EPILOGUE
Three months later
Kade leaned back in his chair, sipping a glass of champagne and smiling over the rim as he enjoyed the view.
“I’d hate to be that guy,” Colby observed, reaching for one of the crab and avocado toasts off the platter at the center of the table.
Gibson made a grunt of agreement. “You ain’t lying. Soon he’ll be saying, Yes, Mistress. May I kiss your shoes?”
Kade chuckled. He couldn’t hear what was being said, but Tessa was giving the manager of the venue quite a firm talking to—probably something to do with the fact that there were not enough chairs for everyone and the tables had been set up too far away from the stage. He wasn’t worried, though. There was still an hour before the band came on and everyone was happy to be milling around and mingling. He had no doubt Tessa would have the issue fixed before anyone even noticed.
“I can’t believe there are this many people here,” Colby said. “This looks like a way bigger crowd than last year.”
Kade nodded. “My woman’s relentless. She’s probably going to pull in enough cash on her own to send all those kids at Bluebonnet to college on full scholarship. I haven’t even told her yet that all the money we raised at the slave auction was real and that there’s a big check to add to the pile.”
“Yeah,” Colby said. “She covered every angle. I saw that she even has the kids selling artwork they created to contribute to their individual college funds. One of the paintings just sold for a grand. Twelve-year-old kid was the artist. I thought his eyes were going to fall out of his head.”
“Hell, at that age, I would’ve lost it, too,” Gib said, taking a pull of his beer. “I remember saving up three hundred bucks in middle school after a summer of cutting grass. I thought I was rich.”
Kade snorted. “Then you spent it all on comic books and Playboys.”
“That was money well spent, my friend. I was all set for a long winter.”
Colby laughed and looked to Gibson. “So where did your date go off to? She’d probably appreciate hearing your embarrassing childhood stories.”
Kade set his glass down. “Rosalie dragged Sam off to the kid’s area. One of the restaurants is giving a little cooking demo for the kiddos.”
Gibson shrugged. “Sam’s not my date. I’m just helping her out with her training, and she thought it’d be fun to come together tonight.”
“I always prefer coming together,” Kade said with a smirk. “Fun for all.”
Gibson gave him a droll look. “Seriously, you’re still fourteen under that shirt and tie.”
Kade raised his glass in cheers.
“Seems very self-sacrificing of you,” Colby said with mock seriousness. “Going above and beyond and taking your trainee out for the night.”
“Drop it,” Gib warned.
“What? We’re not ribbing you. I, for one, am happy to see you embracing your inner switch and subbing.”
“I’m not subbing. I’m bottoming to train her as a domme. I’m still in control.”
“Nothing to be ashamed of, dude,” Colby said with a shrug. “She’s taking a few classes at one of the clubs I help out at sometimes. I’ve seen her in her bitch boots. She wears them well. I’m sure many men wouldn’t mind getting a beating and a pegging from her.”
“Keep away from her, farm boy,” Gib said, pointing his beer at Colby.
Colby grinned as he took another swig off his beer, obviously enjoying this way too much. “Lucky for you, she’s not my type.”
“What are y’all smiling about?”
Kade turned to see Tess standing there, clipboard in hand and eyebrow arched—all business and looking hotter than ever in her little blue dress. He grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into his lap, unable to resist. “Just torturing your former boss.”
“I was about to use my safeword,” Gibson said, leaning back in his chair and hooking his ankle over his knee. “Thanks for saving me. Hey, wait a second, what do you mean former?”
Tessa made an uh-oh face as she leaned into Kade. “Sorry, Gib. I was going to talk to you on Monday, but my husband has a big mouth.”
“Tessa’s going to take over as co-director of Bluebonnet Place,” Kade said, pride swelling in him.
Gibson’s disappointment quickly morphed into a broad smile. “That’s fantastic. I’ll be sad to lose you, but no one will run your charity better than you. Those kids will be lucky to have you at the helm.”
Tessa let out a breath, her worry lifting. “Thanks, Gib. I still have a lot to learn from Iris, the current director, but I’m looking forward to it.”
“You’re going to do great,” Kade said, giving her a quick kiss. “Did you get everything worked out with the manager over there? I saw you two talking.”
“Yes, I think he’s probably wishing he had a safeword, but we’re good now. And Darkfall is all set to go.” She nodded at the tray of appetizers. “How’s the food?”
He frowned. “You haven’t eaten yet?”
“Didn’t have time.”
He met her eyes, broadcasting exactly what he thought of that excuse. “Sit down in this chair and eat.”
She waved a hand. “I will. I just need to go make rounds and thank everyone who came.”
He lifted her up and deposited her in the chair next to him. “Everyone will still be here for at least two more hours. I won’t have you passing out in the middle of this thing. Eat. Have a drink. I’ll go shake hands and make nice.”
“Kade—”
He cupped her chin and planted a kiss on her mouth. “Nonnegotiable, baby. Sorry.”
“You’re a bossy bastard, Mr. Vandergriff,” she said, but her eyes went soft in that way that made him wish he had a private room to take her to and an hour of her time.
“Always. Good thing you love that about me.” He kissed her forehead and then patted Colby on the shoulder as he walked by him. “You guys make sure my girl eats. I’m going to find my other date.”
Kade watched Rosalie from the back of the tent as she dumped a cup of flour into a bowl with such force that all of it blew back up on her, dusting her sequined purple dress in white. He chuckled when she tried to make it better and ended up adding white handprints to the mix. The instructor attempted to dust her off, but it was no use. The little girl next to her was looking at the mess with a wrinkled nose, but Rosalie just shrugged and grabbed a bowl of spices to dump in and continue mixing.
“Looks like the dress is a loss,” Sam said, sidling up next to him.
Kade smiled. “She doesn’t care. Onward. That was always her motto. Nothing gets in her way when she’s on a mission.”
“I wonder where she gets that from, Stalker Boy.” Sam nudged his shoulder with hers.
“Hey, knock my method, but it worked.” He held up his left hand and waggled his ring finger.
“Yes, it did. Which is why I’m attempting the same method with your brother, just so you know.”
“Good. He could use someone like you around. Whip him into shape.”
She smirked. “And with me that’s not a figure of speech.”
“Daddy!”
The shout from across the room drew their attention toward the front. Rosalie held up a cookie. “Look, we have a swap out, just like on the cooking shows.”
“Excellent,” he called back.
He and Sam watched Rosalie finish up with the group then his little girl came running over to him, wrapping her floured hands around him when she reached him. “Is it time for the music yet?”
“The band’s not for kiddos, Spark. Plus, it’s getting late. Your mom is probably waiting for you.”
Her bottom lip flipped out in a full-force pout. “But daadddy, you said I was going to be able to go to your house.”
He crouched down in front of her and ruffled her hair. “Next week, Spark. Your room is all ready for you, and you’ll get to stay there every other weekend and spend a whole month with me and Ms. Tess in the summer.”
“You promise?”
“Cross my heart and pie in my eye,” he said solemnly, crossing his finger over his chest in an X.
That sent her into a grin and chased off the pout. “No, daddy, that’s not how it goes.”
“Cross my eyes and hope to cry?”
“No!” She fell into a fit of giggles and he lifted her into his arms.
“Come on, Spark. I promise this is the last time we’ll have to end our visit early.”
She hooked her little arms around his neck and gave him a tight squeeze. “Thanks, Daddy. I don’t want to have to miss you all the time.”
The words were bittersweet, but a lightness filled his chest as he carried her toward the parking lot. No more sad good-byes. “That makes two of us, baby girl.”
Tessa caught sight of them as they walked through the party and she came over to give Rosalie a hug. Rosalie slid out of Kade’s arms and gave Tess an enthusiastic squeeze. “’Night, Ms. Tess.”
“Good night, chickadee. Thanks for coming to my party.”
“Welcome.” Rosalie stepped back from the hug and gave Tess a serious look. “My mommy and Chris are going to have a baby.”
“I heard that,” Tessa said with a smile. “That’s so exciting. You’re going to be a big sister.”
“Yeah, I guess. But mommy said it might be a boy.” Rosalie made the gag me with a spoon face. “Are you and my daddy going to have a baby, too?”
Tessa’s eyes went big and she gave Kade the oh-dear-God-please-help look. “Uh . . .”
Rosalie put her hands on her hips. “’Cause you better have a girl. No brothers, okay?”
Kade had to press his lips together to hold back the laugh. “Okay, enough questions and demands for the night, Spark. Let’s get you home.”
He left a speechless Tessa behind him and got Rosalie to her mom. By the time he made it back to Tessa, the band had come on stage and the party was in full swing. He let her do her thing, taking care of the guests and directing the staff. He couldn’t get enough of watching her in her element—his successful, smart wife brimming with confidence and pride over a job well done. He was more than happy to stand on the sidelines and let her bask in the accolades everyone was giving her. And he almost burst with his own pride when she presented the huge check to the team from Bluebonnet Place. The charity would want for nothing for a long while.
But after the last song was played and the last guest had wandered off for the evening, he was ready to claim what was his. He stepped up behind her as she was gathering a stack of brochures from a table, and she relaxed into his hold.
“Leave everything here and come with me.”
“But I have to—”
“Hush.”
She turned in his arms and looked up at him, warmth brimming in her gaze. “Sorry, sir.”
He grabbed her hand. “It’s time to go.”
Her brows pinched together, but she let him lead her forward, trusting him to guide her into whatever he had planned. That subtle submissiveness never failed to tug strings inside him. He still couldn’t believe the universe had given him this gift. She was his. His.
“May I ask where I’m going, sir?”
“Nope.”
“Are you going to be with me?”
“Yep.”
She leaned into him, and he slipped his arm fully around her. “Then that’s all I ever need to know.”
He closed his eyes for a moment, letting the words seep into his skin, the rightness of it all soak into his bones. The world had never felt so big and bright and full. The girl he’d dreamed about, angsted over, and lost so long ago was here. Loving him.
His perfect match.
Turns out that bitch, Fate, knew what she was doing after all.
He couldn’t wait to see what she had in store for them next.