Epilogue
Three months after Lux and Scott’s impromptu wedding in the grand chapel of Shiretopia—while she wore mismatched pajamas and he a tuxedo—their life had settled into a delightful rhythm, swinging between the vibrant energy of Manhattan and the serene majesty of his country. Scott’s future as the King of Shiretopia was secured, but until it was imminent, he was allowed to live the life of a royal with dual citizenship. His column with Naked Runway would come to an end with the next issue.
Tonight, Manhattan buzzed with the celebration of their union, hosted by Naked Runway and the ever-spirited Ms. Birdie. The venue, a stunning fusion of European elegance and Manhattan’s modern flair, was abuzz with excitement and laughter.
As Lux mingled with the eclectic mix of guests, she caught sight of Scott across the room, sharing a laugh with a group of friends. Two of them being Mark and Rose. Rose, as it turned out, had been right. She’d won back Scott’s affection in absolutely no time at all, which probably had the wicked witch who’d cursed the clan twitching in her dusty remains.
Lux met Scott’s gaze, and a silent exchange of happiness passed between them.
Amidst the revelry, Lux watched as Ms. Birdie approached, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Lux, darling, I’ve got a surprise for you,” she announced with her characteristic flair.
“I find that hard to imagine,” Lux said, grinning. “You’re normally not one for surprises.”
“I’d like to introduce you to Molly Thorn,” Ms. Birdie replied, her lips twitching. “The friend I told you about with contacts in the second veil.”
“Ms. Thorn, it is so nice to meet you,” Lux said, shaking hands with the woman.
Once Lux had agreed to go to work for Ms. Birdie as the CEO of the Fairy Godmother Project, life had gotten even more interesting than marrying a rakish prince. At first, she’d resisted the idea of leaving academia, but Ms. Birdie had made an excellent case for why she should. Mainly, Lux would be able to put her psychology degree to use as she helped people experiencing life’s struggles. And since Lux had just come out on the bright end of a life struggle, she could relate to those going through something hard.
“I insist you call me Molly,” the spirit whisperer said. “After all, we’ll be working closely together for the next several weeks.”
Lux glanced at Ms. Birdie. “Is that so? I wasn’t aware I’d been given an assignment. I thought my job was to oversee all the ongoing missions.” The position allowed Lux to know about all of those who’d been helped so far by Ms. Birdie’s group of merry busybodies. For instance, Isabella had once been an assignment of the FGP, and Scott had been known to help the organization on occasion.
“That was the plan, but Molly just called in a favor,” Ms. Birdie said, looking quite amused with the situation.
“And what does that have to do with the FGP?” Lux asked.
“Well, in order to understand, you’re going to need to know what it is Molly does for a living,” Ms. Birdie said.
“You two look like you’re in cahoots on something big?” Scott came up behind Lux and slid his arms around her waist, pulling her into him. “Do I even want to know?”
Ms. Birdie gave him a warm smile. “Your wife was just about to be given the details of her debut assignment as the CEO of The Fairy Godmother Project.”
“It’s not to talk me into taking on the task of starting a Fairy Godfather Project, is it?” he asked. “Because I’ve told you, I need more time to consider.”
“I would not bore her with such an easy assignment.” With that, Ms. Birdie turned to Lux. “Lux, why don’t we table this conversation until tomorrow, and you two love birds go dance?”
“You don’t have to twist my arm,” Scott said, tugging Lux toward the dance floor.
“Have I told you tonight how great your ass looks in those pants?” she asked him, leaning to the side and ogling his butt.
“Not as great as yours looks in that dress.” He pulled her into his arms and nipped her earlobe. “Now, tell me, Doc. Who is your first FGP assignment and what is her greatest need?”
“I have no idea,” Lux admitted. “But whoever it is, they are somehow connected to Molly Thorn, who can communicate with spirits.”
“God help us all.” He chuckled as he twirled her out and back into his arms.
Lux leaned into Scott’s embrace, her heart beating in tandem with the rhythm of his. “Honestly,” she mused, glancing up at him. “I can’t wait to tackle whatever the Fairy Godmother Project throws at me. I think I’m really going to like my new career.”
Scott dropped a tender kiss on her mouth. “Whatever it is,” he murmured, “you’ll shine, and Ms. Birdie’s nonprofit will have another win to add to its large tally.”
“With the spirit world now in her arsenal,” Lux mused, “I see that list quickly overflowing.”
He laughed. “Between curses, superstitions, spirits, and fairy godmothers, we’re definitely never going to be one of those boring couples.”
“That we’re not,” she agreed, smiling from an overwhelming sense of pure happiness.
They stopped dancing and glanced around.
“Don’t look now,” Scott murmured, “but the Glam Team are over by the bar smiling at us like proud parents.”
Lux turned and glanced at her friends. “They are looking rather smug.” She gave them a jaunty wave before refocusing her attention on her husband.
Scott raised a hand and fingered one of the dangling emerald earrings he’d gifted her earlier this evening. “Did you ever think our story would be one of love, laughter, and unexpected adventures?”
She touched the matching pendant at her throat and gave him a wicked grin. “You mean as opposed to a story of a fair maiden and a prince with a broken—”
His lips crashed down on hers, silencing her sassy reply.
“Ewww. Get a room already,” Ziggy said in the background. “I’m blushing over here, and red is not my color.”
“You heard the order,” Scott said, scooping her up in his arms, and turning to stride away like a man off to battle.
She batted her eyelashes. “Why Prince Landshire, are you whisking me away to do nefarious things?”
“Absolutely,” he said in a sexy, growly voice that had her swooning with anticipation.
“Then, by all means, carry on.” She rested her head against the strong shoulder of her very own dashing prince—a living testament to the fairy tale that even undreamt dreams can, and do, come true.
Don”t miss the next book in the Naked Runway Series
BOOK BOYFRIENDish
(Releases July 23)
What if Book Boyfriends weren”t fictional?
Professional Day Dreamer Sophie E. Clark had gotten the last laugh.
Those who’d told her she’d never make money daydreaming could bite her curvaceous derriere because she had just landed the most daydreamiest of daydream gigs with Naked Runway. Of course, if you wanted to get technical about it, for tax purposes and whatnot, they had her listed as a columnist. But her current assignment was to—drum roll please—search out Manhattan men who could stack up to the winners of this year’s Swooniest of Book Boyfriends contest.
Former Navy SEAL operative Stone Blackthorn is on the injured list at the security firm he co-owns with his brothers. When a family member calls in a favor, he reluctantly agrees to become an undercover bodyguard—as in he’d play the part of a cinnamon roll boyfriend—for a fluff reporter. A no-action assignment if ever there was one.
Little did he know, his client—the president of a romance book club—would rile up members of motorcycle gangs, mafia sorts, etc., in her quest to find real men who were the living-breathing equivalent of those fictional ones her club drooled over at weekly meetings.
Coming out of this assignment unscathed didn’t look favorable for either of them.