EPILOGUE
FOUR MONTHS LATER
JOSS
I can’t help but grin as I look around Synful Sweets.
It took a lot of work and planning, but it all came together today.
My woman is fucking glowing and I’m so proud of her I can hardly stay still.
I don’t even mind that I’m wearing a frilly pink apron since I’ve been behind the counter and helping her.
I couldn’t do that and not be in uniform.
I’m aware that I look ridiculous. I don’t give a single fuck. Troy tried to rattle me earlier when he came in and gave me shit for my outfit.
We’ve been going all day, and I’ve been impressed as hell at how many people have come in.
I know it’s because everyone has rallied around my woman to show her love and support.
Bailey, who is the sister of one tattoo artist at the shop and married to another, did the graphic design.
Amelia, who has experience running a retail store, helped with hiring people.
Then everyone came together to get the word out which is obvious by how low my woman’s display case is looking.
It’s amazing.
I come up behind my woman and wrap her up in my arms, not caring that there are still a few customers checking out the shop. Her staff can handle the few people left while we take a moment to soak up how amazing and special today is.
It shouldn’t have even happened, but fate or destiny or whatever you want to call it was shining down on us. In more ways than one.
I’ve been working at Higgins Security since the day I met with Blake about a position. I left the security gig behind without a second thought. I’ve done the few photoshoots that I had committed to, but I’m done with that gig as well. I don’t need it.
Not now since Duncan, who is scary when it comes to tech shit, was able to track down Dori and get my money back. All of it. He wanted to get it back for me with interest, but I didn’t want that. I just wanted what she took.
Not having that weight on my shoulders is still unbelievable at times. I was a prisoner to it for so long and now I can just exist. I can just live.
And I’m living better than I have in years. All because of my woman. My Sugar. Syndal.
She’s fucking everything.
A few weeks after the romance convention, when she quit her job because everything was moving forward for her sweet shop, I moved my ass into her house. Did I ask her first? Nope, I sure the fuck did not.
Her place is small, but it’s bigger than the efficiency apartment I was in since I was trying to save money. Since then, I’ve been paying our bills even though Syn tried to talk me out of it. I wasn’t going to allow my woman to worry about a damn thing as she made her dream into a reality.
It’s not like I didn’t gain from the situation. I did. Having a front row seat to my woman finding her confidence and herself has been beautiful. I can’t even put it into words.
I kiss the top of Syndal’s head, as she leans back against me. “I’m proud of you, Sugar,” I murmur against her hair.
“You know what?” She asks as she looks over her shoulder at me. “I’m proud of me too.”
I chuckle at how fucking cute she is as I bury my face in the crook of her neck. We both just breathe for a moment. I don’t know what my woman is thinking about, but I know I’m going over all the things I have to be grateful for in my head.
I’m at a place I never thought I would be.
I have the money back that was stolen from me.
I’m working for men who understand me—my past and my skills. I feel purposeful instead of feeling like I’m floundering and completely useless.
I have the love of a damn good woman who is sweet, kind, sexy as hell, and so damn giving that it hurts sometimes.
Even her cats love me. The feeling is mutual.
Cap won me over first with his fierce need to protect Syn. Once he figured out that I’m not going anywhere and love her with everything I am, he’s become my shadow.
Pascal is easy to love and he gives love easily. I love how he’s a little goofy while also being so sweet.
Honestly, I never pictured myself as a cat dad, but here I am. I’m just waiting for my woman to say she wants some more. I sure as fuck won’t tell her no.
“I love you, Sugar,” I rasp the words against her skin.
“I love you, Joss.” She squirms a little in my arms until I let go of her, but only enough for her to turn around and look up at me with those green eyes that I could get lost in.
“You know it wasn’t until you came into my life that everything turned around.
” One side of her mouth tips up into a sly grin. “I think you’re my good luck charm.”
I shake my head slowly, my words measured, “No, Syn. You are your own good luck charm. Even if we never met, which would have been devastating without me knowing why, you would have met our wild fucking family at the signing, and they would have loved your chocolates. If anyone is a good luck charm, it’s you. ”
Her hands slide up my arms, and she goes up on her tip toes to kiss the underside of my jaw. The sound she makes is one of disagreement, but she doesn’t argue with me.
“Before you came into my life, I was drowning. Everything seemed to be pulling me under—anger, resentment, bleakness. I couldn’t see my future as anything other than drudgery. Then I saw you and the sun peeked out of the clouds. That’s all you, Sugar. All you.”
“Agree to disagree,” she sighs and tips her head up with her chin resting on my chest.
I swoop down and press my lips to hers. I mean for it to be chaste considering we’re in her brand-new sweet shop, but I can’t seem to control myself when it comes to my woman. The moment I pry her lips open and my tongue dives in, someone clears their throat and a few people giggle.
I press my forehead to Syn’s before turning toward the sound. Our new family is here, fanning out and filling Synful Sweets. Some are holding bottles of champagne while others are holding trays of food. Everyone has smiles on their faces.
Amelia steps forward and holds up two bottles of champagne. “We came to celebrate your first day. How about we celebrate our way and then later you two can celebrate alone,” she wiggles her eyebrows comically right along with her suggestion.
Syndal blushes and I can’t help but chuckle at how fucking cute she is. Then we’re being pulled out from behind the counter and being engulfed in a love I still find difficult to accept. But I try my best, and that’s enough.
For now.
Life is funny. It tests you and rewards you in ways you’ll never expect. And I’m so fucking grateful.
I watch my woman soak up the praise and affection from the family I never expected to find but can’t imagine not having in my life.
I’m not sure what comes next, but I can’t wait to find out.