and grinned.
“Three cheers to your new career,” Matt called out.
They were standing at the counter with Terrance and Elizabeth, who also added another round of congratulations. So much for sneaking into the pantry.
Blake gave her a frown. “Later, babe,” he whispered.
“Definitely.”
There were two blindfolds on the counter and five bottles of wine wrapped in brown paper. Terrance gave Natalie a nudge when she joined them at the kitchen island, and she nudged him right back.
“Jane was just demonstrating her wine superiority again,” Elizabeth told them.
Blake settled beside Natalie and slid an arm around her waist and gave it a squeeze. “Who won?” he asked.
Everyone knew Jane kept besting Terrance head-to-head.
“Who do you think?” her boss said in an aggrieved tone. “She’s got a perfect record.”
Blake put his other arm around Jane’s shoulder, and the two of them shared a conspiratorial wink. “I know exactly how that feels, sweetheart.”
Jane laughed and reached for Natalie’s left hand. “I still can’t get over how beautiful your ring is.”
“It really is,” Elizabeth said, touching it as well from across the counter. “So, have you set a date yet for your renewal ceremony?”
Natalie had been insistent they see to Blake’s career first. She’d wanted to put him first since he’d done that so many times for her. Fortunately, he’d let her.
“As soon as possible,” she said.
After all, they were doing their best to get pregnant. Neither of them wanted a big ceremony this time around. Only family and close friends. Then they planned to have another party—a big, loud, raucous party with lots and lots of champagne.
“That soon?” Elizabeth asked. “Most of the venues around here get booked up pretty fast. Trust me. Terrance and I know about this. Don’t we?”
Natalie felt her mouth curve. “Actually it won’t be a problem.”
Blake gave her an answering grin. “We’ve already picked out a place.”
Which was another reason he’d agreed to wait until his career was settled. It wasn’t like they would have to do any crazy planning in advance. And the hotel could easily cater the ceremony for them.
“You have?” Jane asked. “Oh, I didn’t know. Have you found some super wedding planner with connections? If so, Elizabeth and I
have
to hire her.”
Natalie fingered her ring. “No. We actually own the place. We’re going to get married on the bridge Blake built. It’s out back.”
“Oh,” Jane said, not understanding the significance. “I haven’t seen it. After all, it didn’t exist when Matt lived here.”
Natalie walked to the back door. “Here, I’ll show you.”
She led them all outside and pointed to one of her favorite sights on earth. She’d already told Blake they were going to bring that bridge with them to their new house. She was not leaving it behind. No way. They were going to tell their kids about that bridge and stroll across it at night after they’d tucked them in for the night.
“It’s the bridge to a better life,” she told the group, her eyes holding Blake’s the whole time. “Right, babe?”
He swallowed thickly and nodded. “Right, babe.”
Then she rushed him like a linebacker, knowing she didn’t need the bridge anymore to find her way back to a better life.
She was holding that life and all it promised to be.
She was holding
him.
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. These include my special Dare Valley wedding novella, DARING BRIDES; the new Dare Valley Meets Paris Billionaire mini-series; Lucy and Andy's story called THE CALENDAR OF NEW BEGINNINGS; Susannah and Jake's story in Dare River called THE PROMISE OF RAINBOWS; and Jordan and Grace's story in my new series Once Upon A Dare called THE GATE TO EVERYTHING.
Dear Reader,
This story affected me like no other. I had already fallen in love with Blake, but Natalie was the one I was learning to love while I wrote this. Her transformation in this book has been my own, and ultimately is every person's journey of self-love and the openness to the complete love of another. Many of you write and tell me you have found this. Others write and say you are still looking. Wherever you are, simply know you are right on track.
If you enjoyed this book, I would love for you to post a review since it helps more readers want to read my story. You can write one here or on
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. When you post one, kindly let me know at
[email protected]
so I can personally thank you.
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There's so much coming up for you Dare Valley fans. Soon I will be releasing a novella called DARING BRIDES filled with the weddings of Meredith and Tanner, Jill and Brian, Peggy and Mac, and Abbie and Rhett. So many of you have wanted to know more about your favorite couples, so this was my way of sharing the love we all have for these special people. You even get to meet Rhett's mama, and boy is she a trip. Then there's the special new mini-series. It involves a billionaire inventor, Evan Michaels, who can't live like he's a billionaire in Dare Valley after losing to Jane in a poker game. Part of the story is set in Paris, which is why it's a mini-series. I adore Paris and have been trying to figure out a way to have Dare Valley connect with all the city's awesome food and romantic vistas. And it involves Don't Soy With Me's manager, Margie Waters, who plans to open her own bakery called Hot Cross Buns. I can't wait to share it with you. And of course, Andy and Lucy will have their day in the sun too in THE CALENDAR OF NEW BEGINNINGS. I'll also be releasing a new series called Once Upon a Dare with all of the football stars you met in this book. Jordan and Grace are up first in THE GATE TO EVERYTHING. Stay tuned.
Thank you so much for loving Dare Valley as much as I do.
Lots of light and joy,
Ava
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The following books by Ava Miles are also available now.
The Dare Valley series:
NORA ROBERTS LAND
(Meredith & Tanner)
FRENCH ROAST
(Jill & Brian)
THE GRAND OPENING
(Peggy & Mac)
THE HOLIDAY SERENADE
(Abbie & Rhett)
THE TOWN SQUARE
(Arthur & Harriet)
THE PARK OF SUNSET DREAMS
(Jane & Matt)
THE PERFECT INGREDIENT
(Elizabeth & Terrance)
THE BRIDGE TO A BETTER LIFE (Natalie & Blake)
The Dare River series (connected to Dare Valley):
COUNTRY HEAVEN
(Tory & Rye)
COUNTRY HEAVEN SONG BOOK
COUNTRY HEAVEN COOKBOOK
THE CHOCOLATE GARDEN
(Tammy & John Parker)
THE CHOCOLATE GARDEN: A MAGICAL TALE
(children's book)
FIREFLIES AND MAGNOLIAS
(Amelia Ann & Clayton)
Looking for Dare Valley Swag? Ava has a Zazzle Store now where you can buy a coffee mug from Don't Soy With Me and other fun items.
Come check it out
.
USA Today Bestselling Author Ava Miles burst onto the contemporary romance scene after receiving Nora Roberts' blessing for her use of Ms. Roberts' name in her debut novel, the #1 National Bestseller NORA ROBERTS LAND, which kicked off her small town series, Dare Valley. Ava's books have reached the #1 spot at Barnes & Noble and ranked in Amazon and iBooks' Top 10. Both NORA ROBERTS LAND and COUNTRY HEAVEN have been chosen as Best Books of the Year. Ava has also released a connected series called Dare River about the power of love and family. She's fast becoming a favorite author in light contemporary romance (Tome Tender) and is known for funny, sweet, emotional stories, sometimes with a touch of mystery and magic. Ava's background is as diverse as her characters. She's a former chef, worked as a long-time conflict expert rebuilding warzones, and now writes full-time from her own small town community. Ava is a big believer in living happily ever after and writes about her own journey on The Happiness Corner blog every Friday on her website. If you'd like to connect with Ava or hear more about her upcoming books, check out the links below:
Copyright May 2015, Ava Miles. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means—graphic, electronic or mechanical—without permission in writing from the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review.
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictionally.
Ava Miles
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