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Hadley

September: Teaching Lily and Lark how to beat their dad in chess.

Frozen grapes dipped in Pop Rocks . . . genius!

“It’s a downgrade when it comes to square footage, but it’s yours for whenever you might need it,” I say, walking through the foyer and into the main living space of my townhouse. I still have furniture here and paintings on the walls, but I’ve slowly been folding my things into our house.

“That black cat clock yours?” Ace asked as he flipped a pancake.

“So fun, right? The eyes tick back and forth, and the tail vibrates on the hour,” I said with a smile as I added the protein shake into my coffee.

With his lips tilted to the right, he sniffed a small laugh.

Then he took a sip of his coffee from a hot pink mug with bright orange letters that read: Slut for Smut.

“Could have done without the dick-shaped appetizer plates, but the rest of it feels like you.” His eyes flicked up to mine.

“Feels more like a home now with you and your things in it.” Popping a strawberry in his mouth, he smiled, and I nearly slapped myself just to make sure this was, in fact, real life.

I squeeze Ace’s hand as I walk through my old galley kitchen.

I wasn’t sure what to do with my townhouse at first, but keeping it means I can rent it out or, in this case, allow family to use it.

“The walk to Hooch’s is about ten minutes from here, but with your golf cart, I bet you could make it in three,” I say to Griz with a wink.

“And everything on Main is footsteps away. If you want, I can have the girls at Crescent de Lune keep a standing morning croissant order. Just say the word, and they’ll drop it off. It’s a nice little perk.”

“Might be nice to have some space of our own while the farmhouse is built,” Shelby says to Griz as she looks out the floor-to-ceiling windows in the living room.

Griz gives me the biggest Cheshire Cat smile.

And I can’t help but mirror it and follow it up with a fist bump.

I know exactly why he’s considering moving into this space.

I assumed he’d want some privacy to enjoy this fresh start with Shelby, but the urgency came when Ace decided to check on him early this morning.

My husband got a full-frontal view of his grandfather as Shelby rode his face.

Ace rushed into our bedroom and shut the door behind him. Leaning against the door, eyes wide, he said, “Just saw Griz’s dick waving in the wind and far too much of Shelby.” He rubbed his eyes, looking like he didn’t know whether to be appalled or proud.

I think this apartment might be a good way to ease the adjustment of all these changes around here. First me, then Shelby. The eldest Foxx boys were going through some growing pains, and a little space wouldn’t hurt.

“Since my grandson is being so prude about how I like to fit in a morning ride, it looks like you’ve got yourself some new tenants, Hadley Jean.”

Ace wipes his hand over his mouth and grumbles out, “Jesus Christ.”

“It’s a big adjustment from where I was, but I like the change,” Shelby says as she sits on Griz’s lap. She combs her fingers through his gray hair. “But I’m ready for all of this with you. I spent too long thinking about what ifs and now I’d love to lean into the why nots.”

“Me too, sweetheart,” he says, tipping his head back to look at her.

“Want to go for a little walk while they look around a bit?” Ace tilts his head toward the door. When he holds out his hand, I weave my fingers through his. We ride the elevator down to the main floor and walk along the sidewalk up the north side of Main.

I glance at the fire station. Hawk was removed as fire chief after he was charged with a short list of things after the Fourth of July.

He’ll likely do community service and help his brother wade through the fallout.

I doubt the governor will continue for another term when this one runs out.

And though he came out looking like an innocent kidnapped bystander, Faye had gathered plenty of text exchanges between him and my father, not to mention the colorful texts he had sent me.

All of it would tank his campaign in a minute.

“You doing okay?” I ask Ace as he quietly observes the bustling downtown.

Fiasco is setting up for the Fall Festival that’s gearing up now that September’s finally starting to feel a little less like summer.

There are at least a handful of weeks left of warm days, but everyone’s eager to start their apple ciders and pumpkin spices.

The Downtown Business Association is readying for a film festival to come through as well.

They aren’t instant fixes, but the progress on tourism is moving in the right direction.

“I’ve lived with Griz almost my entire life.” He swallows and glances at me. “As much as I don’t want another viewing like this morning, I’m going to miss having him so close.”

I squeeze his hand and rest my head on his shoulder. Catching another glimpse of how this man is so caring and soft for the people he loves makes me appreciate the many sides to Ace even more.

I smile when I look out and see the new sign for Loni’s Boutique lit up. The neon soft pink and the pink-and-white awnings are only the first of many upgrades she’s made to the store.

“I don’t know how it happened, but I have a feelin’ you had something to do with it,” Loni said when I saw that her “closing” sign had been removed. “My sister is coming up from Nashville, and the online shop opens in the fall.”

Two whistles sound from across the street. Romey and Prue sit outside in front of Teasers, likely gossiping about something going on around here. “You two are still hot as hell,” Romey calls out with a wave.

“Just appreciatin’ the view,” Prue echoes. “OH! Hadley, are you coming to book club this week?”

“You know it, Prue,” I shout back.

“Good.” She looks at her sister, and then asks us, “Any chance we can host it at that new place you two are keeping under wraps over there?”

We both know the locals are going bat shit over rumors of a private, adults-only club being built. And while most of Fiasco loves tradition, the conservatives are just as nosy as the rest of them.

Ace and I glance at each other, smirking, before we both say in unison, “What place?”

“Jimmy, the rules are simple.” I exhale to gather some patience, trying not to get frustrated with having to repeat this again. “This isn’t a resume builder. If you’re taking this job, then you’re going to make it yours. But under no circumstances do you talk about what you see when you’re here.”

With eyes wide and excited nodding, he says, “I’m not going to let you down here, Hadley. The police force just wasn’t for me. I’ve jumped around a bit, but I think if you can trust me with this, I’ll be exactly the kind of manager you need for this place.”

I can’t help but smile. Jimmy Dugan lasted only a few more weeks with the Fiasco Police Department after getting knocked unconscious and relieved of his weapon.

My father could have killed him. I’m still not sure if Jimmy was truly knocked unconscious or just passed out from the chaos, but he’d helped Ace, and my husband trusted him.

“We open next weekend. Our VIP list has been vetted, and there’s no such thing as walk-ins. We’ll figure that piece out as we move along. I’m trusting you with what could very well be one of the most taboo things to ever happen in Fiasco. Are you sure you’re up for it?”

Before Jimmy can answer, my husband comes down the dark staircase in his signature suit pants and white dress shirt.

Damn, it’s hard not to smile at the way this man looks at me .

He carries a long white box in one hand with a devilish smile painted on his full, handsome lips.

“He’s up for it,” he interjects. “Right, Jimmy?”

Jimmy stands taller and nods once more. “Yes, sir. You both can count on me.”

Ace nods, and then wraps his arms around me. “Hey, sugar.”

I melt against him. “Hi, baby.”

“Jimmy?” Ace says, his attention still fully on me. “You can go now.”

“Oh, yup. Sure thing.” He looks around him and feels in his pockets for his keys as he turns toward the stairs. “Have a great night.”

I watch as he jogs up the steps, and I wait to hear the door slide shut behind him. “You think he’ll actually keep this position?” I ask. Ace leans into my neck and kisses along my throat.

“He’ll handle it. The man is coming up on twenty-four. This just might be the best job he’ll ever have. And there’s a little bit of fear in knowing I don’t like to be disappointed.”

I hum against his lips and kiss him. When I lean back, I look at the white box he dropped on the bar. “Did you bring me a present?”

He pushes it toward me with a smirk as he shifts around to the back of the long black bar in the center of the room.

The Foxx Den is an adults-only club. A place to experience and explore fantasies and desires.

It’s not the kind of place Laney’s writing press releases about, but rather finding VIP guests who show interest by word of mouth.

Law and Tessa Riggs have shared it with some of their clientele, and we’re ready to open this coming weekend.

It’s not a place for Fiasco townies, though there are benefits to locals.

It lives under the umbrella of a Foxx-branded business, but it adds to the allure of Fiasco, boosting tourism.

Between here and Midnight Proof, my evenings are full.

The architectural design that Seraphine planned with me is exquisite.

If Midnight Proof is a Gatsby-style speakeasy, then The Foxx Den is its bohemian sidekick.

The place is bathed in deep golds and blues with rich textures like satins and velvets, and with lighting that ranges from moody to eclectic.

It’s as welcoming as it is arousing. It’s unusual, pushes boundaries, and is a gamble, but that seems to be our specialty.