Epilogue
Bishop
“You ready?” I ask skeptically when I see Aspen dressed to go out but with Gigi hanging on her hip, a mischievous look in our daughter’s eyes as she giggles at my appearance in the kitchen.
“Almost,” Aspen answers, busy with her task of cutting up fruit into bite size cubes and dropping them into one of Gigi’s travel snack cups in the kitchen. “I just want to send these snacks with Fallon. She’s taking Gigi up to the ranch house for the night. Tate’s babysitter had to cancel.”
“Grant dropping off his little hellion there too?” I worry for Fallon if that’s the case.
She’s already watching her younger sister and one of her cousins tonight, adding a third to the mix was going to make for a fun bedtime routine for all of them.
I don’t doubt she’s up to the task, but I might have to throw a little extra cash her way for hazard pay at handling three Stockton children.
“Yes. Or rather Dakota is. Grant had a late meeting. He’s in negotiations to buy that team, you know, and it’s one meeting after another for him.”
“Good thing we’re all going out tonight.”
“If we can get him to relax.” Aspen’s brow climbs in disapproval at her brother’s work ethic.
“I wish Levi was coming. He’s better at wrangling Grant than the rest of us.”
“Yes, but Zephyrine’s so close to her due date.
Levi said she’s exhausted and he just wanted to keep her in and give her a foot rub.
I asked if she wanted to come to dinner and she thought about it, but then she had work stuff run late.
She asked if we could bring some cheesecake to her after though and I said I would.
” We were all attending a big gala event tonight for Charlotte and Hudson’s charity in the city.
They’re opening a Rocky Mountain extension of the foundation Creighton’s money created and are hoping to secure all the donations they need tonight for the groundbreaking.
“After? You mean at the exact time I was planning to drag you back here and have my way with you in the quiet of our empty home?” I tease her and she finally looks up at me as she snaps the lid shut on Gigi’s cup, her lips parting when she sees the tailor cut slacks and shirt I have on.
Grant had talked me into it for events like tonight, and if it gets this reaction out of Aspen, I might have to invest in more.
“Wow. You look good.” Her eyes drift over me as Gigi plays with her hair.
“I was hoping to seduce my wife.”
“Oh my god! You two have to learn to be quieter about that,” Fallon puts her hands over Gigi’s ears before she takes her from Aspen. “She’s too young for all that talk.” Fallon teases us as she grabs Gigi’s bag with her free hand and tosses the snack cups inside.
“Are you taking the car?” Aspen calls after her.
“If that’s okay? I figure her car seat’s already in there.” Fallon glances back as she makes her way for the door.
Aspen nods. “Yeah. We can take the truck.”
“You sure? With that dress?” My eyes rake over the way it fits every curve of her body.
“I’ve done it before.” She looks to me for a moment and then back to Fallon. “Take the car. I’ll have my phone tonight if you need anything. If the kids get to be too much, just call us and we can come help.”
“Yes mom. Got it.” Fallon looks at me and winks before she takes off out the door. “Love you! Have fun!”
“Love you!” we call back in unison.
“What was that about?” Aspen turns to me once Fallon’s out of earshot.
“What was what about?” I pretend to be clueless as I help Aspen clean up the counter.
“The winking. You know what I mean.”
“No idea.” I shrug. I’d only told Fallon to call me if she needed anything because Aspen, much like her brother, desperately needs the night out. She’s not even really off duty tonight as she’s serving on the board of this new nonprofit and I know Charlotte will be relying on her to work the room.
“Keeping secrets are we?” She asks as she pulls her purse over her shoulder
“At least I didn’t promise cheesecake delivery.” I kneel at her feet, helping her slip into the heels she’s wearing tonight.
“You mean cheesecake delivery to the penthouse of the hotel that I have a room rented in for the night?” She pulls the Avarice keycard from her purse and flashes it for me to see.
“The whole night?” I dare to hope.
“Maybe. I have to see how Fallon is with the kids. At least a few good hours. Ramsey said he could leave early if need be so we didn’t have to but I don’t know.”
“Oh he will. He owes me for the overtime I worked last week training his new cowboy on the fences.”
“Well you can try and twist his arm. But I figured if we can sneak away a little early with cheesecake, drop it off really quick with Zeph, then we’ll get at least an hour to ourselves.
” She reveals her plan. “I ordered a bottle of your favorite whiskey to the room and dropped an overnight bag off this afternoon.” Aspen’s smirk spreads into a self-satisfied smile when she sees the look of interest on my face.
“I love the way your mind works,” I say as I stand after I slip her other heel on.
“I love you.” She runs her fingers down the center of my chest, her lashes lifting slowly.
“I love you too, Jones.” I grin down at her, lost in the brilliant green expanse, wondering how the hell I ever got so damn lucky.