Page 102 of Player For Hire

“I’m not going.”

“Naomi, it’s fine. Really.” Colder gripped me tighter.

“No, it’s not. It doesn’t feel right. This is where I’m supposed to be. I don’t want to go. I’m probably going to be a neurotic mess figuring out this book. Are you ready for that?”

Was I even ready for that? There were so many unknowns with all of this, but not with him. This ridiculously perfect man had been ready to leave a brand-new opportunity just because I was scared. I had to be brave for me and for him.

He grinned at me. “Every step. You and me.”

My throat tightened with emotion. “Every step. You and me. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

We had so many things to figure out, but we would figure them out together.

EPILOGUE

COLDER

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.