Page 48

Julietta

Seven months later

Everything’s perfect.

The restaurant looks amazing, even if it's bare bones at the moment. We’re still waiting on a few of the interior design pieces to complete the modern, harvest-to-table vibe we’ve got going on, but overall, Against the Grain is on its way to being ready for our grand opening after the guys get back from spring training.

Yes. Soph—our Michelin-star leader—went with a freaking gluten-free pun for the name.

Mostly, because she lost a bet to Sydney.

But it grows on you. And the more and more I hear it, the more I love everything it stands for.

Standing up for who we are as gluten-free individuals. No matter what disease or intolerance brought us to this point in life. It’s creating a place where we can grab a bite to eat or celebrate a birthday with family and friends and not have to worry about where our diet will fit into the evening.

Even now, it’s already living up to its name of bringing people together.

My heart swells as I look out from the kitchen at all the people gathered at the long community-style tables and booths that line the walls. It’s a melting pot of family, friends, potential investors, and, of course, the Renegades. They made our menu sampling an official team outing before they head down to Florida for spring training.

And so far, everyone loves the food.

I had an inkling they would, as the Dungeons and Dragons group have been my guinea pigs allowing me to test various dishes on them at each session, but it’s every chef’s dream to see the smiles and hear the satisfying moans when people eat your food.

Tonight, little chef heart is bursting.

“I’m proud of you, mijita .”

I snap my head to the swinging door leading to the dining room. The spoon in my hand clatters to the floor when I see the towering form of my dad standing there.

In seconds I’m across the kitchen, wrapping my arms around him. “What are you doing here?” And how the hell did I not know he was coming? I spoke to him yesterday, and he talked me off the ledge of being nervous. “You said it was too much to get away because it’s a busy weekend with the big football game on.”

“Ford arranged everything.” That surprises the hell out of me. Not that Ford would put together a surprise for me like this, but that my dad would go along with it. The two of them haven’t exactly been on the best of terms since they found out I am, in fact, not dead. Not that Ford hasn’t tried charming the pants off him.He has. But in my dad’s eyes Ford kept his little girl from him.

My dad gives me a tight squeeze and steps back. Pride dazzles in his coffee brown eyes, and I’m overcome with emotion. “You didn’t think I’d actually miss your first menu tasting, did you?”

“I’m just happy you’re here.” Tears well in my eyes, and I wipe them away as I look around him out the window in the door. “Is mom here?”

His face falls, and my heart plummets. “She wasn’t ready.”

He doesn’t need to say for what. I already know because she’s told me time and time again—she forgives me and understands why I chose to keep my distance from them. And while we still talk weekly and catch up, she’s angry I won’t move home to be closer to family. Which is why she’s not ready to embrace the life I’ve chosen here in New York.

I can’t discount her feelings, and know she’ll come around eventually, but that doesn’t make it hurt any less.

But I’m learning that’s life. And that’s okay.

Ford helps me see that every day, but therapy has solidified it. Which is why I still go once a week.

I couldn’t get behind seeing Jolene, not that she wasn’t great, but it felt weird seeing the same therapist as Ford and the rest of the team.

But I adore that he didn’t make me take the leap alone, insisting he also had some things he needed to unpack if we were going to do this for real.

God, I love that man.

Jolene put me in contact with an amazing therapist who has helped me talk through the uglier sides of things I tolerated during my marriage to Tyler. She’s also helped me set boundaries and evaluate all the steps I take with not only Ford, but with my family too.

It’s a balancing act for sure, but for the first time in a long time, I feel like I’m finally just me.

And that’s a good feeling.

So, while I wish my mom was here, I know we’ll get there someday.

“Turn that frown upside down.” My dad smiles and softly pinches my shoulder like he used to do when I was a kid. “Give me the grand tour.”

I loop my arm in his and grin. “Okay, but don't judge my kitchen too harshly. We’re still adding a few of the finishing touches.”

My dad chuckles, and I get lost in sharing this momentous occasion with him.

Eventually, we make our way out into the dining room, and the moment we do, my eyes drift to where Ford is laughing with Mercer and Smitty. But his eyes are on me.

“He does that a lot,” my dad comments.

“What?” I ask, tipping my head to the side.

“Finds you in a crowded room.”

“He does.” I confirm. “It’s one of the many ways he shows me his love.”

My dad hums. “I’m gathering that.”

“So, you’re not still mad at him?” Hope laces my tone, but I don’t dare assume my dad working with my boyfriend means they’re on good terms.

“I’m still somewhere between ouch and acceptance,” he says as he lifts his hand and holds it out horizontally between us, wavering it. “But I can agree that he is good for you and loves you the way you deserve. So, if you’re happy, I’m happy.”

“Thank you, Dad.” I slip my arm around his waist and give him a half hug. “And I am happy.”

He looks around at the people I have come to love and smiles. “I’m glad, mijita .”

In the time we’ve been standing there, Ford ditched his friends and made his way over to us. “I see your surprise found you.”

“He has.” I untangle myself from my dad and roll up onto my tiptoes and kiss Ford’s cheek. “Thank you.”

“You are most welcome, love.” He turns to my dad and asks, “Can I steal her away for a moment?”

I look up at my dad and raise a brow.

“Go,” he says. “I think I can find someone who will listen to my stories about you cooking an entire meal with sugar, thinking it was salt.”

Ford laughs, at the same time I groan and roll my eyes. “I’ll definitely need to hear that one later.”

“I’ve got plenty,” my dad says, and even though I hate that story, I’m happy he’s here to tell it, and that the two of them are on their way to good terms.

Ford entwines his fingers with mine and leads me toward the kitchen, but before we make it there, Sophia stops us.

“Before you go sneak off for whatever grand gesture this asshole has planned, I have something for you, Juliet.”

“For me?” I ask.

She nods and thrusts a large manila envelope in my direction.

“What is this?” I look up at Ford to see if he has any idea what this is about, but he shrugs, letting me know this is one surprise he’s not in on.

Thankfully, Sophia fills in the blanks. “See that man over there—tall, gray hair, in the suit that’s way too fancy for this event?”

I follow her gaze to the center table. “Adam? I spoke with him earlier. He shared with me his son has Hashimoto’s, and how he’s really struggled with his relationship with food since his diagnosis. He told me he wished they had something like this in Vegas where he lives.”

“Good, I’m glad you guys talked, because he’s here as a potential investor.”

“Really? I figured he was one of your friends.”

“He’s that too,” she continues. “And you made quite the impression on him. Which is why he wants to fund Against the Grain in five major cities, including Vegas.”

“Holy fuck,” I say, and Ford gasps beside me.

“You broke, Juliet, and made her cuss.”

My elbow finds his ribs, and he grunts out a laugh.

“That’s—I am so happy for you, Sophia. But what does that have to do with this?” I hold up the envelope between us.

“Because that is my offer to bring you on as a partner in the expansion.”

I try to overcome my shock and find words. “I—oh my—this is—Sophia, I can’t accept this.”

“Yes, she can,” Ford answers for me.

I roll my eyes, but I’m glad he’s with me for this moment. This is the kind of decision I wouldn’t want to make without him. He’s my person.

“Don’t roll your eyes at me, love. This is a dream of yours, and we both know you want to say yes.”

I do.

I really freaking do.

But this is a huge decision.

“You sound like Sydney and me.” Soph laughs playfully. “I’ll let you guys talk this over. Just let me know by next week and we’ll get everything signed.”

She heads back over to the table where Mercer is sitting, pointedly avoiding all glances from Dax.

“Are you ever going to tell me what happened there?” I ask Ford.

“If I knew I would, but Mercer has been tight-lipped about it.” He tugs me toward the hall that leads to the admin offices. “Don’t think I can’t see what you’re doing. We’re not changing the subject.”

“I thought we were going back to your stealing me away.”

“Oh, we are,” Ford muses, running his thumb against mine. “But you deserve that partnership.”

I let out a heavy sigh. “It’s a big commitment.”

He lifts my hand and twirls me like a ballerina until my back is pressed to the wall outside my new office. “So is being the wife of a baseball player, but I still have dreams someday you’ll say yes.”

I roll my eyes again, but the weight of it is diminished by my smile.

While this man respects my need to heal and grow together before we get to that point, he's made it very clear he intends to be my one and only penguin for the rest of my life.

And he loves to remind me every chance he gets.

“I’ll probably have to travel a lot.”

“I have eighty-one away games next season.” He leans in and presses a kiss to the crook of my neck. “I’ll bet we can coincide, so we’re gone at the same time.”

He drags his lips along my thundering pulse.

Kiss.

Drag.

Kiss.

I tilt my head to the side, giving him more room to explore. “And what about Lodhi?”

“We’ll hire him the best cat sitter money can buy.” His lips reach my ear, and he breathes heavily against the shell of it. “Partner.”

I suck in a gasp. “It does have a nice ring to it.”

Am I actually considering this?

“You know what else has a nice ring to it?”

“What’s that?” I rasp, ready to forget the promotion and explore the need this sparking between my legs.

“You showing me your new office.” He pulls my hips flush with his, and I’m rewarded with the feel of his hard cock at my core.

Yes. This definitely has a nice ring to it.

I let out a breathy chuckle and shake my head. “My dad is out there. Your entire team is here.”

My protest falls flat.

“And?” Ford scoffs, nipping my earlobe. “You sucked my cock in a stadium with far more people still walking around.”

“Is this what our life is going to be like from now on? Stolen moments in my office and in scoreboards?”

“God, I hope so.” He buries his nose in the hair behind my ears as he continues. “Of course we’ll continue to explore in piles of pillows, on the kitchen island, maybe on a plane since we’ll be doing so much traveling, and of course my favorite spot, our bed.”

I blink and when I open my eyes, Ford’s hand is holding a key in front of my face.

My heart thuds against my ribcage as I look up at the shit-eating grin Ford is wearing. “Our bed, as in, ours?”

“I know you wanted your space, but we spend most nights at either mine or yours, and Lodhi deserves his parents under one roof.”

I already know my answer. In fact, I was going to suggest we move in together when he gets back from spring training, but I don’t bring that up. Instead, I make him sweat a little. “That’s really the angle you’re going with? Adopting my cat?”

“Did it work?”

I smile up at him and wrap my arms around his neck, toying with the short strands of hair at his nape. “You had me at our bed.”

“Really?”

I nod and take the key from him, slipping it into the chest pocket of my chef whites.

“Thank fuck, because I already ordered a wall maze for Lodhi’s room.”

I can’t help the laugh that bubbles out of me or the absolute love that bursts in my chest. This man is everything I’ve ever dreamed of and never thought I’d find. He never gave up on me. But he also never pretended to be my savior. Ford took the broken parts of me, and instead of mending them, he gave me the tools to heal the rifts and piece them together on my own.

And now we’re here.

Not perfect.

Not completely healed.

But we’re solid.

Like a rock. Or a pebble, if you will.

“Ford?” I whisper.

I blink and look up to where his eyes shine with curiosity. “Yes, love?”

I lift myself and press my lips to his. “Thank you for finding me.”

THE END

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Thank you so much for reading RENEGADE RIFT!! I really hope you loved Ford and Juliet’s love story as much as I did when writing them.