Epilogue

August

"Are you sure about this?"

Callahan pushed the contract across the bar of Lonegan's. "If you ask me again, I'm going to increase your rent by a hundred bucks each time."

I laughed and scrawled my signature across the bottom of the rental contract. This was the second contract I'd signed in my thirty years. The first one was an employment one for Velvet Noir with a bonus stipulation for an option to rent out the apartment above the speakeasy.

I'd earned the bonus already.

I figured it would take me at least six months to earn my way into the bonus but the Velvet Noir was currently the hottest joint in town. We'd had a line out the door every night since our opening. I was pretty sure the exclusivity factor had tripled because of how small the place was.

Sometimes people waited in line for hours just for a chance to get inside.

Freaking wild.

I scooped up the keys and slid the contract back over to Cal. "I'm going to miss The Heights, but that apartment is incredible. I promise I'll be the best tenant you've ever had."

"The place is soundproofed as fuck. I don't care what you do in there as long as you pay me on time, kid."

"About that. Any chance we can just have it taken out of my paycheck evenly?"

"Smart. I'll make it happen." Cal folded the paperwork and stuffed it in his back pocket. "You can move in whenever you want. If you need my truck, just let me know."

"Thanks, man." I held out my hand and he shook it.

"Now go tell your girl."

"That room with the bay window is going to be a perfect office for her."

"Smitten kitten." He shook his head. "Now get out of here."

I gave him a quick salute and jogged toward the exit, then I backed up. "So that truck offer?"

Cal tossed me his keys. "Have it back by six."

I grinned. "Deal."

I'd found a desk for her from an estate sale out in Crescent Cove. One of the big mansions on the lake had been selling off furniture. It was decidedly female and had a weathered look I thought she might like.

I was halfway around the lake when she texted me.

N: I got the best news. Where are you?

I like the sound of that. Meet me at Velvet in an hour.

N: Oh, off hours? Those velvet couches sure are comfy. wink>

I shook my head. I'd definitely created a monster with our lessons. Pretty sure she was heading for teacher status herself soon.

Then get that perfect ass in gear and meet me at the club.

It took me thirty minutes to get back to the club with the new desk in tow. I had to bust ass to get it inside, but luckily, it wasn't that heavy, and we had an elevator. The building was two levels with the lobby taking up the bulk of the front of both floors.

The back was completely ours and Cal had soundproofed between the two floors so it would be perfect for Naomi to work on her novels day or night. My girl had workaholic tendencies, but I knew she was busting her ass to get her dream off the ground and I was determined to make sure I gave her all the support in the world.

And with my new job, she had time to make her dream a reality.

Quickly, I set the desk in front of the bay window. She had a shit-ton of room to make a space for herself and we'd finally have some alone time.

I headed down the back stairs and out to the parking lot. As I was coming around the building, Naomi was pulling up in her hatchback. She climbed out and I had to swallow my tongue. Thanks to the August temperatures, she wore short white shorts and a scrap of a tank top.

She was trying to kill me.

And I was so going to marry this girl.

Soon if I had my way.

She pushed her sunglasses on top of her head, her hair in a pair of braids that gave me all sorts of ideas. I met her at the curb and pulled her in for a long, lingering kiss.

"Well, hello there." She grinned up at me. "What are you doing here so early?"

"Have a little surprise for you."

"For me?"

I nodded. "Uh-huh."

"I have a surprise for you too."

"Who knew a random Wednesday was going to get so exciting?"

She laughed and linked her hands at the back of my neck. "I think we'll need to do a lot of celebrating."

I tucked my hands into the back pockets of her shorts. "I like the sound of that."

She wrinkled her nose. "Duncan landing on your couch tonight?"

I sighed. "I know he's been a pain in the ass, but things are looking up there. I promise."

"Thank God. I love him, but he is cramping our style."

"Tell me about it." I kissed her gently. "Your news or mine?"

"Yours."

"Okay." I eased her away from me and linked our fingers. It was early afternoon, and the sun was blazing, but it would be perfect to show off the apartment.

Instead of going through the front door, I brought her around the back. We had our own entrance with an awning and one of the cool Art Deco doors with stained-glass windows.

"This place never gets old for me. I love all the new little things I find each time we're here." She bumped my hip. "Especially that tiny room off the storeroom."

I laughed. "There are tons of secret rooms in this place."

"I can't wait to find them all."

Instead of going through the hallway that led to the lobby, I urged her up the stairs ahead of me.

She glanced over her shoulder. "Where are we going?"

"It's a surprise."

She sighed and trailed her fingers along the intricate railing as we climbed. Our door echoed the one outside, but with a lighter wood. The key-shaped window was copper green with patina and the leaded glass frosted for privacy. I crowded up behind her and slipped my arm around her to put the key in the lock.

I pushed the door open, and she gasped.

The living room looked massive since it was empty, but the real kicker was the stained-glass window that took up most of the upper part of the wall. It was a rectangle with a half sun type design. The rays were a mix of frosted glass with green, blue and gold accents.

The sun streamed in, showing off all the colors on the hardwood floors. To the left was a modernized kitchen with white quartz countertops and dark green cabinets.

She whirled around and stared at me. "Colder."

"It's ours."

"No."

I grinned down at her. "When I signed my contract with Cal, there was a bonus stipulation. This place."

Her eyes filled. "Our own place?"

I nodded. "Someday I'm sure we'll want a house but—oof."

Naomi launched herself into my arms. "I love it. I love it." She locked her legs around my waist and gripped my shoulders as she kissed my cheeks to punctuate each word then finally, she crushed her lips to my mouth.

"You haven't even seen all of it."

"It gets better?"

I laughed. "It gets better." I set her down gently and took her hand.

I led her down the hallway and showed her the half bath, then the primary bedroom. It had another large stained-glass window, but this time, it was a hexagon skylight that left a prism of greens and purples all over the wood floors.

She squeezed my hand and dragged me all around the room, touching the windowsills and the bold geometric inlays on the doorways.

"Now there's two more things."

"Two?" Her eyes were sparkling with unshed tears.

I thumbed one away. "No tears."

"I can't believe this place. How is it ours?"

"Because Cal is far too generous, but I work my ass off for him and I damn well earned it."

She laughed. "You sure did."

"Now go out and go down the hall."

She peeked around the doorway to the last door at the back of the apartment. I followed her, but I wanted her to have a second to take it in.

She stood in the middle of the room, sniffling at the bay window with the stained-glass panels. The desk I'd gotten for her sat right in front of the window. It was a smaller room, but it was definitely more than enough space for her office. Not to mention the built-in bookcases made for her.

I came up behind her and cupped her shoulders. "What do you think?"

"I think you're too good to be true."

I laughed and kissed the top of her head. "I saw this room and knew it was yours."

She stepped forward and trailed her fingers over the desk.

"If you don't like the desk, we can find you something else."

"No. It's perfect. Everything is perfect." She spun around and rushed into my arms. "I love you so much."

"So I guess you're going to live with me then?"

She chuckled against my shirt and peered up at me. "You'd have to drag me out of here. Because it is legit the perfect thing for an author."

It was the first time she'd actually called herself an author instead of a writer. My girl was coming into her own, and I was so glad I was on this ride with her.

"Perfect for an author."

She licked her lips. "Darlene sold my book."

"What?" I picked her up and spun her around. "You didn't lead with that?"

"I figured I was going to cook you dinner first and then tell you. But this is even better."

"That's amazing." I set her on her feet.

She dashed away the tears that were falling. "I can't believe it, Colder. There was actually a bidding war for my book."

My jaw dropped.

"Exactly. She Facetimed me two hours ago. I was in the freaking shower, but of course, I answered it."

I laughed. "Bet your agent wasn't expecting that."

"Pretty sure that woman is unflappable, but that's why I love her. It was between three publishers, Colder. Three!"

"I knew you'd sell it."

She gripped my shoulders. "I didn't. Not really. I hoped, but I never really believed it would happen so fast. I figured I'd be querying for months."

"They know it's good."

"Darlene makes me sound like a rockstar."

"Because you are. You wrote the shit out of that book."

Naomi flushed and ducked her head. "You're only saying that because you might love me a little."

"I love you a lot. More every day, babe."

She stuck her hand in her pocket and came out with a check-sized piece of paper. "I finally get to pay you for your excellent services, Colder Banks."

I opened it and choked on my own spit. "No way."

"Yes way. And that's just your fee."

"Obviously, I'm not taking any of your money, Naomi, but this isn't the real number?"

She grinned up at me. "That's just fifteen percent."

"Goddamn." I lowered my mouth to hers and kissed her in the sunshine. "I am so proud of you."

"I couldn't have done it without your lessons."

"Pretty sure that's a lie, but I don't mind that being part of our story."

She curled her arms around my waist. "Wait, did you say there were two things?"

"Remembered that, did you?"

"Of course. I love surprises."

I stepped back and turned her toward the bookcase on the left. "Push on that little diamond-shaped piece of wood."

She glanced over her shoulder, then her eyes went wide. "No." She jumped up and down. "No way!"

"Well, push it."

With a shaking finger, she pushed it in, and the bookcase slid to the side, showing off a secret room. She screeched and ducked inside.

It was clearly made to hide contraband from the prohibition era, but there was more than enough room to drag me inside. She pushed me onto the seat and straddled me. "Obviously, we have to christen this teeny-tiny room."

I gripped her hips. "Obviously."

"And every other room," she said between kisses.

"Guess we're going to be really busy."

"Good thing we've got forever together."

I gripped her hips and tipped her forward so she could feel just how much I liked that idea. "That is a very good plan."

She ducked her head and smiled shyly up at me. "And just think, all of this started with just one lesson."

"Well, you ruined the curve from day one, Miss Taylor."

Wondering about Iona? Well, she's up next. Turn the page for more details. And maybe a few other residents of Kensington Square…