Epilogue
Vanessa
Four Months Later
“I did it!” I run toward Lorenzo and throw myself into his arms, knowing he’ll always catch me.
“You fucking did it,” he says, twirling me around.
His mouth connects with mine, and I get lost in him momentarily, until Leo’s voice reminds me that we’re not alone.
“Mama did it!” Leo shrieks.
“She did, buddy.” Lorenzo sets me down and takes Leo from Matteo’s arms since Dani’s pushing the double stroller, housing Alba and their newest tiny edition, Matthew Antonov—born six weeks ago via C-section.
“We need a family picture,” Bri says, pulling her phone out.
I was shocked when everyone showed up for my graduation, assuming only Nicole and her fiancé, James, would be here.
When I told Lorenzo as much, he looked at me like I was crazy and said, “That’s what family does. They show up for each other.”
“We do,” Lorenzo agrees. “But first, this …” He pulls a thin square box out of his pocket and hands it to me.
“A graduation present?” I ask, pulling the ribbon off.
“Open it,” he insists.
I lift the lid, and nestled inside is a necklace similar to the one he had made for me, which was taken. Only this time, instead of one playing card, there are two.
“Because every king belongs with his queen,” he says, kissing me softly.
“Thank you.”
I lift my hair, and while Bri holds Leo, Lorenzo puts the necklace on me.
While he takes his son back and slides his arm around my waist, I glance down at the necklace, loving that it’s back on me, where it belongs.
“Say cheese,” Bri says, and we smile for the camera.
“Okay, now one with your sister,” Bri says.
We take a few more pictures before Leo starts to get antsy since he missed his nap to attend my graduation, and we head out.
“So,” Lorenzo says as we walk to where we parked, “what’s next?”
“I was thinking we’d go home,” I tell him, taking Leo from him and setting him in his car seat. Once he’s buckled in, I stand and face Lorenzo.
“We’re actually going to lunch first and then home,” he says with a soft smile. “But I meant for your future.”
“Me too,” I say, realizing that we’ve been so wrapped up in living for the moment that we haven’t discussed what comes next.
But I thought when I turned down Kora’s job offer in LA—after the successful drop of my clothing line, partnered with hers—he knew it meant there was only one place I wanted to live.
“As much as I’ve enjoyed my time here, the only place that’s home is Harbor Point. ”
Lorenzo’s eyes light up. “You sure about that?” he asks, tugging me toward him.
“Yes. My home is with you and Leo and my sister and our family and friends, and that’s in Harbor Point.”
Lorenzo cradles my head, and his mouth crashes over mine. The kiss is quick but filled with so much emotion.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” he murmurs against my lips. “Because I have another graduation gift I can’t wait to give you.”
“Ohh.” I smile. “When do I get it?”
“Once we’re home … in Harbor Point.”
“Well then, what are we waiting for? There’s nothing left for us here. Let’s go home.”
“Oh my God, Nicole! When you told me you were opening another location for your coffee shop, you didn’t tell me how amazing it was!”
Lorenzo, Leo, and I flew back with everyone to Harbor Point. He’s having the movers pack up our stuff and ship it back, but the moment I told him I wanted to move home, he was completely on board with leaving immediately.
After we arrived at the condo and settled in, Lorenzo said he wanted to show me my other graduation gift, so after dropping Leo off at Dani and Matteo’s place, he drove us to Blue Harbor—the South Harbor waterfront expansion project the guys had been working on for the last couple of years.
With Leo’s life at risk only a few months ago, I’ve been having a hard time letting him out of my sight.
But at least with Dani and Matteo, I know he’s safe.
“Thank you.” Nicole beams. “When the guys came to me and mentioned wanting to put a coffee shop in Blue Harbor, I considered moving my shop here, but then Bri asked why I could only have one shop, and it hit me that she was right. My location downtown is thriving, so I can focus on opening this new location. And with it being right next to Bri’s Pilates studio, the traffic is going to give me guaranteed customers. ”
“I’m so excited for you. And for Bri too.”
Successfully opening not one, but two locations is the stuff dreams are made of, and I’m so happy they’re able to do so. But …
I glance at Lorenzo in confusion. “Is this my gift?”
As happy as I am for Nicole’s and Bri’s new locations, I don’t see how this would be my gift.
Lorenzo chuckles. “No, Wild Card, this isn’t your gift. Come with me.”
He threads his fingers through mine and guides me out the door.
We walk past Bri’s studio, which is currently under construction, and stop in front of an empty storefront.
“This is your gift,” he says, pulling keys out of his pocket and unlocking the door.
“When we sat down to decide which shops and restaurants to fill the waterfront with, we were very selective, wanting to make sure each place would thrive. We’ve filled almost every storefront but this one.
” He points to the door. “I was going through several applications, trying to figure out what would work next to a Pilates studio and a coffee shop, and it hit me … a clothing boutique would be perfect.”
I gasp and then glance around the area, a million images flashing through my head of turning this space into a cute yet classy boutique. I could split it up into men’s and women’s clothes and then do a separate area for children. Blush pink would don the walls with gold accents.
But then I shake myself from my thoughts because …
“I’m not ready for this yet.”
“Yes, you are,” Lorenzo argues, gripping the curves of my hips. “Your online boutique is up four hundred percent in sales. You’ve had to outsource your designs just to keep up with the demand.”
He’s not wrong but …
“To open a boutique would require thousands in startup capital that I don’t have,” I tell him. “And because I’m not employed, no bank in their right mind would give me a loan.”
“No, a bank wouldn’t lend you money,” he agrees. “You’re too much of a wild card.” He smirks, and I roll my eyes. “But I would,” he says.
“No.” I shake my head. “No, you are not giving me any money.”
“Who said anything about giving you money?” He scoffs. “As my graduation gift to you, I’m going to loan it to you. I’ll expect full repayment with interest.”
He winks, and butterflies attack my belly as I take in and absorb everything he said.
“You said Harbor Point was your home. And your dream is to open your own boutique with your clothing line. You can have that … all you have to do is say yes.”
I glance around the space, and even though it’s empty, I can envision it all.
The paint on the walls, the decor, the smell of the clothes hanging on the racks.
Lorenzo and Leo stopping in. Leo running around, laughing while he tugs on the clothes.
Lorenzo visiting me for lunch. Walking over to Nicole’s coffee shop to get a coffee and taking Pilates classes at Bri’s studio.
This is all I’ve ever wanted—a home filled with family and friends—and Lorenzo is giving me the opportunity to have it.
“Yes,” I choke out. “Yes, I want this. I want to borrow the money from you and use it to open a boutique. I want Harbor Point to be our home. For you, me, and Leo to be a family and to make roots here.”
“I want that too,” he says. “So, how about we start by you marrying me?”
He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a black box, then gets down on one knee.
“Vanessa Baker, for years, I searched for someone to spend my life with, and the romantic in me didn’t understand why I couldn’t find her. But now, I know it’s because I was waiting for you. Will you do me the honor of becoming my wife and officially and legally becoming Leo’s mom?”
He pops the box open, and the most beautiful engagement ring shines in the light.
“But we’re already married,” I blurt out.
“True, but since I don’t remember it, it doesn’t exactly count.”
I bark out a laugh.
“Yes,” I say. “I will marry you, and I would love to make Leo mine.”
He slides the ring onto my finger and then lifts me into his arms, kissing me tenderly for several seconds before he pushes my lips apart, deepening the kiss.
“I want you,” I murmur against his mouth.
“You have me.”
“No.” I shake my head. “I want you right here.” I tighten my legs around his torso and grind my center against his groin to emphasize what I want. “I want you to make love to me in my future shop … as my fiancé.”
And because Lorenzo is always on the same page as me, as the words leave my lips, he’s already carrying me to the back and pushing me against the wall, where nobody can see us.
He doesn’t waste any time, pushing my panties to the side and unzipping his pants. When he thrusts into me, it feels like more than my future husband fucking me. It feels like the start of the rest of our lives.
I know, I know. It’s rare that there’s no pregnancy in one of my books. But I can only write what speaks to me. HOWEVER, I wouldn’t leave you hanging. Check out the bonus content for Secret Seduction, which takes place a few years later, after Lorenzo and Vanessa had their first baby.