Epilogue #2
Rosie comes out of the back, a smile on her face as she sashays over to the bar and says something to Jimmy. Jimmy cracks a smile, and she starts laughing at something. She throws her hand down and leans over and whispers something at him.
“I’m so glad they’re developing a relationship. Hold on,” I say and hurry over to the bar. “What are you two talking about?” I ask.
Rosie looks up at me with bright eyes. “Jimmy was just telling me about a time that he worked as a sommelier in an Italian restaurant and then got fired because he had drunk too many bottles of wine.”
“What can I say? You got to taste the goods to see if they’re good, right?” Jimmy says, and they both start giggling.
“Dad, you’re too much,” I say and laugh.
I suddenly realize what I said, and Jimmy looks at me with bright, open eyes.
“You called me Dad,” he says, a huge grin on his face.
I nod slowly. “I guess I did.”
“You called me Dad, like you really meant it. Like you’re happy that I’m in your life.”
“You’re not so bad, Jimmy.”
“Does that mean you forgive me for not telling you right away?”
“I mean, I might hold it over you for the next ten years or so, but I won’t let you know it.”
He chuckles, but I can see the worry in his gaze.
“It’s okay, Dad. We all make mistakes, and none of us are perfect, and I know you didn’t even know about me, so it is what it is. I want us to move forward. I love you—you know that, right?”
“You’re the first person who’s ever said that to me that I felt really meant it.” He looks like he might cry, which is really weird because my dad, he’s a tough guy. “You’re going to make me melt, Sage, and that’s not a good thing.”
“Maybe one of these days, you’ll find true love,” I say, and he grunts and turns away.
“Let me pour this wine, and you finish doing what you got to do.”
I laugh and then turn to Rosie. “How’s everything going?” I ask, and she gives me a warm smile.
“Good. It looks beautiful in here. I think tonight’s event is going to be amazing.” She diverts her gaze to Brett and then back to me. “I think it’ll be fun.”
“Yeah, I think so too.” I see that Brett is now staring at Rosie. “So, Rosie, I was thinking, why don’t you join the event tonight?”
“What do you mean?”
“Why don’t you join the speed dating? Maybe you’ll meet some nice guys.”
“I thought I was working the event tonight.”
“The others and I can handle it. I feel like you deserve a night off. You deserve to meet some nice men and—”
“Hi there, Sage.” Brett’s deep voice sounds from next to us, and I try not to groan.
“Hello, Brett.” I give him a nod.
“Hey, Rosie. It’s been a while.”
“Hi, Brett,” she says, smiling at him. “You here for the speed-dating event?”
“No, I think not. That’s not my sort of thing.” He shakes his head, looking uncomfortable. “You working tonight?” he asks.
“Working tonight?” Rosie looks at me, then at him, and then giggles. “Actually, no. I’m going to be a part of the event.”
“The speed-dating event?” His stone demeanor may have a hairline crack.
“Yeah. Hopefully, I’ll meet a really nice guy, you know? Get me a boyfriend like Sage did.”
“Excuse me,” he says and walks away.
“What is that man’s problem?” Rosie asks me. “I do not understand his deal. Do you?”
“No,” I say. “But you know what? Let him go. Who even cares, right?”
She doesn’t respond. Instead, I can see that she’s thinking, and I hate that—because that means she’s thinking about Brett.
It’s not that I hate the guy. I don’t. He’s too introspective and too introverted, and I don’t know if he’s the sort of guy who can ever give himself and his heart fully. He’s certainly no Dalton.
I look around the room, and my eyes catch Dalton’s. He blows me a kiss. I pretend to catch it and press it to my heart.
I love you, I mouth at him.
I love you too, he mouths back.
I can feel our love transcending the room.
It’s wild how far we’ve come in such a short amount of time, but I know he’s my forever.
I know he was made for me. And as I stand there, watching him, loving him, I realize that he’s right.
We don’t have to wait to get married, especially when we love each other so much, and we have a son we want to raise with our love.
I smile to myself as I think about a surprise that I can create for us both. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll let him marry me in the next couple of weeks. Maybe, just maybe, I’ll let him be my husband sooner rather than later because maybe, just maybe, I love this man more than I love life itself.
Thank you for reading The Bluffing Game. If you wish to read a bonus chapter, click here:
The next book in the series is The Boyfriend bet, starring Rosie and Brett. You can get it here:
Wanted: A gorgeous man who looks at me like I’m the last woman on earth.
Not Wanted: A grumpy ex-SEAL who answers every question with three words.
The first time I saw Brett Selleck I was struck by how handsome, formidable, and unapproachable he was.
I have to admit that I flirted with him both because I was attracted to him and I wanted a reaction.
Unfortunately for me, I got neither. So I very quickly decided to just become friends with him instead.
Who doesn’t want a hot best friend who is willing to listen and offer dating advice?
I bet him he couldn't find me a boyfriend in three months. If he wins, I’ll stop trying to set him up. I’ll quit asking about his past and why he has so many secrets. And our late-night phone calls, with me wanting advice all the time, will end forever.
He agreed so fast that I was slightly insulted.
But funny how life works because Brett also needed my help.
To inherit his significant family trust, he has to be married or engaged.
Guess who commitment-phone Brett asks to do a little acting in exchange for him helping me practice for my dates.
How were we to know that our fake kisses would feel so real?
And all the tips he’s giving me to fend off men...
well they don’t seem to be working on him.
I've spent my entire life being the person everyone else leans on. So when a man who doesn't do feelings starts walking me to my car every night, and checking up on me after all my dates, it starts to feel kinda nice. He thinks he’s doing the job he was trained for. I am starting to hope he’s bad at his job.
He bet he could find me the right man. Now he just has to realize he already did.
Tropes: Grumpy × Sunshine, Fake Dating, Dating Coach, He Falls First, Wounded Hero, Best Friend's Sister, Forced Proximity, Only One Bed, Found Family, Small Town.