His Bride (Frisky Beavers Quickies Book 3) Read online

  His Bride

  Ainsley Booth

  Sadie Haller

  Booth Haller Books

  Gavin:

  At some point along the way, I convinced myself I was married to my job. That being a bachelor prime minister meant I would never settle down.

  And then I met Ellie.

  Ellie:

  There’s nothing ordinary about a life with Gavin Strong. But I wouldn’t trade it for the world, because for all the public trade-offs, I get the private side of the most remarkable man.

  My Sir.

  My husband-to-be.

  FOOTNOTES:

  This novella is two parts wedding, two parts honeymoon, and three parts baby making.

  That’s it. That’s the footnote!

  The Prime Minister Ties The Knot

  June 24, 2017 / Squamish, B.C.

  At eleven in the morning, Prime Minister Gavin Strong married Eleanor Montague, a PhD candidate at the University of Ottawa.

  The wedding was attended by friends and family, and took place at the Summit Lodge at the top of the Sea to Sky Gondola. The groom’s family has hiked in the area for generations and the location is said to have been chosen for sentimental reasons.

  No formal wedding photographs have been released, but the prime minister posted a single picture to his official social media accounts.

  The couple will honeymoon in an undisclosed location for a week. The prime minister and his new wife will return to Ottawa after the Canada Day weekend.

  Dedication

  For every reader who wanted more of Gavin and Ellie

  Contents

  Foreword

  The Frisky Beavers Reading Order

  1. Gavin

  2. Ellie

  3. Gavin

  4. Ellie

  5. Gavin

  6. Ellie

  7. Gavin

  Also by Sadie Haller

  Also by Ainsley Booth

  Foreword

  This is the second short story follow up to Prime Minister that we have written. The first is New Year’s Eve, and probably should be read first before you start reading His Bride.

  Also, if you’ve only read Prime Minister, then we strongly recommend you read the other novels in this series first, because both New Year’s Eve and His Bride contain spoilers for those subsequent novels.

  This book is a bonus story that lies outside the primary Frisky Beavers series. It’s part of the Frisky Beavers Quickies collection. On the next page is a complete chronological order of all the stories, short and full-length novels combined.

  Visit our website at www.friskybeavers.com to make sure you don’t miss any of our stories

  Ainsley & Sadie

  The Frisky Beavers Reading Order

  Prime Minister a novel

  Retrosexual a quickie

  Dr. Bad Boy a novel

  New Year’s Eve a quickie

  Full Mountie a novel

  His Bride a quickie

  Mr. Hat Trick a novel

  Page of Swords a quickie

  Bull of the Woods a novel

  1

  Gavin

  May

  Squamish, British Columbia

  For the first time in years, I’ve got a speech in my pocket that nobody else has seen, that hasn’t been vetted by the PMO staff—because this speech won’t be given by the prime minister of Canada.

  It’s the speech I’ll give as Ellie Montague’s new husband.

  I glance in the mirror and straighten my tie one last time.

  “You all ready to go?” Max asks from where he’s lounging like a prince in an easy chair on the other side of his suite.

  I’ve been relegated to get dressed here while Max’s wife Violet and Ellie’s other female friends and family are helping her get ready in our suite down the hall.

  And my best friend is cool as a cucumber because he’s already married.

  I’m not nervous. I’m excited. I just want to get to that moment, two hours from now, when Ellie walks down the aisle and into my arms.

  Why has time suddenly decided to drag? The last few weeks have sped by and now I can hear every painful thump of my heartbeat like a gong.

  “Yeah, let’s head out.” It’ll take time to get up the Sea to Sky Gondola to where we’re getting married, high above Squamish.

  “Do you want to practice your speech on me?”

  “I’m good.”

  “Because you usually have smarter people than you write these things…”

  I flip him the bird as I open the door. “Out.”

  I don’t need to practice it, though. I’ve got it memorized. It’s a short speech—more of a toast. And I mean every single word.

  Ellie brings me joy and happiness in a way I never knew possible. She is both comfort and counsellor, the best kind of partner to have on this crazy journey through life. We are both touched that all of you travelled here to celebrate the start of our marriage today. It is a precious memory we will both hold in our hearts as we depart on our honeymoon, and then return to Ottawa.

  To joy, to happiness, and to my bride.

  Lachlan is outside my door, talking into his headset. He tips his head in a let’s go nod, and we follow him, the rest of my security detail falling in behind.

  In roughly eight hours, I’ll get the first real reprieve from this constant guard thing when we land at Tree Top Island. The RCMP has secured my parents’ cabin—the only building on the island—and established a perimeter zone that will leave Ellie and me completely alone for five glorious days.

  The drive over is quiet; so is the ride up the gondola. We’re the first people to go up it today, and when we get to the lodge at the top, it’s completely quiet.

  Lachlan excuses himself to check with the advance team, and Max and I wander outside.

  He leans against the railing and points across the valley to the Chief. “Remember the first time we climbed up there?”

  Like it was yesterday. None of this was here—not the gondola, not the lodge. Just the Chief, and a bitter, jaded roommate who was causing me nothing but misery.

  Except there was something about the guy that I couldn’t help but love. It wasn’t his hiking ability, though. “You weren’t great at taking instruction back then.”

  “I’m still not.” He stands and turns around, looking for my shadows. “Can we head across the bridge?”

  A radio squawks, then we get the all-clear.

  On the other side, there’s another member of my security detail, and a local RCMP officer, too. I shake her hand and thank her for the extra work to help us pull this wedding off.

  Max is staring off into the distance, and when I stop beside him, he clears his throat. “We’ve come a long way since then, haven’t we?”

  “Damn straight.”

  “I should thank you for the ass kicking.”

  “It’s been twenty years, why start now?” But I grin at him, because we’ve both had each other’s backs. And now we’ve each found someone to love—something that took us both by surprise.

  “Today feels like a good day to be sentimental. Tomorrow we can return to being ruthless alpha males.”

  I snort. “Who’s to say sentiment and dominance can’t go hand in hand?”

  Max laughs. “Damn straight. I’m planning to be super sentimental with Violet tonight.”

  Which reminds me of something else that’s been on my mind. I glance around, but the police officers are giving us quite a wide berth, and are engaged in their own conversation.

  On the side of a mountain is as good a place as any to ask potentially sensitive questions of one’s
best friend.

  “Listen…You and Violet…”

  Max grins at me. “Yeah?”

  “Her being pregnant hasn’t changed anything, has it?”

  “It’s changed a lot,” he says with a chuckle. “But nothing significant in the bedroom, if that’s what you’re asking.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Is Ellie…?”

  “Not yet.” But we’ve started trying, which is too much information for Max. We share a lot, but that I’m actively trying to knock up my fiancé is private.

  “A pregnant ass can take just as much punishment as any other,” he says, proving that any reticence about over-sharing is completely one-sided.

  “Good to know.”

  “There are some positions that are better—”

  I hold up my hand. “Let’s pretend I didn’t ask.”

  He howls and claps his hands. “Too late. But fine. You need any other advice?” He wiggles his eyebrows.

  “No.”

  “Got anything fun planned for your week at the cabin?”

  “Yep.”

  “Come on, spill.”

  I look across the suspension bridge. “Looks like guests have started to arrive.”

  “I bought you guys sex supplies.”

  When I first fell for Ellie, head over heels, and couldn’t ask anyone else to buy me condoms. Max had bought condoms, lube, and bondage tape. “I remember.”

  “You didn’t ask me to pick up anything for your honeymoon.”

  I laugh out loud. “I had a lot more time to plan for this. I can’t have you being my kink dealer for the rest of my life.”

  “But it would be an honour,” he protests.

  “I bet.”

  He cackles at that, but leaves it be, and we sit together in silence, watching guests arrive for my wedding.

  “I’m grateful for everything you’ve done,” I finally tell him. “Seriously. I’m glad you’re my best man.”

  He throws his arm around my shoulders and waves at the photographer who has caught sight of us. Then he claps me on the back. “I didn’t know I had a brother until you dragged me up the Chief. I’m proud I’m standing by your side today.”

  Jesus, my throat is getting tight.

  But Lachlan saves the day, appearing at the side of the photographer on the far side of the bridge.

  As my security detail approaches again, I hear the radio crackle, and I wave them off. “Yep, tell him we’re on our way back.”

  Lachlan gives me a serious nod when we reach the viewing platform outside Summit Lodge again. “Hugh just radioed. Ellie’s left the hotel. It’s show time.”

  2

  Ellie

  When we step off the gondola, Lachlan is waiting. He takes my parents ahead, and Hugh, another member of the security detail, hangs back with me, waiting for the all-clear.

  “I never thought I’d have RCMP officers coordinating my walk down the aisle,” I say after he listens to a burst of chatter on his ear piece.

  He grins at me. “I never thought I’d get to have the best seat in the house to watch my prime minister get married.”

  “Are you right up front?”

  He laughs. “I’m standing at the back, actually. More of a figure of speech, but honestly, this is a great honour.”

  “The honour is ours, I promise you.” My head is starting to spin a little, and I take a deep breath.

  “Would you like some water?”

  I shake my head. “I’m fine. Do you know where—”

  Before I can finish the question, my maid of honour sweeps around the corner. “Everything looks perfect out there,” Sasha says as she gives me a quick, gentle hug, being careful around my bouquet. “Just getting the last few people seated, and then it’s show time.”

  I nod, and the buzzing in my ears gets louder. It would be terribly bad form to faint before I even get down the aisle.

  “Are you okay?” Sasha gives me a concerned look. “You seem pale.”

  “I’m…”

  Hugh steps closer. “Tip your head up, chin to the sky, and take a slow deep breath in.”

  I do as he says, and the spinning slows down.

  “Good. And again,” he murmurs. Does he know he has a Dom voice? Maybe that’s why he was added to the security team.

  I giggle at the private thought.

  “Is that better?” Sasha asks.

  I straighten my head again. “Yep.”

  Hugh laughs. “Don’t forget to breathe, okay?”

  “Okay.”

  Sasha leans in and lowers her voice. “So…I talked to Lachlan about the Tate situation.”

  I give her a look of what I’m sure is a what are you doing? kind of alarm. “What Tate situation?”

  “The breakfast.”

  Jeez. I roll my eyes. “I thought we agreed you were going to thank him for that perfectly lovely gesture.”

  A scowl slashes across her face. “Maybe.”

  “Sasha!”

  “Fine, have it your way.” She winks and laughs, and at least my head isn’t spinning now. As always, my best friend knows exactly how to bring me back down to earth.

  As the first strains of Jesu, Joy of Man’s Desiring filter towards us, Hugh gestures for Sasha to turn the corner and walk down the aisle.

  I listen to the music we chose so carefully, and wait for my cue.

  I’m getting married in a few minutes.

  Gavin is waiting for me right around the corner.

  How has it been a year since we met? He still lights me up inside. But I have no doubt I’m going to be as excited to see him thirty, forty, fifty years from now as I am at this moment.

  The cellist joins the guitarist, lifting the piece to new heights, and Hugh gestures for me to move forward.

  My heart beats faster, painfully thumping against my ribs as I turn the corner and lift my gaze to find Gavin waiting for me right dead-centre at the end of the aisle.

  He looks boyishly excited, and his gaze stays glued on me as I glide towards him. I’m vaguely aware of our friends and family seated on white folding chairs, but they’re a blurry backdrop to my fiancé.

  He takes my hand as I reach him, smiles, and leans in, his lips brushing the curve of my ear. “Best day of my life, Sprite.”

  I squeeze his fingers and give him a tremulous smile that says I feel exactly the same way. Mine too, Sir.

  We centre ourselves in front the officiant, and she raises her hands to begin the ceremony.

  “Friends and family, we are gathered today to mark the most special of occasions, the marriage of Gavin and Ellie. Together, we will witness the joining in the legal state of matrimony of this couple, according to the order and the custom prevailing, and under the authority given and provided by the Province of British Columbia.

  “This couple has given serious and careful thought to this tradition, of binding themselves to one another, as allowed by the law of the land. They come to this union freely, equally, and with common rights. Their marriage will continue thusly, as a life-long companionship.”

  A cloud rolls by overhead, giving us a soft bit of shade for a moment. I beam at my soon-to-be husband. I’ll be his for the rest of time.

  “They’ve spoken to me about their desires to raise a family together,” she continues. “To support and encourage each other in their work and personal endeavours. And they understand that to commit to one another in marriage is to share all that comes hence.”

  We went back and forth on the language for this service, and as she continues, I can see Gavin anticipating what comes next. He loves a good speech, the rhythm of it, the rise and fall of the words in specific, deliberate placement for maximum effect.

  She pauses right before the last point, slowing her delivery and looking past us to connect with our guests in attendance.

  Gavin loves that, and I laugh gently at the approving look on his face.

  The things a politician cares about on their wedding day.

  Next up is his
sister, who knows a thing or two about delivering stirring words. She’s a renowned social scientist, an author, and a public speaker. Today, she’s reading a poem she chose with our blessing.

  It’s sweet and funny and modern and inclusive of all different kinds of love, and by the time she’s done reading, I’m close to tears again.

  And we haven’t yet arrived at the really emotional stuff.

  “Do either of you know of any legal impediment to this marriage?” the officiant asks us.

  We respond in unison with three practiced words. “We do not.”

  “There having been no reason given why this couple may not be married,” she continues, getting to Gavin’s favourite part, with the most formal language possible. “I ask you to give answer to these questions.”

  Give answer to these questions.

  Okay, I want to say with a giggle. But it’s his turn first.

  “Do you, Gavin, commit to Eleanor the love of your person, the comfort of your companionship, and the patience of your understanding; and to share equally in the responsibilities of your life together?”

  His smile begins in his eyes, the bright, piercing blue softening to the darkest fathoms of the oceans as his pupils dilate. His mouth is the last part of his face to get there, softly curling up before he finally says, “I do.”

  “Do you, Eleanor, commit to Gavin the love of your person, the comfort of your companionship, and the patience of your understanding; and to share equally in the responsibilities of your life together?”