Epilogue
ONE YEAR LATER
Luna
“I think I'm going to be sick,” I said as Beck zipped me up. We were in my dedicated suite in The Chateau, and it was officially opening night, which meant I was going to razzle and dazzle my first customers.
All my friends were here for the official ribbon cutting, as were some celebrity clients Beck and Faith rounded up. They wanted this place to be as much of a success as I did which meant they may have twisted a few arms and called in a few favors to make sure we had the jet set crowd here.
I also invited every media outlet within a two-hundred-mile radius and even a few west coast outlets that might drum excitement from people across the country.
After years of work and planning and setbacks my dream was about to become a reality and all I could think of was the over/under on my throwing up tonight.
“Do you need a Dramamine or something?” Paige asked. She and Faith were buzzing around like my fairy godmothers directing my glam squad.
I’d hired a director of marketing who was in the room next door waiting for me to come do a few quick interviews before heading down to the Casino floor where the major festivities would take place.
Monroe, who had stepped into her general manager role at Club Deux, had the place on lock just as she had for the last several months while my attention was here in Atlantic City.
The makeup artist was putting the final touches on my lipstick. When she finished, Faith stepped in, placing her hands on my shoulders, our eyes locking in the mirror. “You got this. You're the fiercest boss lady I know.”
“I still think we should get something for her stomach,” Paige said to Faith. The two were conspiring like I wasn’t sitting here, and I kinda loved it.
Paige and I had met up several times since Faith's art show. Those meetups evolved into texting which quickly escalated to sending Austen memes to each other on Instagram.
Then when Paige met Faith, they formed an instant bond too.
My phone beeped.
Beck
Sebastian’s mom sent a photo of Bruce and Pepper. They are living their best lives upstate with all that space to run around. Apparently, Willow has adopted them.
I released a breath I didn't know I was holding, a smile stretching across my face as the image came through. Sure enough, the three dogs looked inseparable.
Oh yeah, you didn’t think I wasn’t going to get Pepper, right?
Beck
You'll do great tonight. Everything is handled down here. Can't wait to see you.
Luna
You're my sexy security detail; you better be watching my body tonight.
Beck
I'm always watching your body, baby. You should know this by now.
“She's smiling now. Must be Beck,” Faith whispered to Paige.
“I can hear you guys. I am in the room with you.”
They shared a guilty glance as Parvati entered the room. She’d become a vital part of my business management and there was no way I could do this without her now that things were just getting started.
Parvati tapped her clipboard. “It's time to go.”
* * *
The ribbon cutting was a huge success, I made nice with everyone, including some reporters who were more interested in my love life than my business. I easily batted away their irrelevant questions, giving them just enough to keep them on my good side while protecting what I had with Beck and Alice.
Because they were absolutely mine to protect.
Finally, I spotted Beck where he stood talking to Sebastian, Faith, Paige, and her husband Gabe, at a highboy at my favorite bar in the Chateau.
I savored having them all here to support me. My friends who waited up just to be able to congratulate me in person, navigating through all chaos and hoopla without a complaint. I’d been looking forward to this all night. The moment my official duties were finally complete, and I could spend time with my favorite people in the world.
“Hi, baby.” Beck enveloped me the second I stepped into his reach. The hug was deliciously long and grounding. I inhaled his scent and instantly felt more at peace.
“You're incredible and this place you've created is incredible,” Beck whispered in my ear.
“Thank you,” I said before quickly kissing him.
“Get a room,” Paige heckled.
Faith laughed and nudged my old friend. “Hey, I was going to say that.”
We moved so that I was standing in front of Beck with my back to his chest. I could lean against him this way while also being able to see my friends.
Then a bartender swooped in with my favorite mockjito.
“Thank you,” I mouthed, making a mental note to give them kudos the next time I saw them.
My friends were chatting about the bowling alley when I twisted in place.
“How's Alice?” I asked Beck.
“Having the time of her life,” Beck said. Alice spent the evening in the kids club area. She was the inspiration for it to begin with, so it only made sense she christened the space too by eating pizza—still Hawaiian—and playing with other kiddos her own age while being watched by childcare experts who had been highly screened and vetted. “I’ll probably have to drag her out of there.”
“Well the kids club was too good of an idea. Honestly, cruise ships have them, and I don't know why casinos don't. Parents are going to be more likely to come here if they know they can have fun while their kids are safe and sound.”
Beck kissed the corner of my lips. “You're brilliant.”
“And Alice can spend all the time she wants at the kids club when you guys are visiting.”
We’d talked about this a lot. With The Chateau opening, I needed to spend lots of time overseeing things. I’d spent more time here than in Brooklyn these days which proved challenging at times, but then Beck insisted I get a helicopter.
That had turned out to be an amazing idea because I could shuttle high rollers in from the city and cut my commute time. Making it home most nights because Beck and Alice were my home, and I didn’t want to waste a minute not being with them.
Darnell got to work in Atlantic City more, which made him happy since he and Parvati were definitely dating. Not that either of them would admit it.
“We should do something fun to celebrate,” Beck said into my ear for only me to hear.
I held his arms around my waist like a belt. “What do you have in mind?”
“We should go to France,” he whispered in my ear.
I must have misheard him. “I'm sorry, I thought you said we should go to France.”
He nuzzled me. “You heard me correctly.”
I frowned. “I just opened a business. I can't fly to France.”
His hands splayed in my waist, a thumb coming dangerously close to my breast. Not that I would ask him to move it. “Not right now, you can't. December. Christmas. You, me, and Alice.”
“What would we even do there?” Was this man out of his mind?
Beck's thumb kept up its ministrations. “I was thinking we could get engaged.”
I spun around so fast I nearly missed my stop. “You want to get engaged?”
The table went silent.
Beck lifted an amused brow. “Yes.”
“And you're telling me now. Most women like a little element of surprise,” I choked out.
“You aren't most women. And I'd never want to surprise you with a big ask. I want you to feel completely in control.”
My face softened. “You're a good man, Beck Bennet. A fine bodyguard and the nosiest next-door neighbor.”
“Hey, watch it,” he said in mock offense.
“And I love you for it,” I said, draping my arms across his shoulders.
He smiled. “You better.”
Then the man kissed me like his life depended on it. Like I was his life preserver.
And, well, that was a good thing, because tonight I planned to ask him to marry me .
The end. Sort of.