Page 43 of Right Side of Paradise

Champagne Kisses

It wouldn’t be a night out for us if we didn’t end up at Paradise.

Christian’s bar was our third and final destination for the night, and now he was conveniently missing.

It was two minutes past midnight, officially the next day, and I wanted to be the first person to wish him a happy birthday.

Holding the bottle of Moet over my head, I left Rico and Soul on the patio, weaving through the tight crowd leading inside to get to his office.

When the hallway opened up enough for me to exhale without touching somebody, I lowered my arm and speed walked to his office door.

As soon as I reached for the knob, the door opened, and I had to do a double take to make sure the woman in front of me was real.

“Hey, baby,” Monica Hughes cooed, engulfing me in a warm hug. “It’s so good to see you.”

Christian’s mom was stunning, and he looked just like her with facial hair.

“I didn’t know you were here,” I said when she grabbed my free hand.

The older woman beamed at me, her caramel cheeks flushing.

“Oh, I know. I’m out past my bedtime, but I had to see about Chris and give him his gifts.

You know he likes to duck and dodge,” she whispered with a laugh that made me giggle.

“I see you brought champagne. Good. I was telling him he needs to do a better job celebrating himself, so I’m glad you?—”

A deep voice clearing broke up our catch-up session and Monica turned loving eyes on her only son.

“Oh, I can take a hint.”

Christian may have been her spitting image, but while he used his words sparingly, this woman could talk a mile a minute without coming up for air. She and my mother shared that talent.

She squeezed my hand again before looking me up and down. “I’m happy you’re home, sweetie. Christian sure does miss you when you’re gone. You gone stay around for a while?”

“I’m working on?—”

“Ma, isn’t dad waiting for you in the car?”

Monica tossed a mock chastised look over her shoulder and finally stepped around me to get to the open door. “ Fine . Enjoy your day, sweetheart. And congrats again. I love you.”

“I love you too,” Christian said reverently.

When the door closed behind her, I held up the bottle but paused when I saw the basket on his desk.

There was a charcuterie board, a fake succulent, wine glasses, candles, soaps and a dish towel arranged so a peek of each item was on display.

The smile on my face faltered. “What’s that?” And why did the card say congrats instead of happy birthday?

Christian’s palm found his beard as he stared at me. “It’s a part of my housewarming gift.”

Housewarming .

The word echoed in my tipsy head before it stuck. “Your condo is ready?”

He bit his lip, giving me a subtle nod. “Yeah.”

“Since when?”

“Since a week ago.”

“I—” I had to close my mouth, or I’d be catching flies. Eventually, the lump in my throat passed. “Congrats?”

Why did it sound like a question? Maybe because he didn’t seem too happy about it. He’d been off all week. Why hadn’t he told us so we could help him pack and move?

“You weren’t going to tell us?” I set the champagne near the basket.

“I was.” He sounded more defensive than convincing, making me cock my brow.

“When?”

“I don’t know.”

I met him on the other side of his desk and wrapped my arms around his waist to peer up at him. “This is big, baby. I thought you’d be happy.” I searched his face, hoping to find a glimpse of what he wasn’t saying, but I came up empty. “What aren’t you telling me?”

After a silent minute, he sat down in his leather chair, taking me with him. Large hands anchored at my waist, he walked me through his hesitation.

“Oh, baby.” Cupping the side of his face, I lowered my forehead to his and kissed him. “You’re moving across the island. Not away ,” I reminded him.

“That’s what it feels like.”

“I hear you.” I grabbed his face between my hands and smiled down at him softly. Christian liked safety, whatever form that took. None of us had to say it, but Rico’s house felt like home. For all of us. Now he felt like he was moving to the sidelines.

“You know none of us are leaving you alone. It doesn’t matter where you go.”

His hand fell to my stomach and he hid his face against my neck. “I don’t want to miss a second with you before you leave. I barely see you as it is.”

“We can fix that,” I promised. “And I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”

“After your list…”

“I’ll still be here.”

His brows carved a skeptical line across his forehead, pulling a laugh out of me.

“We have time, Chris. So much more than you think.”

His next exhale brought a slow uncoiling of his tense muscles. The more he relaxed, the more I sank into his lap. When he laid his head on my chest, I ran my hand over his tight curls.

“I swear to God, you’d overthink your name if you had a chance,” I teased. “I know it’s probably overwhelming getting everything you want at once. Your place is ready. Your bar is thriving. And you have us. It’s a lot, but you’re the best person it could happen to. You’re so worthy, baby.”

“Sweetheart,” he started, looking up at me.

“Just say I know.”

All he did was stare at me, his gaze as unrelenting as my command. “I know.”

Even breaths tickled my skin as I leaned over to grab the forgotten champagne.

I twisted until the cage was off before handing it to Christian for him to do the rest.

“Open your mouth,” I commanded softly once the bottle was back in my hands.

For the second time tonight, he did as he was told. And I rewarded him with a heavy-handed pour before turning the bottle to my lips.

The bubbles on my tongue and the heat of his skin sent a shiver sneaking up my spine.

“Happy birthday, Christian. And congratulations.”

The words had barely touched the air before he snaked his tongue around mine, kissing me nastily.

“I wanna taste it on you,” he said when I tried to pour more in his mouth.

He held me still on his lap and welcomed my sloppy kisses, sipping champagne from my tongue.

“Short ass dress,” he slurred a few sips later, fighting with the hem of my dress.

We were both one drunk decision away from fucking in his office with the door half open.

It was his fault the fabric of my dress was bunched around my hips. His fault I could feel every inch of his erection pressed against my ass. It was his fault I wanted to climb inside his skin and not come up for air.

“Rico, Soul, home.”

As choppy as the command was, I understood it. I wouldn’t be getting bent over a second desk tonight because he wasn’t touching me the way I wanted until we got home.

Tongue pressed against my cheek, I grinded against his lap and didn’t stop until I heard his muted hiss turn into a needy growl. “ Harlow .”

Abruptly, I stood up and trapped my bottom lip between my teeth at the torment playing across his expression.

“Let’s go get Rico and Soul.”