Chapter 30
CHAPTER 30
D ecember 31 st
Most resolutions are broken right away. I’ll never look at a resolution the same again. Tonight, I made a new resolution. Or should I say, embarked on a new adventure. I’m a different person than I was a year ago. I embraced the challenge and lived the adventures. Some were horrible. Some led me to new friends. Some had me finding love. And all of them pushed my boundaries. I discovered I was much more than the Paige Turner who would prefer to hide in her cubical. Not only did I find love, I found pride. Pride in myself, pride in my friendships and friends, and the confidence that goes along with it. I can’t wait to see what adventure the next year brings.
Max didn’t leave Paige’s side from the moment she said she forgave him. It was a struggle for Paige to come to terms with billionaire duke Max, but within minutes, she saw why she loved him. He was just her Max. He was laughing with her friends, was totally taking the teasing they were dishing out, and even giving as good as he got. His wealth hadn’t made Max a different person. He was the same good man she’d fallen in love with. Except now she had the benefit of having both Max and Mr. Paris. She couldn’t wait to use the pink BDSM starter kit Lenora had given her.
Paige looked around the living room and smiled. All the people she loved were here. Eli and Kenneth were happy and carefree with their love now. Leah was sitting on Noah’s lap. Paige loved that Leah was now so secure in her relationship with Noah that she was engaging in PDA. Amelia’s shyness was slowly fading with Felix’s love and the two of them clearly lifted each other up. They were the cutest couple. Roman, strong and silent, smiled and melted under Kitty’s smiles. Kitty, who Max had told her had a bad dating history of men using her, was glowing under Roman’s attention and protectiveness. Griz and Gina were two peas in a pod. They worked out together and now she joined him at as many football games as she could.
And then there was Jack. Her uptight, tense, alpha-hole of a boss had his arm around feisty little Moxie’s waist as they talked to Max. The tension in Jack’s face and posture was gone. Moxie, who had been worried about dating a man as rich as Jack, was telling them she’d given Jack and his mother homemade photo frames for Christmas. Mrs. Griffin had gotten all misty-eyed over the photo of the three of them Moxie had put in it. She wasn’t losing a son. She was gaining a daughter. Now, her fear of Jack ruining his professional reputation by sleeping with employees was put to rest, and with the help from Paige and her friends finding Jack his own place, their relationship was thriving. Mrs. Griffin was even dropping words like “marriage, children, and perfect couple” about Jack and Moxie. But most importantly, they were happy.
“Did you know about that?” Jack asked Max as they glanced over to where Dracklen and Rocco were talking.
“Nope,” Max said as Rocco laughed and placed his hand on Dracklen’s arm. “I can’t believe I’m saying this about a mobster, but I like the two of them together.”
“They are cute,” Paige agreed.
“I’d totally be the jam between those two biscuits,” Moxie added.
Jack groaned. “Are you trying to get me to take you to The Red Door tonight and remind you who you belong to?” Moxie just smiled and wiggled her ass against Jack’s hip. She’ll definitely keep Jack on his toes.
“Thanks for inviting me,” Dracklen said, joining their group. “But I have to grab a cab and get to work.”
“Dracklen,” Lenora said, walking over to them. “Jack and Moxie can give me a ride to meet Nikolas at his place since we’re still a little early. Rocco, why don’t you take Dracklen with you and we’ll meet you all there in a little while?”
Rocco looked like he wanted to say yes but then looked between Max and his phone. “Let me check with Nikolas.”
“The Boss, you mean?” Max said with a sigh.
“You know,” Rocco said, dropping his voice, “you didn’t hear this from me. But, he’s got a second cousin who lives part-time here in New York and part-time in South Carolina who is one hundred percent legit and making money hand over fist. Boss is going to meet with him about doing the same. Not that he’s doing anything illegal right now, but just to explore his options.”
Paige didn’t know what that meant, but she hoped that was good. “Nico Saccone. Yeah, I know of him,” Max told Rocco. “It would be a very good thing for both of you if Nikolas follows in Nico’s footsteps.” Max held out his hand and Rocco shook it. “Stay in touch, Rocco. And thanks for looking out for Paige,” Max leaned forward. “Dracklen’s a good guy and he’s friends with my duchess, so if you hurt him, I’ll hurt you and blame it on your boss. Got it?”
Rocco actually smiled and slapped Max on the back. “You’re not bad for a cop, Caldwell. Respect.” Rocco tapped his chest and then turned to where Dracklen was talking to Lenora. “Dracklen, can I give you a ride to the club?”
“That would be great. Thank you.” Paige watched as Rocco and Dracklen left, their heads together as they talked.
“Paige, Max,” Lenora said, air-kissing them. “This makes my heart happy. I feel a movie coming on. Let’s talk in the New Year.”
Moxie hugged Paige tight. “You’re such a good friend. I’m so glad your adventures brought us together. You changed your life and mine. However, if you’re ever wanting to have a furry orgy, I’m totally in.” Moxie sent her a wink and went to join Lenora in grabbing their things.
Jack leaned forward and placed a kiss on Paige’s cheek. Then he shook Max’s hand. “You’re a lucky man, Max. Paige is the first real friend I’ve ever had. I think you can guess what I’ll do if you hurt her. However, seeing you tonight with her, I don’t think that will be an issue. Paige, I never could have guessed your resolution to lose your virginity would do all this.” Jack looked around at all his new friends and the couples in the room. “Somehow your resolution turned into mine. Thank you. Let’s all have dinner together soon. Moxie is teaching me how to cook.” Jack smiled in Moxie’s direction and she winked back at him.
“We’d like that,” Max answered as he snuggled Paige against his side.
Paige smiled up to Max but then hugged Jack tight. “Happy New Year, bestie.”
Jack chuckled as he left with Lenora and Moxie.
Griz and Gina were the next to leave. Paige almost cried as the two of them sandwiched her in a hug. They were two great friends.
Roman and Kitty approached next. “I’m so glad I met you, Paige. You’ll always be part of my pack,” Roman told her.
Paige hugged him before hugging Kitty. “I am too, Roman. You’re a good man and Kitty, I’m excited to get to know you more.”
Kitty surprised her by hugging her one more time. “Me too. I can’t thank you enough for saving my life and introducing me to your friends. I’ve never had real friends, except for Max.” Kitty turned to Max and hugged him. “She’s so much better than Sierra,” she whispered so Paige pretended not to hear.
“I agree,” Max whispered back. “Roman,” Max said, shaking his hand. “You’re a lucky man. Kitty is very special.”
“Yes, she is,” Roman said, smiling down at her before looking at Max. “We’re both lucky men. Happy New Year, you two.”
Leah patted the couch after they all left. “Now that it’s just us, let’s start book club.”
“Isn’t that what we’ve been doing?” Kenneth asked.
Paige shook her head. “Not on New Year’s Eve. Tonight, we share the book that we most loved this year and set out our resolutions for next year.”
“I’ll go first.” Eli pulled out a male/male romance. “It’s about a quiet, serious professional falling for a slightly wild, slightly loud man in this cute opposites-attract contemporary romcom. I think you all can guess why it’s stuck with me this year.” Kenneth squeezed his hand and Eli smiled. “As for my resolution, I resolve to be more honest with my feelings so that we can build something strong.”
“I’d like that,” Kenneth leaned in and kissed him.
“I’m next,” Leah said, pulling out her book and setting it on the table. “It’s a romantic suspense series about sisters who run a multibillion-dollar conglomerate. Total girl power and it inspired me to go after what I want at work.” Leah then looked at them sitting around the table. “My resolution is to not run away when things get hard. Paige showed me that this year. She could have folded at any time, but she persevered and now look at her. Love ya, babe.”
“Love you too,” Paige said, sending her air kisses.
“I’ll go,” Amelia said, pulling out a book that caused Eli, Leah, and Paige to stare in surprise. It was a hardcore BDSM erotica. “I read this book and it was all about how the hero encouraged his heroine to take control of her pleasure. That’s my resolution. If Felix is up for helping me explore all the things I want to try, that is.”
“Best resolution ever,” Felix grinned. “I’ll always be there to support you.”
“I guess that leaves me.” Paige pulled out a book and set it down. “I picked this regency book out before Christmas. I swear.” Leah snorted. Amelia giggled. Eli chortled. “It’s all about a woman who had a crush on a man and how she hilariously tries and fails to catch his attention until one super embarrassing prank leads to a forced marriage. Last year, Sale inspired me. But thinking of the upcoming year, this is what stuck with me. That’s my resolution. I want to be adventurous in a relationship. I don’t want to fall back to my old self when I never stepped foot out of my apartment except for book club. I want to push myself to try new things.”
“ How to Marry a Duke ,” Max said, reading the title out loud, trying not to laugh. “I heartily approve.” He paused and reached under the table and grabbed a book that he held to his chest. “I know I’m not part of the book club, but I thought I would show you the book that has inspired me.”
Max set it down in front of Paige on the table. This time everyone busted out laughing. “ How to Marry a Bookworm ,” Paige said with a grin as she picked up the book. “I’ve never heard of it. Who’s the author?”
Paige turned it over to read the back cover to her friends. “Max Caldwell is in love with a bookworm.” Paige’s pulse picked up and her friends fell silent. “Paige Turner, introverted bookworm turned adventurous bookworm, is the love of Max’s life. Max has followed Paige’s adventures over the past year, but now he hopes she’ll follow him on the biggest adventure of all. The question is, will Paige say yes?”
“Say yes to—” Paige turned and found Max on one knee.
Paige didn’t see her friends clinging to each other, desperately trying to stay quiet. All she saw was Max, his hand shaking slightly as he held out a princess-cut diamond ring.
“Paige, if you open the book, you’ll read all the adventures I want to take with you. I’ve left blank pages for you to fill yours in too. Together, side by side, we can do it all. I love you, your books, your bunny, and your adventures. I love you with all of my heart. Will you be my jailbird, my duchess, my bookworm, and will you be my wife? Paige, will you marry me?” Max held his breath, his eyes locked with hers.
Paige had forgotten how to breathe. She knew her mouth was open, but as hard as she tried, she couldn’t say anything, so she nodded and then threw herself at him. Max caught her and wrapped her up in a tight hug. “Is that a yes?” Max whispered in her ear.
“Yes!” Paige called out, squeezing him tighter.
“Good girl.” Max’s voice dropped to a low rumble and Paige’s kitty purred. Oh, she was one lucky bookworm.
Felix opened the champagne with a pop! and drinks were poured. Paige’s romantic trope adventures might be over, but now she had a whole new set of adventures to go on. Romance novels were inspirational in more than one way.