28. Luna
CHAPTER 28
Luna
I set my large-ass purse on the counter of the county office. “I'm here to see Delaney Taylor.”
Turned out, I knew someone who worked for the county, and I damn well planned to leverage every connection I had to get this final permit.
Who knew meeting Carter’s new girlfriend would have such immediate benefit?
“Your name,” asked the woman behind the counter. She rocked a stylish silver bob and matching silver earrings. “And an ID, please.”
“Luna Marks.” I fished my ID out of my bag and handed it over.
After she jotted down my information, I signed the sheet on the clipboard in front of me and was asked to take a seat. “She’ll be right with you.”
I tapped away on my phone, slinging messages to Parvati and a few others. Parvati prepared me for the meeting this morning so I had all the latest info and paperwork to tackle this meeting.
Suddenly, the woman I was here to see strutted down the hall like a willowy model. For a second I wondered what made Carter go from me to her. We were as opposite as they come. With my silk cami and leather knee-length skirt, I balanced professional and edgy. She was the epitome of an ethereal runway goddess with her blonde waves contrasting with my red A-line.
Shoulders squared, I stood and shook her hand. “Nice to see you again, and in broad daylight too.”
Delaney chuckled, her hand squeezing mine a little tighter than I would have expected given her delicate aesthetic. “I was surprised when my assistant said you wanted to meet.”
She led me down a corridor straight out of an eighties procedural drama before waving me into an office that had her name on it. “Come sit down and tell me what's going on.”
The woman had a legal pad and a pen and was ready to take notes.
I wasted no time launching into my spiel. At this point, I could talk about the Chateau in my sleep. “It's going to be the first woman-owned casino in Atlantic City. It's for women, by women. I want it to be the place for bachelorette parties and for women to feel like they can have fun and let loose all while being safe in my casino. I'm here to turn this city around and offer a menu of fun opportunities for people even if they don't drink or gamble, although there will definitely be plenty of that, of course.”
She glanced down at her notes, then back at me. “Tell me what permit it is that you're having difficulty acquiring. That will help figure out next steps.”
There was something in her tone that caught me off guard, but only for a second. I immediately dismissed it given the caffeine deficit I was working with.
I relayed the info from Parvati, sliding over a few documents that demonstrated what we applied for and how we completed the forms.
She read through them carefully, dragging a nude fingernail across the forms, reviewing the paperwork with a fine-toothed comb.
I glanced down at my nails, then scanned the room, basically trying everything to keep from squirming in my chair.
A frown tugged at the corner of her mouth. “Hmm.”
That little hum set my Spidey senses tingling. “Hmm?”
She clicked her tongue and set down her ballpoint pen. The woman across from me no longer resembled the sweet-as-pie person I’d met at my club. Not with the groove between her brows and her lips set firmly in a straight line.
“Unfortunately, this form is incomplete.”
I counted to ten in my head before speaking. My internal bullshit detector rang like a siren for a five-alarm fire.
“I had my legal team and my chief contractor complete this form and then I, personally, reviewed it just to make sure the ‘I’s were dotted and the ‘T’s were crossed.”
She hummed again. “And yet it's still wrong. We can't permit this until another inspection has taken place, and the county has signed off on the build.”
My heart damn near stopped. “Explain that to me again.”
She folded her hands. “It's a step-by-step process and needs to go in order. You couldn't have filled this out correctly…” She proceeded to explain in lots of jargon why things hadn't gone through. I followed about half of what she was saying and frankly I wanted to question the authenticity of her words but without the backup of Parvati or my legal team, I didn't want to push too hard. Not yet at least.
Still, I pushed a little. “Can you or someone from your team help us fix it?”
“Sure,” she said through a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes.
“Great. Let me relay this back to my team and I'll reach out again.”
She nodded, then stood.
Class dismissed .
* * *
“Damn. I knew I should have gone with you.” Those were the first words out of Parvati’s mouth when I dialed her the second I left the county offices with my giant laptop-size purse on my shoulder.
Darnell awaited me around the corner with an iced coffee in hand.
I thanked him. “You're the best.”
He saluted before closing the door behind me once I was safely stowed in the backseat, holding my phone to my ear like a pleb because I hated those little wireless earbuds.
I relayed as much as I could, grateful I’d pulled out my phone to take notes during the brief conversation. “I'm sending my scribbles to you right now.”
“Perfect. Once me and the team review them, I'll circle back with you.” I heard Parvati typing away on her side of the line. “Talk soon.”
The efficient woman hung up the phone, and I tilted my head back and closed my eyes as I replayed the interaction in my head. What I had done wrong, what I would do differently in the future.
Part of me even was tempted to follow up with Carter.
Then I thought better of it. I didn't need him fighting my battles for me. Besides, I doubted it would earn me the goodwill I needed to get this permit in place.
Rather than make my next call, I tested some of the meditation practices I’d seen on TikTok. I tried a few different breathing techniques and then imagined the sun was shining on me. That was harder to do given the threat of rain outside.
I lasted longer than other previous attempts and took the win.
Then my phone rang, and I jumped at the distraction, especially since I recognized the ringtone.
“Hey, bestie,” I answered.
Faith chuckled. “Hello, back atcha. I'm shocked you answered the phone.”
“I always answer the phone for you.”
“But during working hours?” Faith countered.
Like that made a difference. “All hours are working hours.”
“Is that what your doctor would want?”
I groaned. “Not you too. I'm getting this daily from Beck.”
“We're just worried about you.”
“Ugh,” I said with an extra oomph of exaggeration, ignoring how her words actually made me feel cared for. How nice it was to have someone who cared about my wellbeing. It felt strangely foreign and yet exactly what I needed and one of the reasons why Faith was my best friend.
“Are you driving somewhere?” she asked.
I glanced out the window to see exactly where we were. “Yes, heading back into the city. I met with Carter’s current girlfriend, the woman who apparently knows the correct paperwork I need to complete to get the permit for my multi-level parking garage. According to her, my team didn’t fill out the paperwork correctly.”
Faith scoffed. “I’ve met members of your team and there is no way they messed this up.”
“Right? Especially Parvati—that woman is a powerhouse.”
“Takes one to know one,” Faith affirmed.
“Aw thanks. See, this is why you’re my bestie. Love this confidence boost.”
“You do the same for me.”
“So, to what do I owe this impromptu phone call? You know those scare me.”
Faith laughed. “Please, nothing scares you. Well, except Beck Bennet. That man frightens the fuck out of you.”
“Pff.” I waved off the comment, not that she could see me.
“He does and you know it.”
“Ignoring that comment, I don’t like unsolicited phone calls. I don’t know a millennial that does.”
Faith clicked her tongue. “Fair.”
“Now remind me of the purpose of this call again…”
“Okay, boss. A certain handsome bodyguard type is trekking upstate to get a dog this weekend, and I thought you should know,” she gloated as she relayed her intel.
That warmed my heart. Little Alice was obsessed with Willow when we were all there at Sebastian’s house together. It was obvious to anyone with eyes that this kid wanted a dog. Hell, she said as much during our last visit. I changed the call from audio to video.
“How does this affect me?” I asked.
Faith blinked, her expression basically screaming isn’t it obvious ? “Well, you live next door to said bodyguard.”
“Mmhmm. Still not seeing how this is my problem.”
“Who said it was a problem? This is an opportunity .”
Now she had me confused. “What do you mean?”
“You might be spending a lot of time with this dog, so I was thinking it could be good for you to come with.”
I pursed my lips. “Faith Waters, now that’s a little much. Don’t you think?”
“Oh, please.” She waved me off. “I’m just planning ahead. Something you should be doing.”
My lips twitched. “This is going to be Alice and Beck’s dog. Just because I want to—” I lowered my voice, realizing I was still in the back of the town car driving to Club Deux and didn’t want to give Darnell a heart attack. “Bang Beck doesn’t mean I get a say in the family dog decision.”
Darnell, the picture of a professional, kept his eyes forward, never leaving the road.
“If I thought for even a second that all you wanted from Beck Bennet was to bang it out, I wouldn’t have even called.”
Observant little…
“Besides, if it makes you more comfortable, you can travel with them under the guise of coming up to visit your bestie.”
“Sounds like quite the hardship,” I deadpanned. “Especially since my bestie is being really annoying.”
That made her laugh. “Oh, please. If anything, I’ve learned from the best.”
I examined my nails. “Obviously.”
“So what do you say?”
My heart picked up speed at the thought of spending time with both Beck and Alice. Damn it if that little girl hadn’t left an impression on me. If I were being honest, I kind of want to be there too. Not because I felt like I had any right to be with them. This was for their family, and I was distinctly not part of it. But because I wanted to see the joy on Alice’s face when she found her forever friend. I wanted to see Beck’s face when he realized his daughter picked a dog that he didn’t want but would eventually come to love because he couldn’t help himself.
It was as if I could picture the whole scenario in my head.
“You’re thinking a lot over there. I can practically hear it from here in the woods,” Faith said.
I rolled my eyes as my mind reeled, every instinct telling me to go.
Faith lifted a brow. “What do you say?”
“I’ll think about it.”
* * *
Faith
I guess you thought about it.
Luna
Don’t you start.
Faith
I’m basically a matchmaking genius.
I scoffed and lifted my gaze to find Beck’s attention on me in the rearview mirror. After my call with my former best friend yesterday I went to work at Club Deux. Things were running smoothly there—thank goodness—and luckily there were no surprises. No drop ins from an ex or missed shipments.
It was very late at night when I’d gotten home and decided to go back out on the patio. It had become a habit of sorts to spend time out there. One of my bartenders sent me home with a mason jar of mojito mocktail to test out so I poured myself a glass, added the sprig of mint for garnish as I was instructed to do, and quietly sat out in the dark, admiring the stars when I suddenly heard my neighbor’s back door creak open.
I startled in my chair. It was well past two in the morning, way past most people’s bedtime. Not for my neighbor who had gotten very comfortable traipsing back and forth between his back yard and my own.
I wondered how he’d react if I put a lock on the door…
“Luna, you out here?” Beck whispered, making his voice sound raspier than ever.
Then his head peaked over the shared fence of ours because of course the door was slightly lower than the rest of the fence, probably for this exact purpose. His eyes twinkled like the damn stars above us and my heart beat unevenly as I watched him tug on the string that lifted the gate latch.
His gaze lingered on my body, and I tugged the sleeves of my silk nighty to make sure there was no sign of goosebumps. That would just get to Beck’s head, and we couldn’t have that.
“I’m glad you made it home safely,” he said, voice like it was combed over hot coals.
I raised a solitary brow and teased him. “Were you waiting up for me?”
“Yes.”
No hesitation.
I gulped, then crossed my legs, looking for something to do. “You don’t need to do that.”
“I’m your bodyguard next door. Of course, I’m going to wait up for you.” Beck sat down across from me.
Tears pricked the back of my eyes, so I blinked a few times and willed them away.
“Well, if you want to waste your time, that's on you,” I attempted to joke because I wasn’t quite sure how to handle the kindness.
Beck rubbed a thumb over his lower lip, drawing my attention there. “Faith told me she invited you upstate.”
I crossed my legs, ignoring the ache between them. “She did.”
“And do you plan to come?” He glanced at this watch. “We plan to leave at nine.”
“Not giving me much notice, Bennet.”
“You can sleep the whole drive, Marks.”
I shifted again. “You'll let me play sleeping beauty while you shuttle us to the country?”
He shrugged. “It’s not a hardship to want to take care of you, Marks.”
Without thinking, I scooted my chair back. Beck watched as I rounded the table. He was far enough away from the table that I could slide onto his lap. He welcomed me there, his hands resting hesitantly on my hips, applying just enough pressure to hold me in place without crossing into inappropriate territory.
“Tighter, Bennet.”
He swallowed, and I bent down to kiss the column of his neck, his Adam's apple bobbing.
The man hissed, straightening his arms to put a modicum of distance between us. “Luna. Damn it, woman, you're torturing me here.”
A chuckle rumbled from my lips. “Good.”