“Yeah,it’s sexy as hell, then there’s this thing?—”
“And I’m out.” My brother spun on a heel and strode toward the door. As if the last ten minutes had never happened, he whistled off-key. Satisfied that he and one of his best friends had just decided my future.
“Wait! Why…I mean what did you come here to tell me?” Down was up, and up was nowhere to be found, but I would hold it together. At least until Finn delivered his message and left.
“The initial intel panned out. The messages came from a group in Saudi Arabia that targets female entrepreneurs. The next step would have been extortion. They’ve contacted the Saudi government, and so far, that group has been shut down, but unfortunately, they’re like roaches; they’re everywhere. But as of right now. Your ‘superfan’ has been retired.” Finn closed the door and then paused. “London, I’m counting on you.” And with that, my brother shut the door firmly behind him.
“Message received.” Kane saluted the closed door and then held out a hand toward me.
“What the hell was that?”
“Happy Birthday, Chas. I’m sorry we were interrupted.” His hand still out, he came closer until he was flush against me.
“Did you just agree with my brother to marry me?” My coffee forgotten, I looked up into Kane’s face. What I saw made me sway toward him. Instead of being mad, I was in awe. Because damn, he’s nothing like I imagined my perfect guy would be and yet…his drug-like kisses, his raspy laugh, and the way he looks at me, since that first day, like he is right now, as if I’m already his dammit, he’s managed to do what I thought impossible.
Kane London has changed my mind on relationships and, okay, maybe happily ever after too, but I’d save that last part for another day. He was already quite proud of himself.
“If you need a list of, you know, my finer qualities, need I remind you that I give great orgasms?” Kane tried, he really did, to keep a straight face, but he failed. So far, that had been the only thing that hadn’t gone his way since we met.
Nodding, I played along. “There is that.”
Well?
“I’ll think about it.”I would, but really, he knew, and I knew what my answer would be. But I figured it was my turn to saunter off for once. With a fake lean in, I spun around and made an exit that feels very much like an entrance to my, to our new phase—together.
Unbuttoning Kane’s shirt as I cross the threshold to the bedroom, I let it slip from my fingers.
I hear, “Damn,” mumbled right before heavy footfalls pound down the hallway. And just before he reaches me, he laughs and says, “I hope you did your stretches and there’s still some juice left in that patch. I have some new plans for your special day.”
Sighing, I open my arms and thinkHappy 40th, Chassie.
EPILOGUE
CHASSIE
THIRTEEN MONTHS LATER
“You’re not going to some damn meet and greet. And?—”
“Kane. Love of My Life. Giver of countless orgasms and hours of shirtless wood chopping for my viewing pleasure. I’d be very careful what you say next. Especially since I can still call this whole thing off with a text to Sophie.” I held my bedazzled phone tightly in my hand as I counted silently. Sophie was a friend and our wedding planner. And really it was an empty threat.
“What do you want me to say, Chas? ‘Yes, dear. Let’s cut short our honeymoon so you can spend a couple hours with your followers?” Kane’s blank expression would have made most people cave immediately. Good thing I wasn’t most people.
It was tempting to continue yanking his chain as I knew better than anyone that Kane London was and never would be the “Yes, Dear,”partner I neither wanted nor needed. Yes, he may be the man I never imagined myself growing old with, but now I couldn’t see anyone else standing by my side each day or spooning me on demand nightly than this gorgeous, kind man.
Yes, he could still be the arrogant alpha male with a bossy streak bigger than the Grand Canyon, but he was all mine. Andthanks to my brother, I was his. Even though Finn had warned Kane off in the beginning, he now saw how right we were together.
“What if you postpone it a week? I’m sure everyone would understand. Just tell them your new husband wants you all to himself for the entire week.”
The opportunity to join a handful of my fellow perimenopause influencers in Miami for a pop-up event was just too good to pass up, even though it was last minute and landed smack in the middle of our honeymoon. But meeting women who’d been my supporters, who’d been going through their own journeys and finding a supportive community to share their stories of painful struggles while finding solutions, would always be my life’s passion. Kane knew this; he was just being stubborn.
“Or we could pick somewhere else to go for the remainder of our honeymoon. Someplace neither of us has been to before.” I offered.
“Or not, and we stay put in the place we both chose to spend seven days. And naked, I might add.”
“Is this the mountain you’re going to die on? Pun intended, by the way.” I huffed out.
“No, but it is the one I plan on living on for the rest of my life. With you. So, I’m willing to compromise.”
