Chapter 28
The Best of Coupeville Gala was in full swing when they stepped in. The venue glowed under soft amber lights, crystal chandeliers dripping from the ceiling like stars that had dropped in for the evening. Velvet-draped tables wrapped the room in serene elegance, and polished marble floors.
The crowd was already buzzing, hands shaking, private conversations, people talking business instead of basking in the ambience.
Wealth and influence were all around her.
Taylor took it in slowly. Never, not even in her daydreams, had she imagined herself in a space like this.
Not just attending but belonging. The mayor was here.
Council members. Heads of city departments.
A who’s who of Coupeville, and she was walking in hand-in-hand with the man whose name was on the invite.
Gone were the days of curling up in fuzzy socks, scrolling through channels, waiting on something to change. Things had changed. She had changed. And standing beside Brooks Bishop made it real in a way nothing else had.
Taylor didn’t try to turn heads; she just did, effortlessly.
The emerald, green gown flowed down her body like it was made for her, dipping low in the back with a thin gold chain that hung along her spine, ending in a heart.
A high slit teased the room, and the fabric slid over her still-flat stomach.
Hair pulled back into a sleek bun, tendrils curled at her ears, gold hoops, with subtle glam.
Brooks matched her energy in a clean black tux—no frills, just dominance—a Classic gentleman. He didn’t need to speak when he walked in; his presence was the announcement.
“This place is so nice. Brooks—look at the mural on the ceiling,” Taylor whispered as she tilted her head back.
He stepped closer, letting out an audible breath. “That is beautiful.”
They stared for a moment, caught up in the swirl of constellations and floating angels, until Blake’s voice cut in, soft and slick.
She grinned; eyes locked on Taylor’s dress. “Y’all clean up nice. Okay, emerald. I see you.”
Blake and Emon had arrived earlier, already looking like the blueprint. Emon stood behind her with one arm casually around her waist like it was second nature. Blake, calm and proud, wore her joy like perfume. The four of them together didn’t just blend in; they elevated the entire room.
Taylor smiled. “That was all him,” she said, motioning to Brooks. Her mind drifted briefly to Denver and the whirlwind of what they’d built since.
“Yeah, I got good taste,” Brooks added with a grin, pulling out Taylor’s chair before joining the men who’d gathered near the bar. They’d been inseparable lately, talking strategy, family, and building quietly. It was something Blake and Taylor both noticed. A real bond.
“You two look like you own the whole city,” Blake whispered, clinking her glass of water against Taylor’s .
Taylor smirked. “Not yet. But he’s working on it.”
Blake tilted her head, eyes knowing. “Taylor, come on. Y’all . You’re already a Bishop. He just hasn’t said it out loud yet.”
Taylor laughed. “I’ll admit it, your brother shocked me. I knew he had money, but I didn’t know it was that kind of money. I met Elise in Denver. Private shopping, presidential suite. I felt like I was walking in a movie.”
“Oh, yeah he did his big one if you met Elise.”
“We need to go as couples. That trip changed my life. Or maybe it was just Brooks who did it.”
“Probably, both but I need to find out for myself. And just so you know, I stopped trying to keep track of his businesses after he opened the sixth ice station. He moves in silence. I let him. My brother knows what he’s doing.”
“Agreed, sis. He owns part of a strip club, which blew my mind,” Taylor said, lowering her voice.
Blake’s head snapped around. “He took you to The After?”
Taylor nodded, grinning. “He did. That place is exceptional. I had so much damn fun. Girl, I got a stage name and everything. That’s a secret between me and my man, though.”
“Okay. I’m gonna kick his ass. He didn’t tell me that.” Blake laughed. “Y’all out here living. I’m not mad at it, sis. I love it. I love y’all together, for real.”
Before Taylor could respond, the room dimmed. A hush fell across the crowd as a voice came over the speaker. Brooks and Emon made it to their seats next to their women just in time for the announcing of the evening’s awards .
Fifteen minutes later…
“And the recipient of this year’s Best Towing Service and Community Impact Contract is... Bishop Towing.”
Applause broke out, loud and genuine. Taylor stood Blake followed behind her, clapping hard as Brooks kissed her and made his way to the stage. Clean as a whistle. Unbothered. Every sacrifice he’d ever made was finally recognized by the very city that once tried to count him out.
“Brooks Bishop is not only the owner of Bishop Towing, but a man who has reinvested into the very streets that raised him. Community clean-ups and youth apprenticeship programs. this man is proof that good men and leaders still exist.”
Brooks took the stage and looked out at the crowd.
His eyes landed on his woman and his family.
She held so much adoration in her eyes, and that was the ultimate award.
But he couldn’t sleep on his accomplishments because he could’ve gone down a completely different path, but he hadn’t. He was thankful.
“First, giving honor to God, I’m blessed to be here. Blessed to be of service to my community and men that look like me,” Brooks began, his deep voice commanding the room’s attention without effort. The microphone almost seemed unnecessary; his presence alone could fill the space.
“Today, Bishop Towing isn’t just fifteen trucks and a city contract.
We’re thirty-five employees with healthcare and benefits.
We’re scholarships for kids who might otherwise slip through the cracks.
We’re second chances for brothers coming home after paying debts that society never lets them finish paying. And we plan to do more, give more.”
The room had gone completely silent, captivated by the raw authenticity in his voice.
“I stand here tonight not just as a businessman, but as a son who accomplished what his father couldn’t. As a brother who believes in lifting as we climb. As a man who understands that true success isn’t measured by what you acquire, but by what you give back.”
Brooks gripped the sides of the podium, leaning in slightly as if sharing a truth too important to miss.
“This contract, this award, they matter. They represent hard work, dedication, and excellence. But what matters more is what we do with these opportunities. How we use them to create more doors, more windows, more pathways for those coming behind us.”
His voice softened, becoming more intimate despite the size of the room.
“I want to thank my family. My team at Bishop Towing, who put in the work every single day, rain, sleet, snow, or shine. The city officials who recognized that quality and community investment matter more than connections.”
Then his eyes found Taylor, and everything else seemed to fade away.
“And finally, I want to thank the woman who reminded me what I’m building for. Who shows me every day what it means to lead with integrity, to love without conditions, to stand in your truth even when the world tells you to shrink. Taylor, you are my heart and my future. ”
The raw honesty in his voice sent a ripple through the crowd. This wasn’t the typical thank-you speech they’d heard all night. This was a man laying bare what truly mattered to him.
“I accept this award on behalf of everyone who believed in Bishop Towing, everyone who trusted us to show up when called. We’re just getting started.”
He held up the award, a simple but elegant crystal sculpture that caught the light.
“Thank you for this honor. I promise to make good on the trust it represents. Be easy.”
The applause was immediate and thunderous, people rising to their feet as Brooks descended from the stage. But he didn’t seem to notice the standing ovation. His eyes were fixed on Taylor, moving toward her. She was his magnetic north, and he had no choice but to follow.
When he reached her, his arm slid around her waist, pulling her close as if they were the only two people in the room.
“That was beautiful,” she whispered, her eyes shining with unshed tears. “If you wanted some pussy that’s all you had to say.”
Brooks nearly choked, his eyes widening before his face broke into a grin that was all heat. “Taylor, when you talk that I don’t know it does something to me. Be cool and hold that for me. Because I got a surprise for you tonight.”
“Oh Lord,” she said, laughing.
“Brooks, how will I get to repay you for all you do for me if you keep doing stuff?” It was a real question. She’d been the giver all her life.
“Keep looking at me like you do. Take care of me and my seed.” His voice dropped, just for her ears. “I don’t need much else.”
“Surely that’s not going to be enough.”
“Why ain’t it? I got money. I’m obviously famous.
” He smirked, the confidence shining on his face.
“I’m good on the shit other people thinks matter.
I just need you. I needed a twin flame, and I got that.
Don’t put a lot of pressure on yourself.
Give me that old school love. Laughs in the kitchen, dancing in the living room, church on Sundays, dinner in the crockpot. ”
“That sounds perfect,” she whispered, smitten. He leaned over and placed a soft kiss on her lips, then another one. Her hand slid up to the side of his face and brought him in for another one.
“Get y’all a damn room or something,” Blake joked, pulling them from the love haze they found themselves in.
As the night continued, Emon won his award for Community Leader of the Year. The evening had been one of wins and love. Until one of Premier Towing’s’ mouthpieces approached the table like they had an issue.
“Congrats, Bishop. Don’t get too comfortable. That city contract has a shelf life.”
Brooks and Emon stood, hands clasped in front of them.
Calm, but the kind of calm that lets you know chaos was in the trunk.
Brooks wasn’t even bothered by the man’s presence.
He’d done what needed to be done. His lawyer had ensured the city officials knew he could either play fair or get shit cracking.
And they’d decided having Brooks as an enemy wasn’t worth it.
“You looking for a problem?” Emon asked, in a hushed tone .
Brooks didn’t raise his voice. Didn’t even frown. Just adjusted the cuff of his jacket, slow and smooth.
“This ain’t the place,” Brooks said simply.
“But if you really want smoke, we can step outside. Is that what you looking for?” Brooks asked, eyes never leaving the man before him.
“It’s important that you really think about who you fuckin wit before you answer.
Don’t let the tux fool you, I’ll have your dick in the dirt before morning’s rise. ”
The Premier rep backed up just slightly. Someone hadn’t given him the whole picture on Brooks Dontrel Bishop, but he had it now.
“Sounds like our friend ain’t tryna make it home tonight,” Emon added.
“We good,” the man mumbled, retreating.
Brooks and Emon turned to each other with a slight laugh and replied in unison, “Thought so.”
Taylor and Blake exhaled in unison, relief easing the tension from their shoulders. Both women understood exactly who they were with—men who wouldn’t tolerate disrespect.
Brooks returned swiftly to Taylor’s side. “You good?”
“Perfect,” she said softly, gazing up at him with pride.
“You handled that like you handle everything—with class and just enough pressure to remind them exactly who they're playing with. I love that about you.” And she meant every word.
She used to assume men like Brooks and Emon moved with aggression but no purpose, danger without direction.
Tonight reaffirmed the truth: Brooks was a man who stood his ground.
Not reckless or hungry for trouble, but unflinching when it found him. He protected what was his—always .
He leaned down, brushing a kiss against her temple. “Always, baby. Ready to get outta here? Our plane leaves in an hour.”
Taylor blinked in surprise. “Plane?”
“Yes, plane. Ready or not?”
She tugged at his hand, pulling him to a halt. “Where exactly are we going?”
Brooks shook his head with playful impatience. “Bae, don’t start asking me questions now. Let's go. I’m tryna get nasty tonight.”
Realization softened her expression, eyes filling with sudden tears. This pregnancy had truly unlocked her tear ducts—everything felt so intensely emotional now. “You’re taking me back to Denver?”
He smiled warmly, confirming her suspicion with a gentle nod. “Yeah, baby. You coming, or what?”
Yesterday’s doctor's appointment had revealed the truth—she was nearly twelve weeks along, confirming what Brooks had instinctively known: they’d created baby Bishop in Denver.
Nearly three months had passed, subtle signs she'd missed entirely, distracted by life, love, and work.
But now she knew, and it made this return even sweeter.
Taylor squeezed his hand tighter, now taking the lead herself. Denver was waiting—their special place. Brooks might not be able to give her the entire world, but he would always ensure she had the piece of it that mattered most. She deserved nothing less, especially now, carrying his child.
As their car smoothly navigated Coupeville’s quiet streets toward the private airfield, Brooks watched Taylor’s peaceful expression illuminated by passing streetlights.
From that stormy night at the hospital to this moment, they'd crafted something remarkable, something unexpected and unbreakable. A simple phone call had turned into a love strong enough to build a life around. She’d called when she needed strength, and he’d answered.
He’d sought purpose beyond material success, and she'd provided it.
His father had always told him that a man's legacy wasn’t measured in dollars or business deals, but in the lives he touched, in the love he nurtured.
Tonight, beside Taylor, with their child quietly growing beneath her heart, Brooks finally understood.
This wasn’t just about making her smile tonight.
It was about fulfilling every promise he’d ever made—spoken and silent, now and forever.
Because when a man like Brooks Bishop finally found his home, he didn’t just cherish it. He guarded it, he treasured it, and he built it higher and stronger than anyone thought possible. And his home wasn’t a place.
It was her.