Page 58

EPILOGUE

ONE YEAR LATER

I walked down the sidewalk, the light breeze barely doing anything to help the sweltering heat. California summers were brutal in the desert. I wiped my sweaty palms on my jean shorts before reaching in my back pocket to pull out my phone. My heart jumped when I saw a new email.

I blew out a laugh, hitting reply. Damian had flown back to New York for a few days, and it was the first time we’d been apart since we moved to the West Coast. If we weren’t less than a week away from opening day of our new club, I would have gone with him.

But he needed to meet with Ash and Rhyett to make sure everything was running smoothly.

I stayed back to finish the last few things.

I bit my lip, smiling as I sent it. The days he’d been gone felt like forever.

We were practically glued to the hip most of the time.

I was loving every second of it. Ember Lake was a wild city full of chaos and people willing to spend money on anything.

This city reminded me of where I grew up.

The only difference was this was a vacation spot for the elite and rich—it wasn’t where they permanently resided.

The upscale clubs and restaurants were expensive, with lines out the doors every weekend.

At first, I was a little worried there would be too much competition for us to do well.

But we sold out the first day we opened online reservations for opening night.

I was headlining as the DJ, and while I still wore a mask when I worked, I wasn’t worried about people finding out my identity. Not when I had my freedom.

My father still wasn’t speaking to me. I couldn’t deny the small sting of pain, but it wasn’t enough to change anything.

I had everything I wanted in life. Char had come to visit multiple times and had her own room at our house.

She was finished with school and got a job in the city.

She was still deciding whether she wanted to move out here, but until then, we saw each other at least once a month.

My phone vibrated in my hand, and I balanced on the edge of the curb as I walked to avoid a group of people headed in the opposite direction. I hit the email, opening it to read.

I stopped in my tracks to quickly reply without worrying about watching where I was going.

I sent it before changing my mind. Even if he was across the country, my pulse was thudding like it always did when I purposefully got under my husband’s skin. When my phone went off again, my stomach flipped.

I stared at the email in disbelief before whipping my head up to look around. The sidewalk was bustling with people, but I didn’t see him anywhere.

“New lingerie? Going to model it for me, wife?”

I spun around, coming face to face with Damian. With a smoldering smirk, his eyes trailed down my body before he met my eyes. In one step, he erased the space between us, pulling me into a tight hug. His lips brushed my jaw softly as he let out a groan.

“I missed you,” he admitted before kissing me on the lips. “And now we’re not going to get any work done. Because I’m taking you home so I can see your new outfit.”

I laughed nervously. “I might not have bought one. Reading one of your dirty books got me all hot and bothered.”

“Lying to me?” He tsked. “Even better. Now I get to see that ass turn red from my palm.”

“We have the meeting?—”

“Not for another two hours. We have time.” He motioned for me to start walking, raising his eyebrow when I stayed near the road. With a chuckle, he wrapped his arm around me, pulling me away from the street and taking my spot on the curb.

“Always the gentleman.” I tugged out of his hold, skipping in front of him. “I can walk where I want, husband.”

I glanced over my shoulder, letting out a shriek when he lunged at me. I laughed, darting away, getting only a few steps before he got ahold of my arm. My face grew hot when he flipped me over his shoulder.

“Damian,” I protested, tugging at his t-shirt. “Put me down.”

“You should have listened.”

My struggles did nothing as he carried me down the sidewalk, and I caught more than a few people staring when we passed.

After turning a corner, he finally halted at the car we’d bought six months ago.

He pulled me off his shoulder, letting me land on my feet before he pinned me between himself and the trunk.

I pressed my lips together, suppressing my smile as I met his amused gaze.

“Going to listen next time?” he questioned as he cocked his head.

“Maybe. Right now, I think I’ll enjoy your punishment. You’ve been gone too long.”

“Oh, Talie,” he murmured. “Don’t say things like that unless you mean it.”

I grinned wickedly. “I always mean it.”

“Next time I fly anywhere, you’re coming with me.”

I slid off my small backpack to get my keys. “Good. I don’t like being away from you. The bed is lonely.”

He took the keys from my hold, giving me a heated smile. “Let me take you home. We have time to eat my favorite meal before we have to be back at the club. The next couple days will be busy.”

I giggled, glancing up, and nodding to the billboard on the other side of the street. “It’s going to be an amazing night.”

He followed my gaze, looking at the sign. Club Facade: Ember Lake . Five masked, shirtless dancers took up most of the billboard, and my DJ name was at the bottom. Georgia had been working hard to promote, and she was a huge part of why there was so much excitement around our opening night.

“I’m sure it will be,” he agreed. “But all that matters is having you at my side.”

“I always will be.”

He kissed me before rounding the car to open the passenger door for me. I slid inside, watching as he strode toward the driver’s side. For the first time in what felt like ever, my heart was full. There were no worries. No twinge of past hurt.

Damian made me happy in every way possible.

He always would.

The End