Chapter 41
Chapter Forty-One
Knox
Another charity gala graces the evening.
The grand ballroom at the Astoria is its usual brand of opulent chaos—gold chandeliers glittering like captured sunlight, too-loud laughter from people dressed as if they’re auditioning for a magazine cover.
I’m in the center of it all, standing with my family while my father launches into another one of his stories. But my mind isn’t here.
It never is when she’s not beside me.
Isla’s working late at the theatre tonight, but she should be walking through those doors any minute. Every second without her grates on me.
It’s been two months since everything happened—the restaurant debacle, the leak, the board, and Isla’s mom’s surgery.
Things have finally settled. Maybe even improved.
The restaurant is thriving again, and Isla’s mom says she feels better than she has in years, even after a month in the hospital.
And everything else…
It’s been the best two months of my life.
I feel like a new man. Because of my wife.
She changed everything for me.
Stopping the demolition and giving the restaurant back to her was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
But staying married to the best damn woman in the universe?
That was the real win.
Now my focus is only on the future I want with her.
Dorian steps beside me, swirling his whiskey. “You have that twitchy look again, Knox.”
“I’m fine.”
Levi smirks. “He’s waiting for his wife. You know what that means.”
“Brainless Knox,” Locke concedes.
Some things never change. They love poking at me whenever they can see I’m missing Isla. It’s the only time they can actually call me out—because I’m so goddamn transparent.
“You guys are assholes.” I shoot them a look that should set hair on fire. It only makes them grin wider.
“I think it’s nice,” Adeline cuts in, stepping closer.
I smile at my sister, who’s genuinely trying to rescue me.
“Thanks, Addie.”
“Of course. I think Isla makes you less beastly.”
The smile falls clean off my face as the entire circle erupts with laughter. Everyone except her—poor thing, she meant it as a compliment.
“What? Stop laughing. Being less beastly is a good thing,” she scolds them, mortified.
Levi slings an arm around her shoulders. “Welcome to the dark side, Padawan. Let’s see how beastly big brother gets when he finds out about your new boyfriend.”
My attention snaps to her so fast Levi actually snorts. “What new boyfriend? And there was an old one?” Christ, I’m worse than my father.
Adeline elbows Levi hard in the ribs, making him double over, howling. “You are an asshole. You promised you wouldn’t tell Knox.”
I’m about to argue when my gaze catches on the beautiful woman walking through the doors.
The words die instantly.
Isla glides into the hall like an angel.
Except… she’s wearing that god-awful clown dress again. And the combat boots.
Dorian leans in. “What did you do this time?”
“I have no idea.”
Levi and Locke laugh behind me. The rest of the family goes quiet, watching.
I move toward her, and even though I don’t know what the hell she’s up to, my entire world funnels down to her.
Only Isla could wear something that hideous and somehow look like she stepped straight off a runway.
And God help me; I fall even harder.
She reaches me and smiles like she hasn’t just turned my ribcage inside out. “Hi.”
“Hello, love.” I lift the edge of the ridiculous bell-shaped sleeve. “What is this about? There are no more games to play.”
She laughs softly. “Oh, I think we have a few more.”
A slow smile curves my lips. “Is that so?”
“Yes.”
“What game is this?”
She lifts a shoulder. “The one where I try to embarrass you enough that you leave early. And then we go to bed early… except we won’t be sleeping. At all.”
My smile widens. “Oh. I like this game.”
Her eyes brighten. “Really?”
“Really.”
“Did it… work?”
“Let’s see.”
I pretend to consider it. But when she looks up at me with those wide, trusting eyes, I swoop in, wrap an arm around her waist, and hoist her over my shoulder—exactly like the night I first took her home.
She yelps, then bursts into laughter. Real laughter, pure and unfiltered. Not like the pretentious, hollow ones I’ve heard all night.
People stare at us—at me.
The Monster.
The man who’s apparently changed more than anyone could ever imagine.
“Let’s go,” I declare, carrying my woman straight out the damn door.
Let the press get a picture of this.
The real us.
I guess Adeline was right.
I’m not so beastly anymore.