31. Epilogue - Emma
31
EPILOGUE - EMMA
One Year Later
" N o, absolutely not." I stared at the PowerPoint slide James had added to my consultation deck. "We are not calling it 'Wreck-Prevention Services.'"
"Why not?" James lounged in his chair, looking unfairly good in a charcoal sweater that made his eyes pop. "It's accurate."
"It's terrible marketing." I changed it back to my original title: 'Relationship Readiness Consulting.' "We're trying to help couples, not terrify them."
"Fine." He pulled me into his lap, nuzzling my neck. "But I still think my tagline was better."
"'Let us wreck your relationship before someone else does' is not better."
"It's memorable!"
"We’re hoping we don’t have to wreck any relationships. The goal is helping them work through their issues and getting them to the finish line." But I was laughing as I said it. "We're also supposed to be preparing for this consultation."
"We are prepared." His hands slid under my shirt. "The March wedding is completely handled, the May couple just needs final details, and this new couple isn't here for another hour."
"James..."
"Besides," he murmured against my skin, "I seem to remember someone promising me a reward if I behaved at dinner with her parents last night."
"You call that behaving? You told my dad the story about my towel falling off when we did that couple’s spa day after the wedding.”
"He thought it was hilarious! And your mom couldn't stop laughing about the tiny tacos. She said they’re planning a trip back here to Colorado just to experience them."
I turned to face him, straddling his lap. "They do like you, you know. Even after everything."
His expression softened. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." I kissed him softly. "Turns out they're suckers for reformed wedding wreckers."
Especially since James had helped save Lily's business from the Wellingtons. Richard and Dick had tried one last power play at the reception, threatening to expose Marcus's role in hiding their financial troubles unless Lily agreed to certain "partnerships."
James shut that down fast, pointing out that any scandal would hurt the Wellingtons far more than it would hurt Marcus and Lily. Especially since Marcus had come clean on his own.
These days, Marcus ran his own investment firm—one that specialized in helping small businesses expand sustainably. Lily's franchise plans were moving forward, but on her terms. They'd just opened their third Pawsh Pets location, with Marcus handling the business side while Lily maintained her hands-on approach with the animals.
"Speaking of reformed..." James said. "Have you seen the latest about your old friends?"
I followed his gaze to a magazine on my desk. The cover showed Dick Wellington's latest scandal—something involving three Playboy bunnies and a stolen yacht.
"Poor Charity had to cancel her Paris fashion week debut," I said, not feeling particularly sorry. Last I heard, she'd been cut off after Richard discovered she'd been adding to the family debt for the past few years, driving them even deeper into desperation.
"What about the wedding planner?” James asked, eyes sparkling as they met mine. “How are you feeling about our new business model now that we’ve been going nearly a year?”
I thought about how my wedding planning had evolved over the past year. These days, I worked with fewer couples, but more intensively. James and I helped them build solid foundations before the wedding, rather than just creating perfect surface-level events. If there were problems that would have normally summoned the wrath of the “Wedding Wrecker,” we helped address them early. Sometimes, that meant bringing in a counselor named Derek, who had been one of James’ former employees.
"No regrets," I said honestly. "I think this is the best of both our worlds. I still get to plan amazing weddings, and you get to make sure people aren’t walking into a huge mistake.”
" Wow ,” he said softly. “No regrets, huh? Even if it means dealing with my cynical ass questioning everything?"
"Especially then." I wrapped my arms around his neck. "Your cynicism balances my optimism. We make a good team."
"Team?" His hands settled on my hips. "Is that what we're calling it? I was thinking of myself more as the rakish boss with the sexy side-kick."
"Call me a side-kick again and I’ll make the phrase literal.”
“Understood,” James chuckled.
“And I was going to say we have a partnership, but someone still hasn't properly proposed..."
His eyes darkened. "Maybe I'm waiting for the perfect moment."
"I thought we agreed perfect was overrated?"
"Some things are worth getting right." He pulled me closer. "Even if that means making you wait a little longer."
"James Carter, are you telling me you have a ring hidden somewhere?"
"Emma Marshall, are you trying to ruin my surprise?"
I kissed him instead of answering, loving how he immediately deepened it. One year together, and still every kiss felt like coming home.
My phone buzzed, making us both groan.
"That's probably Maggie. She has been calling me multiple times a day while she gets ready for the new shop in Savannah. She’s a wreck."
James smiled. "Still can't believe she's expanding already."
"All thanks to Marcus's investment firm." I checked the message. "And... yep. She says to tell you she's still mad you wouldn't let her call it 'Wake the F*ck Up Coffee.'"
"The FDA would never approve it. I saved her a headache."
"Since when do you care about approval?"
His hand slid higher under my shirt. "Since a certain wedding planner made me want to be a better man."
"Smooth talker." But I melted into him anyway. "We really should prepare for this consultation..."
"You’re right. I’ve got a… rather large problem I need to handle before our clients arrive.” James took my wrist and guided my hand to his lap.
“You weren’t kidding,” I said, gripping him through his jeans. “That’s a huge problem. How do you suggest we handle it? Were you thinking amputation?”
James shivered. “Not funny.”
I slid my palm across him, loving how he groaned against my neck. “Or… were you thinking about a more hands-on approach?”
“That one. Or… mouth-on. Or pussy-on. As your business partner, I feel I should let you take the driver seat.”
“I’ve always been bad at making choices.”
“Fine. You’ve twisted my arm properly, I’ll just have to settle for the sampler platter. Give me all three.”
I laughed against his neck, planting a few kisses there and loving his scent, as always. "The clients?—"
"Won't be here for fifty-eight minutes." He stood, lifting me with him. "You had better get started, Miss Marshall. I have been known to enjoy long samples, and we’ve got three to experience.”
“Is that right?”
He carried me toward the couch in the corner of our shared office. “I can never get enough of you. Fuck,” he growled. “I’m addicted, Em.”
“Good. You had better be.”
Fifty-six minutes later, we straightened our clothes and reviewed our notes one last time. James's hair was beyond help, but somehow he made it look intentional.
"Ready?" he asked as our clients approached the office.
I squeezed his hand. "With you? Always."
He smiled in that way of his that still made my heart skip. "I love you. Even if you won't let me call it 'Wreck-Prevention Services.'"
"I love you too. Even if you almost ruined my career twice."
"You're never going to let that go, are you?"
"Nope." I kissed him quickly. "Good thing you have the rest of our lives to make it up to me."
His eyes went soft. "Promise?"
"Promise."