Page 258 of Theirs to Desire (Club M: Boxed Set)

EPILOGUE

MEL

One year later. . .

W hen I’m traveling, I like to check out the competition. I’m in Rio San Juan, in the Dominican Republic, which means I’m checking into the Fontaine Catelon.

It’s Saturday night. I intend to check into my undoubtedly beautiful room, soak in a bathtub for an hour with a glass of wine, and then video call West and Rob. There will be phone sex. After all, it’s our one-year hookup-versary which calls for a celebration.

“Welcome to the Fontaine Catelon, Ms. Ortega,” the guy at the front desk says. “Have you stayed with us before?”

I bite back my smile. It’s been three years since I was here. This guy, Eduardo, is probably new, but Felipe Medina is still the manager. Felipe wasn’t exactly thrilled with me the last time around—he didn’t like me telling him how to run his hotel—and I’m positive he’ll remember me.

Come to think of it, I’m surprised Felipe didn’t notice I checked in. He was always good with details.

“I have, yes.”

“Perfect. We have you in the Rose Suite.” He hands me a key card. He gestures to a waiting porter. “Miguel will take your bags to your room.”

“The Rose Suite?” That’s the nicest suite in the hotel. Two bedrooms, two bathrooms, two thousand square feet. The Rose Suite also comes with a private pool and spectacular views of the ocean. My budget definitely doesn’t cover that. “No, that’s not right. I didn’t book that.”

He checks his computer. “You were upgraded, Ms. Ortega.”

“Oh.” Felipe and I declared a truce, and we were even friendly by the time I left, but I’m still surprised. “Thank you. Is Mr. Medina around?”

“I’m not sure, Ms. Ortega. I can tell him you’d like to speak to him.”

“Thanks, I’d appreciate that.” I take my keycard. Miguel—who is new too, I think—takes my suitcase. We head to my room.

The Rose Suite is more beautiful than I remember. It’s spacious, and floor-to-ceiling windows offer jaw-dropping views of the ocean. Vases overflow with fresh orchids.

I’m also steps from the beach. It’s dusk and too late to go swimming tonight, but I make myself a promise that I’m going to wake up at the crack of dawn and hit the beach.

I check my phone. I have a dozen work emails waiting for me to answer, but nothing from Rob and West. Huh. That’s weird. If I didn’t know them better, I’d wonder if they forgot about our hookup-versary.

But West and Rob are good at the details.

A knock sounds at the door. That must be Felipe. I open it with a smile. “I remember you threatening to kick me out of your hotel,” I tease.

Then my brain registers who I’m seeing. It’s not Felipe at the door.

It’s West and Rob.

“That’s a malicious lie,” West says with a grin. “I have never threatened to kick you out of my hotel.”

“Hello, Mel.” Rob gives me an amused smile as he hands me a bunch of roses. They’re pale pink—the faintest, palest shade of pink—and lovely. “You should probably close your mouth. You might swallow a fly.”

“Another malicious lie,” West says, shaking his head. “There are no flies in the Fontaine Catelon.”

I throw my arms around his neck and hug him tight, and then I hug Rob. “What are you doing here?”

“It’s our anniversary,” Rob says. He brushes a kiss over my lips. “I would have thought you’d remember. You’re good at details.”

“You flew all the way out here for our anniversary?”

“It’s not a particularly long flight,” West shrugs. “Besides, you sounded stressed the last time we talked.”

I search my memory. Oh, right. I’d talked to West two days ago, right after I spoke to Cat. Warmth fills me. They flew almost four hours because I’d sounded stressed on the phone. West doesn’t even like flying. “It was nothing.”

He walks into the room, opens the mini-refrigerator, and pulls out a bottle of champagne. “It didn’t sound like nothing.”

I combine two of the orchid arrangements into one and repurpose the other vase for my roses.

“It really was. Cat’s moving in with her boyfriend, so I need to look for a cheaper apartment.

I mean, I could afford to carry the rent by myself, but I’m hardly there, you know? It just seems like a waste of money.”

West pops the cork and pours the champagne into three flutes. He hands me one. “That’s what you were stressed about?”

“Have you tried apartment hunting in New York City? Never mind, don’t answer that. Let’s just say I’m not looking forward to it.”

We clink our glasses together, and I take a sip of the excellent champagne. It’s an excellent vintage.

“The solution to your problem seems obvious,” Rob replies. “We move in together.”

Once again, my mouth falls open. “What?”

“It’s only practical,” he says as if he hasn’t just dropped a bombshell. “We’re three very busy people. You have to admit, it’ll make the logistics so much easier.”

West snorts. “Logistics. Yes, very romantic.” He smiles at me. “He’s right, though. It would be easier. And I’d really like to wake up next to you every morning.”

“You’re just saying that because every time I stay over, I wake up earlier than you and make the coffee.”

He winks. “Like I said, romantic.” He tilts his head to the side. “Are you concerned about your parents? I thought they were getting used to the idea of us.”

“No, I’m not thinking about them.” I’m thinking of us. “I don’t want you to feel obligated. I mean, just because Cat is?—”

West hands me a key.

“How?” I sputter.

“I’ve had it for a while. Been waiting for a good time to bring it up. I love you, Mel. I’m doing this because I want to.”

I love you.

The words have been on the tip of my tongue for months, but I’ve held back. I’ve been waiting for one of them to say it first. (Cat would say that it’s because I’m a pussy. She might be right.)

It’s the first time West has said it.

I’m at a complete loss for words.

“Come on, Mel,” Rob interjects. “Say yes, and we’ll move onto more interesting things.”

“Like what?”

He grins. “Ah, I thought you’d never ask.” He pulls a suitcase from the closet in the main bedroom.

Wait, they had a suitcase stashed in my bedroom?

He opens it and pulls out an eye-popping assortment of sex toys. Handcuffs. Buttplugs. Vibrators. Nipple clamps. A riding crop. Lengths of crimson rope. You name it, it’s in there.

Rob walks up to me, a blindfold dangling from his fingers. “You know I love you too?” he asks.

“What?”

“Oh, come on,” he says. “This cannot be new information; you had to know. I let you drive the Valkyrie.”

That makes me laugh. “Only you two would fly four hours, show up at my door with roses and sex toys, and ask me to move in.” I shake my head at my two hot, crazy ex-bosses. “I love you too, both of you.”

“And yes, you’ll move in,” West instructs.

I beam at him. “And yes, I’ll move in.”

“Good.” Rob fastens the blindfold over my eyes. “Here’s the game, Mel. You reach into the suitcase, and you pick three toys.”

I gulp down the rest of my champagne, anticipation surging through me. This is going to be great.

Thank you for reading One Night with my Bosses.