CHAPTER 26
When Beth woke up Saturday morning, the entire loft smelled amazing. Yawning, she threw her thick hair into a messy top knot and padded toward the stairs—only to stop halfway down, her breath catching at the sight below.
Her mouth dropped open.
In the kitchen, her husband stood among four or five caterers, all scurrying around the oversized island, transforming it into a buffet fit for royalty. Dozens of covered trays, elegant drink dispensers, linen napkins, and what looked suspiciously like fine China were being arranged with precision.
“What in the world…?”
Bryce looked up and grinned, clearly pleased by her stunned expression. Pouring a cup of coffee, he climbed the stairs and met her halfway, where she still stood frozen, surveying the activity below like a queen overlooking her kingdom.
Handing her the mug, he gently placed his hand on her hip and brushed a soft kiss against her cheek, drawing her attention to him.
“Mornin’, beautiful,” he said. “Excited for today?”
Beth nodded absently, gesturing with her coffee mug toward the flurry of activity in the kitchen. “What is all of this?”
Bryce gave her an innocent look that didn’t fool her for a second.
“Lynn said my job was to provide a full brunch and cinnamon rolls,” he said, as if that explained everything. “So, I catered a full Irish breakfast from Jack Quinn’s, a patisserie sampler from The French Kitchen, and coffee from Mission Brew.”
Beth blinked, laughing softly in disbelief. “Babe, a full brunch in our family is eggs, bacon, and cinnamon rolls. Not all this.”
Bryce raised his eyebrows slightly, feigning innocence. “A little over the top?”
She gave him a knowing smile and stepped closer, placing her free hand on his shoulder. She kissed him gently on the cheek—the same way he had kissed her.
“Thank you.”
“I’ll happily do it every morning if it means you’ll call me ‘babe’ and kiss me like that.”
Blushing, Beth shook her head with a shy smile. “I should go get ready.”
“You know,” Bryce said, following her with his eyes as she turned to go, “you don’t have to listen to Lynn.”
Beth paused, confused. “What?”
His voice dropped as he leaned in to whisper in her ear.
“About the bra.”
“brYCE!” she shrieked, swatting him. Several heads turned at her outburst, but Bryce just laughed and caught the hand she’d smacked him with, pressing a kiss to her palm.
“You’re so over the top.”
Without missing a beat, he replied, “And you’re so in love with me.”
He held her gaze, his expression open and readable. In that stillness, something flickered behind her eyes—surprise, maybe. Or acknowledgement.
With a soft smile, she pressed her palm to his cheek before turning to head back upstairs.
Her heart was pounding.
She knew what he meant when he said that. ‘You’re in love with me’ wasn’t a challenge—it was a promise. A reminder that he would wait for her to say the words.
The truth was… he was right.
She was in love with him.
And maybe—just maybe—she knew exactly how she wanted to tell him.
After she got her sister’s help.
Beth was stretched out on the couch with a book in hand, half-lost in the story, when the elevator doors slid open, revealing her husband… and the entourage he’d apparently gone to retrieve.
Her mother.
Her sister.
Her best friend.
All three women stepped into the loft together.
Just before the chaos descended, Beth had been knee-deep in Miles Bailey Gets Down on One Knee—a charming, closed-door RomCom that was hitting a little too close to home.
She didn’t know why she did this to herself.
Marriage of convenience? Check. Emotional tension?
Double check. Sure, there were differences—she and Bryce weren’t trying not to fall in love—but still.
“Daaannngggg, Zuko. You understood the assignment,” Lynn said, patting Bryce on the chest as she breezed past him.
Lynn let out a low whistle as she spun in a full circle, taking in the view. Her gaze locked on the elaborate brunch spread set out on the kitchen island.
“Hey, Sandra Dee! We’re here to kidnap you,” she announced, sauntering into the living room and tossing her oversized backpack onto the very couch Beth had just vacated.
Bryce scratched his head, looking mildly lost. “Zuko? I don’t know that one.”
“Grease,” came the chorus—Beth, Kim, and Sue answering in perfect unison.
“You don’t know any of my references,” Lynn laughed, not missing a beat.
With greetings exchanged and hugs given, Beth took a longer look at what her sister was wearing. Lynn always pushed the limits on fashion, but today she’d gone full-on rebel. Biker boots, tight jeans, a silk multicolored halter top, and a leather jacket.
Quite the contrast to the rest of the group.
Beth glanced down at her own outfit—simple sundress with pockets—and suddenly felt unsure. But seeing her mom in a casual shift dress and Kim in capris and a floral blouse, she relaxed. She fit right in.
Still, she couldn’t help teasing.
“So… why the Pink Lady look?” Beth asked, raising an eyebrow. “Trying to match your newest icon-insult?”
Lynn grinned, clearly pleased. “Look at you, getting clever. I’m almost proud.”
She pressed a dramatic hand to her chest and curled her shoulders forward with mock sincerity as she said the last word.
“Don’t worry, I’ve got a change of clothes in my bag. Buuuut…” she swung the strap over her shoulder with a little bounce, eyes already sweeping the space again, “first—give us the full tour. And show me where I can change.”
Beth opened her mouth to suggest they eat first, but Lynn had already begun walking up the stairs.
Bryce was leaning against the kitchen island and noted Lynn’s timing—and the way she avoided the question. His eyes met Beth’s for the briefest moment, a small knowing smile curving his lips before he excused himself from the tour.
“Don’t worry,” he called back. “I’ll let you ladies do your thing and save some brunch for you.”
They moved from room to room upstairs, voices rising with excitement.
“Oh, I love this bookshelf,” Sue said, trailing her fingers along the built-in unit in the guest room.
“It has a built in Murphy bed!” Excited, Beth showed them how it worked.
Once they were in the master bedroom, Kim asked, “Wait—is this the reading nook?”
“Yes!” Beth beamed, motioning toward the room divider, “WITH a coffee bar!”
Kim looked genuinely delighted. “Okay, Bryce did good.”
They were still mid-laughter—teasing Beth about needing a tutorial for the touchpad-controlled bathroom—when they realized Lynn had started changing in the middle of the room.
“Lynn!” Sue shrieked, spinning away. “What are you thinking? The curtains are open!”
Kim covered her eyes and shook her head. “A little warning next time, please?”
Lynn scoffed, entirely unbothered. “What? I waited till Bryce wasn’t around.”
“Thanks for that, and Mom, at least the windows are tinted so no one can see in,” Beth said.
When Lynn finally straightened—fully dressed—everyone stared.
Gone was the leather biker babe. In her place stood a bohemian goddess, effortlessly stunning in a soft olive green dress that fell off one shoulder.
The fabric floated around her, cinched at the waist with a brown leather belt that ended in a loop and long fringe.
The asymmetrical neckline was tied in delicate knots at the shoulder, and the ruffled hem fell just above her leather boots.
Her wild red spirals tumbled freely down her back, and against the earthy tone of the dress, her green eyes looked even brighter.
Lynn’s ability to wear any style and still look completely at ease, always sure of herself—never failed to amaze Beth. Almost as much as it amazed her that Lynn didn’t seem to recognize the breathtaking beauty everyone else saw.
“Whoa,” Kim said, nodding in approval. “That’s a whole vibe.”
“I know, right? Just wait—I’ve got a hat too.” Lynn grabbed a felt fedora and mashed it over her curls. “Now let’s eat before I get hangry.” She laughed and was the first to head out of the room.
They filled their plates and gathered around the table, laughter rising around an Irish breakfast feast, fresh pastries, and steaming mugs of coffee.
The conversation flowed easily—until the edge of hunger faded and Bryce, in his usual laid-back tone, asked, “So, Lynn… how long have you had the motorcycle?”
Beth froze mid-sip.
Sue’s fork paused halfway to her mouth.
Kim glanced around them and barely held back a wince.
Lynn, already halfway through a cinnamon roll, wasn’t fazed by the question. “Bought it this week.”
Beth raised an eyebrow. “That explains the Pink Lady getup.”
“I was going for Greased Lightnin’ realness,” Lynn said with a smirk, licking icing off her thumb. The silence that followed was sharp. Thick.
“What year is it?” Bryce asked, still oblivious to the weight slowly settling over the table.
Sue looked up, her voice cool and clipped. “Your—what?”
It was a tone Bryce had never heard from his mother-in-law before. It made him lean back in his chair and raise his hands slightly, retreating into silence.
Lynn clapped her hands with a grin, trying to break the tension. “I bought a motorcycle,” she repeated breezily.
“YOU DID WHAT?” the room exploded in unison, finally snapping out of the stunned pause.
“I b-o-u-g-h-t a m-o-t-o-r-c-y-c-l-e,” Lynn said slowly, enunciating every letter like she was talking to kindergartners. “I’ll show you when we leave. She’s a beauty. I named her Gemini—Gem for short.”
Another silence. This one tighter.
“You bought a donor-mobile?” Beth asked, still stunned.
“Oh, come on, Beth—nobody calls them that,” Lynn snapped, irritation creeping into her voice as her heart rate began to accelerate.
“Yes, they do!” Beth and Kim said in tandem.
Lynn rolled her eyes. “Whatever. You can call it what you want. I call it fun to ride.”
Her eyes lit up again as she leaned back, clearly picturing herself on the bike.