Ethan

Damn, that’s how she did it.

“She took the stairs.” I look behind me at Lars and repeat, “Singer released the emergency lock and took the stairs. That’s how she got out.”

“It can’t be that easy. The place was on a Code 5 lockdown.”

I smile. “Impressive.” Tired at staring at a stairwell, I walk down the corridor to the kitchen. “Obviously, we can’t have that happen again. I’m not worried about her getting out. I am worried about who can get in.” I add, “This is top priority. We aren’t under a threat, but I need to know it’s safe, that she’s safe if we are threatened.”

“Escape options are there for those reasons. But I’ll make sure the floor is secure from intruders, sir, and will report back with full details.”

He’s about to leave, but I add, “She’s clever.”

Nodding, he agrees. “She is, sir.”

“Don’t let your guard down when it comes to her.”

“Yes, sir.”

“She’s charming.”

“She is, sir.”

“She gives you that innocent look and just like that . . . putty in her hands.”

“I wouldn’t go that far, sir.”

Just me then. I’m okay with that. I am also okay with buying Frank a house in New Jersey. He’s been there a week and has already signed up to volunteer at a local shelter. She’s insisted we also help when we can. She doesn’t realize I would have done it without the sweet talk. He saved her life. I can change his. There’s no decision. The choice was already made.

I open the large jar of gummy bears she keeps on the counter and dig for a clear one. I abandon the idea of being a picky gummy bear eater, which Singer accuses me of, and take a handful before offering Lars some. He declines but I pop another in my mouth before continuing my internal rant. I think she does it to see if she can get away with it.

She’ll bake you muffins and then go for the hard sell, but it’s the soft sell you have to be on your toes for. You don’t even know you’re agreeing to something until—BAM—and she’s walking out of the room, shaking her ass, knowing she owns yours.

It’s okay. I’ll take her soft or hard sell any day to see that look of satisfaction on her face. Lars coughs, and I realize I was rambling to myself. I clear my throat and put the candy jar down. “We should get back to work.”

“Right. Yes, sir.”

The elevator door opens, and Singer comes bounding out. “Guess what?”

She runs into my arms and I lift her off her feet. “What?”

“I got the job. It’s part-time for now, but I’m going to prove how hard I’m willing to work and win them over.”

“Congratulations. I knew you would get it.” I kiss her, just because I can, whenever I want.

When her feet land back on the ground, she says, “Hi, Lars. Having a good day?”

“Yes, Ms. Davis.”

“Ugh. Please stop with the Ms. Davis business. Singer. Just Singer. Please.”

“As you request, Singer.”

“Good.” Switching her attention to me, she teases, “Who’s running your company while you’re standing around eating gummy bears?”

“Matthews and Reegan have it under control, and they’re damn good bears. Are you going to need a few minutes or are you ready to go?”

“I’m ready. My suitcases are in the bedroom. When I saw Aaron downstairs, he said he’ll get them in a minute.”

The elevator arrives like it’s Grand Central Station around here. Caroline and Aaron pop out. Caroline runs to Singer and asks, “Will you show me the makeup trick now? I’ve been waiting all day.”

Wrapping her arm around Caroline’s shoulder, they head down the hall. “Of course. I can show you before we leave, and you can practice over the next few days, then show me.”

Aaron asks, “In the bedroom?”

“Yep,” I reply. “You sure you’re up for it?”

“I’m up for it. I feel good. It’s been six months, but how heavy is it?”

“It’s a woman’s suitcase, so I would say pretty damn heavy.”

“I’m just kidding. I’m fine.”

“Are you guys settled in?” Two months ago, an apartment on the twelfth floor came on the market. We promptly took it off the market and gave it to Aaron and Caroline. With him in recovery, it was fine having them in the penthouse, but it was time for Singer and me to have some time alone. They’ve become of part of our family. Singer refers to Caroline as her niece. Their close bond is good for both of them.

Lars helps with the other cases, and I grab my laptop and stow it away in my backpack. This trip to Texas may be considered personal, but I still need to work. Once we signed the contracts for the extra cargo holds in East Bay, business has been booming.

McCoy Properties lost its contract and sold their holdings to me. They’re close to filing Chapter 11 due to bad business dealings and the sentence Lucas was handed down for three consecutive life terms in prison.

Needless to say, Singer is doing better than I am, putting everything in the past. She has her melancholy moments, she might always have those, but she’s optimistic for a happy future.

She showed Lucas mercy that I wouldn’t have. I would have shot him in the apartment.

Taking a deep breath, I grab my phone from the counter and head to the car. We’re Texas bound. I’m looking into buying some property near Austin. I think it will be good for us to have the option from the fast-paced city life of New York. Also, it gets way too cold here in the winter.

Once we’re in the SUV, Lars says, “The jet is ready and on standby.”

“We’re running late,” I add, nudging Singer.

She laughs. “Sorry, but eyeliner is very tricky business. Luckily Caroline’s a fast learner. It could have been worse.” Maneuvering under my arm, she relaxes. “Did you tell your parents when we’re arriving?”

“My parents are supposed to be picking us up, so I texted them the change in time.”

“Do they know you’re bringing Lars?”

“I told them, but they still insisted we stay with them.”

“This is good, Ethan. It’s time to heal, and for all of us to move on.”

Hope is something we still give a lot of credence to. It’s carried us through some of our darkest times, so we hold tightly to it. Leaning forward, I tell Aaron, “Don’t forget about the stop.”

“I’m on it.”

Singer looks surprised. “What stop? I thought we were running late already?”

“It’s only a little out of the way. The plane won’t leave without us, so don’t worry.”

Lars opens the door for us, and we slide out.

Singer smiles and it’s the prettiest sight. Her tone has a lilt and her eyes reveal her inner happiness. “What are we doing here?”

I take the left hand that wears the promise to meet me at the end of the aisle and lead her inside the building. “You’ll see.”

The apartment is open for us, just as promised. Looking around, not much has changed. The couch is in a different place and the small dining table doesn’t have a widescreen TV balanced on it. But it feels the same. It feels like a new start deep down in my heart.

Taking her by the waist, I pull her close. “I don’t want to live with regrets, and this was where the biggest one of my life happened. Come with me.” I walk to the window and lift up the pane. It’s not a warm spring day like the last time we were here. It’s cold, so I tighten her coat belt around her waist and make sure her neck is warm under her scarf before I help her through the small opening onto the fire escape. I’ve waited so long to right this wrong, and I don’t want to squander another minute. The universe is counting on me.

“Fifth step up,” I say, not needing to say more. Her grin tells me she knows what I’m doing. She even does it too when she scoots to one side, giving me room to sit down.

Sitting here with her again, I feel at peace. This is my do-over and I’m going to do it right. I pull two Heinekens from my coat pocket and open one for her then one for me. Her laughter echoes between the buildings above as she takes the can. Just like the sexy siren she is, she takes an impressive sip.

I take a drink while keeping my eyes on her. She’s prettier than any sunset I’ve ever seen, her beauty more than skin-deep. She’s changed a lot over the last year and a half, becoming more comfortable with who she is, but she was always amazing to me. I lift up.

This time our lips meet in a kiss that was always destined to be—familiar and still so damn enticing. In this kiss, I’m living my destiny. I can finally forgive the past choices I made and look forward to our future.

Leaning back, I push a few stray strands of hair behind her ear and caress her cheek. “Remember the promise you made me?”

“Which one is that?” Her hands begin to wander over my shoulder and down the front of my shirt. “I’ve made you lots of promises.”

“The one about eloping.”

“What?” Her body straightens, her fingers fidgeting with the top button of my shirt. “When did I promise that?”

“The night of the attack at your apartment.”

“On the back of the ambulance?”

“Yep.”

She stares at me for a few seconds and asks, “What did I promise exactly?”

“That we could run away, just the two of us, and get married.”

Her shoulders ease and her smile reappears. Taking my face between her hands, she says, “Yes, Ethan Everest. I would run anywhere in the world with you. Marriage is a deal I’m happy to seal as long as it’s sealed with you.”

And we seal it with another kiss, right there on a fire escape in a small Bronx apartment.

And again later that night.

But that’s another story . . .