Epilogue
Three weeks later
Harlow
“I love cookies.” I leaned against the display case at Sweets You Rock and bit into a cornflake, coconut, and white chocolate one. “There are almost no bad flavors. Except raisin. Blech.”
Joss laughed, pulling her chocolate brown hair back into a messy bun. “I think we all got the point when you hid Piper’s raisins.”
“Kase told me to,” I tattled around my mouthful. “Poor grapes, they could’ve been wine.” Eating the rest of the cookie, I studied Joss and was thrilled with what I saw.
The heavy bags were gone from under her eyes, along with some of the stress and tension. She’d been working with Piper for a week and seemed to love it.
Piper, however, loved it. There was no question or doubt. Joss was responsible, hardworking, and killer in the kitchen.
So long as she had a strict recipe to follow.
“You like it here?” I asked Joss, wanting to double check.
“Are you kidding? I get paid to bake. And every once in a while, a hot guy comes strutting through pretending to be lost, though he’s just here to swipe something.” Her brown eyes were warm and truly happy. “I’m always going to teach. It’s what I love. But working here fits around that perfectly.”
“I’m glad.”
She slid a new tray of brownies into the display case. “So, are you nervous?”
Before I could say anything, the customer door that connected the bakery to the Hyde waiting room swung open.
“Hey, Legs. Kase said he’ll be done in five,” Lars said, sticking his head in. Looking over, he came fully into the bakery. “Nervous?”
I shook my head, but I was lying. “Nah, I got this.”
That wasn’t a lie. At least, I hoped it wasn’t.
Andrew, the intern supervisor, had called the previous week to tell me a new position was opening up as his assistant. The person would technically be an intern, including getting college credits, but would also get a small paycheck because they’d have more responsibilities.
They’d also have more respect from staff because otherwise it was a serious HR issue.
The fact he’d created the position with me in mind went a long way to soothe my nerves. But, if there was one thing I’d learned, it was things could change in the blink of an eye.
Or the opening of a big, fat mouth.
The interview I had with all the big wigs could definitely go downhill fast.
“You got this,” Lars said, his voice firm and reassuring.
It worked, making me smile. “Thanks.”
“I’m gonna go see if he’s almost finished. But first,” he scanned the case before looking at Joss. “Can I have a chocolate chip, please?”
She nodded, putting it in a pretty bag that I could’ve told her was useless.
The guys started chomping as soon as a cookie got in their general vicinity.
Lars took out a five but Joss shook her head. “Piper already said you’re on the freebie list.”
He put the bill on the counter anyway. “A tip, then. Thanks.” He smiled, his dark blue eyes warm and a step above friendly.
A big one.
As he left the bakery, I heard Joss exhale loudly.
Before I could say anything, like bombard her with questions or suggest a double date, the door from the kitchen opened and Jake walked in, carrying Piper with him.
Her hands gestured wildly as his gripped her ass, their whispered conversation intense and heated.
Setting her down on the counter, Piper snapped, “Get back to work.”
“Can’t if you don’t let me go, sweets.”
Even I could see her reluctance as she slowly dropped her legs from around his waist.
He bent to kiss by her ear before heading for the door.
“Don’t think this means I’m giving in to you, Mr. Bossy Pants,” she called to his retreating back.
Turning around, his green eyes were intense as he stared her down. “You know I love a good competition.”
“Oh hell, what was that about?” I asked as soon as the door closed. I was used to all his big, bad, bossiness, but Joss looked on the verge of spontaneously combusting.
I handed her a cookie. They always made everything better.
“He wants to start trying for a baby. We agreed we’d wait a couple years. But with everything that’s happened, he says he’s tired of putting shit off. Says life’s too short. Says,” she lowered her voice to mimic him, “‘Piper Hyde, I love you and I want a family with you, and that starts with me putting my kid in you.’” She blushed. “He got a little more descriptive after that.”
“I bet he did.” I laughed.
She joined, though she tried to stop herself. “Cut it out, this is serious. What am I gonna do?”
“I’m gonna give you advice that’s similar to some you gave me.” Grabbing a coffee from her awesome machine, I blew on it. “Start stocking up on baby stuff now. You’re gonna like being a mama.”
“You’re no help,” she grumbled, glaring at me. Beneath it all, I could almost see the wheels working while she started planning.
As I lifted the cup to my mouth, she snatched it. “Hey!”
“What? According to you and my husband, I won’t be able to have coffee soon for nine months. And then heaven help you all.” She took a long sip. “Plus, though I have zero clue why, you’re nervous enough already. Adding more caffeine is likely to result in you saying something inappropriate and laughing.”
I looked longingly at the mug, but knew she had a point. I was a half a cup away from vibrating. “Fine.”
She grabbed my hand and squeezed it. “You’ve got this. You’ll go in, kickass, make the meeting your bitch, and leave with an awesome new job.”
In my short visit to Hyde and the bakery as I waited for Kase, all my friends had stopped to check how I was feeling. But of all the confidence boosters I’d gotten from them, Piper’s was top of the list.
“Still,” she continued with a grin, “you might wanna brush the cookie crumbs off your cleavage.”
Grabbing the front of my jade green blouse, I shook it before wiping off my gray wide leg trousers. “How do I look?”
“Like a sexy newscaster,” Piper said. “So, moving on from babies and cookie boobs… How’re the wedding plans coming?” She grabbed my hand and inspected my engagement ring for the millionth time.
I didn’t blame her.
It was simple, classic, and gorgeous.
And flippin’ huge.
There were a lot of words that could describe Kase Teo, but subtle really wasn’t one of them.
“Slow. Mom’s having a field day with it all. She keeps texting me pictures of dresses and homemade centerpieces. Since my crafting abilities include not being able to cut a straight line and hot gluing my fingers together, I’m not sure decoupage leaves on Mason jars is within my skillset.”
Since David had only stuck around long enough to sign the divorce papers, Mom had more free time on her hands. Time she’d used to start multiple Pinterest boards dedicated to me becoming Mrs. Teo.
“So that’s where Hadley got her skills from,” Joss said with a laugh.
“Yeah, sorry about that. I swear, the hand turkey wasn’t supposed to look like a feathery penis.”
“I don’t even wanna know,” Kase said, coming over from the garage. “Ready to go?”
Checking the time, I nodded. “I’ll text later,” I told Piper and Joss, grabbing a cookie.
Meeting me at the door, Kase took the cookie and put an arm around my shoulders as we headed outside.
“Aren’t you gonna ask if I’m nervous?” I asked when we got settled into the car.
“Nope. Know you are.” Grabbing my hand, he held it under his on the gear stick. “That’s why I’m driving. So you don’t accidentally forget to go. Or drive off in the other direction. Or change your name and hide out in Mexico.”
Even if I wanted to deny it, they were very valid possibilities of what I might’ve done if left on my own.
He gave my hand a squeeze as he switched gears. “Proud of you, ipo. Seriously fuckin’ proud.”
I take it back.
Kase’s confidence booster is top of the list.
My shoulders slumped as I relaxed a little. “What do you wanna do for dinner?”
“Thought we’d pick up Thai to celebrate. Then I’m gonna eat your sweet pussy on the kitchen counter while we wait for the noodles to get cold.”
Oh, I’m so nailing this interview.
And then I’m nailing my fiancé.
*******
Six months later
“Hey, weren’t you on the news last week?”
Looking up, I set a couple bottles of beer on the bar. “Nah, not me. Seven fifty.”
“Yeah, man, why would that chick be working bar?” his friend said, shoving him as he took the drink.
The guy looked at me once more before shrugging and disappearing into the crowd after his buddy.
With my hair pulled up in a messy bun, a tight black tee, and black skinny jeans, I didn’t look like the same chick that’d covered the breaking story of a surprise video game system release.
But I was.
Doing a happy, positive story was even more rewarding than I’d thought it’d be.
The fact that it’d pissed Deborah off was just an added benefit.
According to her, she’d had no interest in standing outside an electronics store in the cold to talk to a bunch of nerds.
Since I knew a passable amount about games, I’d volunteered to go in her place. I’d spent a couple of hours talking to excited gamers and getting to be one of the first people to try the console.
My sneak peek demo had been what set our station above any of the other local ones. That meant the ridiculous facial expressions I made when I concentrated had been splashed all over game sites, blogs, and the other news stations.
It was a small sacrifice to make.
“You’re not gonna be able to work here much longer,” Rhys said, squeezing past me to get a garnish. “Too recognizable.”
I was in the home stretch for school, and it was intensive. Most of my mornings started when the sun was rising, and didn’t end until evening when I finished at the station.
After that, though, I headed home to a plush couch, a cloud bed, and a ridiculously sexy and supportive fiancé.
Keeping his promise, Rhys worked around my limited schedule. It basically meant I only got called in if there was something big planned or an emergency.
I was working that night because of both.
Rye was filled to capacity for a heavily promoted concert. Since I was going with Kase and our friends to see the show, it wasn’t a huge deal for me to hop behind the bar.
Rhys, on the other hand, was livid.
His staffing issues had seemed to settle and even out as much as they would in that business. Three no call, no shows on a typical night would be hard to compensate for.
It happening with an event that size meant he was majorly fucked over.
“Hey, you know I’m always cool to help when I can,” I reassured him as I started lining up shots.
“You’ve got enough on your plate. I’m glad you’re finally getting to do what you love.” His deep dimpled smile was big and real. “But selfishly fuckin’ grateful you could work tonight.” He passed a few drafts over to a waiting customer. “Fuck, the show doesn’t even start for another two hours and this shit is out of control.”
We worked silently around each other until I looked up and saw Kase, Piper, and Jake had made their way to the bar.
I leaned over as much as I could to kiss Kase. “Hey guys. What do you need?” I shouted to be heard.
“Six good drafts and two cokes.” Kase weaved his hand in my hair to pull me close. “Twelve weeks, ipo.”
At the reminder of how long until I became Mrs. Teo, my stomach fluttered. There was a ton still to do, but I had no doubts it would come together.
All without a single Mason jar.
Hopefully.
Dropping back down, I grabbed glasses and started pouring.
“Hey guys,” Rhys greeted quickly, as he handed drinks to a waiting server. He managed to find some time to slow down when he saw the big container of cookies in Piper’s outstretched arms. Taking them from her, he looked ready to stuff them up his shirt to protect them. “Darlin’, you’ve got no fuckin’ clue how much I needed these.”
“It’s stuffed full of everything I had left at the end of the day.”
“You actually had more than crumbs?” I asked. “Did you have to beat the guys off with whisks?”
Everyone within earshot stared at me with the same amused, open-mouthed expression.
My already overheated face burned red, scrunching up. I threw my hands in the air. “I heard it as soon as I said it!”
My embarrassment was cut short when a bouncer whistled to get Rhys’ attention.
“Need you, boss,” he yelled.
Rhys took one look at the bouncer before losing any trace of humor. “How bad?”
“Bad.”
Not bothering to walk around, Rhys rather impressively found a clear spot and hopped up, jumping over the bar. Since he looked like fury personified, he had no problem making it through the crowd as he stormed back toward the office.
“Ohhhh, shit,” I heard someone say.
Yeah, that about sums it up.
Balls.
*******
Three years later
Eyes closed, I inhaled deeply. The smell of the beach filled my nose, a familiar scent. One I loved.
One I’d miss.
Standing on the edge of the deck, I tried to memorize all of it. The sound of waves gently crashing and birds in the distance. The feel of the cool spring breeze mixing with warm sun.
I spent more than three years surrounded by beauty. Building a life around it.
It was going to be weird to not have the world outside my back door.
Determined to enjoy the view while I had it, I kicked off my shoes and stepped down onto the cool grass. My long skirt whipped around my legs as I walked the short distance to the sand, feeling the coarseness on the soles of my feet. Using my toes, I made swirling designs.
And waited.
I knew it wouldn’t be long.
Within minutes, the dogs hauled ass to the deck. I heard Kase’s low rumbles as he talked to them before they returned to playing.
My body tensed and came alive as I sensed his approach. My stomach flipped, my heart hammering in my chest.
He stayed silent as he wrapped an arm around my ribs.
Leaning back against him, I covered his hand with mine. No matter how many times I heard it, the ting of our wedding bands knocking together gave me a thrill.
“Everyone will be here soon, ipo,” Kase said, his lips pressed to the top of my head.
“I know.”
“You okay?”
I nodded even as my eyes started to sting. “I called the realtor this morning.”
His body went tight in surprise.
Or maybe not.
It’d been a while since we’d talked about it, but Kase always paid attention and remembered.
Before he could respond, I continued. “I figured it’s better to do it early. I mean, best case scenario, we find something quick and get settled in. But we’ve got nine months.”
Sliding his large hand down my ribs, he settled it on my still flat stomach. “Nine months?”
I tilted my head to the side to look at him. Though I tried to hold it back, I grinned so big my cheeks hurt. “Probably closer to seven.”
I let out a yelp as Kase hooked an arm under my knees, lifting me before gently laying me on the sand. Following me down, he covered my body with his.
“People will be here soon,” I reminded him.
“We’ve got time.”
“We’ll have to get changed.”
I heard and felt his chuckle. “Doubt you’ll have trouble finding something to wear.”
Since I’d taken over an entire closet from the guest room plus my half of ours, he had a valid point. “True.”
He pulled up my skirt. Finding nothing else in the way, he quirked an eyebrow at me as he ran his finger through my growing wetness.
Yeah, like after three years together, two of them married, I don’t know my husband.
Moving my hands between us, I worked at undoing his jeans and freeing him. “I figured you’d wanna celebrate.”
His smile faded. “You sure?”
“About celebrating?” I arched my hips closer to his. A shiver ran through me that had nothing to do with the cool breeze and everything to do with the feeling of his hard cock pressed against me.
“You know what I mean.”
I bit my cheek, trying to look thoughtful as I wrapped my legs around his. “Oh, the baby thing? Yeah, my doctor confirmed it this morning.”
His mouth took mine, his kiss hard and quick. Brilliantly bright blue eyes held mine as he eased into me.
“Happy,” he said, his voice rough and strained as he kept his movements slow. “Never thought I’d be so fuckin’ happy. Knowing my baby is growing in you? Beyond lani, ipo. Beyond moeʻuhane.”
“I’m glad, baby.” I gripped his shoulders and raised my hips. “Now faster.”
His lips tipped up. “Love you.”
“Love you, too. Faster,” I urged again.
Cupping the back of my head, he cushioned it from the dense sand. “‘Til the day I fuckin’ die.”
Holding on as the speed and force of his thrusts increased, I closed my eyes.
On the beach, while the waves crashed and the birds sang, my husband gave me everything.
It was beyond heaven.
Beyond a dream.
And way better than my best case scenario.
*******
About the author:
Layla Frost has always been a rebel. A true badass.
Growing up, Layla used to hide under her blanket with a flashlight to read the Sweet Valley High books she pilfered from her older sister. It wasn’t long before she was reading hidden Harlequins during class at school. This snowballed into pulling all-nighters after the promise of “just one more chapter”.
Her love of reading, especially the romance genre, took root early and has grown immeasurably.
In between reading and writing, Layla spends her free time rocking out(at concerts, on the couch, in the car… Anywhere is a stage if you get into it enough), watching TV(the nerdier the better!), and being a foodie. Though she lives in NY(the state, not the city), she’s an avid Red Sox fan.
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