“Is there a date you have in mind?” I’m mentally already clearing my calendar for my best and most favorite client.
“Next weekend?”
My eyes bug out like one of those cartoon characters.Ah-ooo-ga!“What?”
“Friday, to be precise,” he answers, not making things any better. “We’ve waited long enough, and I’m ready to make her mine officially.”
With effort, I pull myself together. If Mr. Conniver wants a wedding band in six days, then yep, I’m your girl. Yessiree, I can make that happen. “Make it Thursday night,” I quip, shimmying my shoulders, “because why the hell not?”
He laughs lightly. “Sounds good. I’ll send someone by to collect it, if that’s acceptable? I’m afraid I’ll be otherwise indisposed.”
“Not Thomas or Mark,” Griffin, who’s been silent this whole time, now interjects.
So maybe the two guys weren’t necessarily hunting me down to cause me harm, but I have to agree with Griffin that I’d rather not dealwith them for Mr. Conniver’s order, especially at my home. “That. What he said,” I agree, pointing at Griffin and nodding vehemently.
“Of course. I’ll send Junior.” He gestures to the security guard standing tableside, who is no less intimidating than Thomas and Mark but has none of the bad history they do. And when Junior dips his chin, agreeing, he even flashes me a kind smile and pats his shirt pocket like he vows to keep my work safe and secure.
“Sounds like you and me have a date Thursday night, Mr. Junior.” His smile vanishes and Griffin grunts. I chuckle, adding, “Not likethat. I mean, to pick up the ring. Ugh, you guys are such Neanderthals. Grumble, grumble, grumble.” I actually grumble the word, not just make the sound to demonstrate, which applies to all of them, it seems.
“It’s part of our charm,” Mr. Conniver declares flatly. “Speaking of, it appears as though congratulations are in order,” he says, lifting his water glass in a toast as he glances from me to Griffin. Given the interested glint in his eyes, even Mob bosses who run the city and strike fear into the hearts of most enjoy a bit of drama.
“To you and Georgina too,” I say, tapping my glass to his. If he’s not spilling all his dirty details, neither am I. Fair’s fair.
After a quick sip, he says, “On that note, I’m afraid I do have other business to attend to. Please stay and have lunch as my guests.” Mr. Conniver stands, gives us a polite tilt of his head, and walks away, Junior by his side. There’s equal chance he’s off to intimidate someone into selling their soul or a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the mayor. Hell, maybe both, simultaneously.
It’s silent for a long stretch where I’m simply staring off in the direction Mr. Conniver disappeared. My eyes jump to Griffin. “I think he liked it,” I whisper-shout, attempting to be mindful of the other diners in the restaurant but mostly failing.
Griffin chuckles. “I think he loved it. How could he not? It’s your best work.”
Awww.I swear, he’s making up for all the cutting things he’s said over the years with copious compliments now. The best part is, he actually means the compliments, and he never really meant the insults.
“My best workyet,” I correct. “You haven’t seen what I have in mind for the wedding band.”
“Honestly, I think I’m your best work in progress,” he jokes, laughing at the self-deprecation.
But I’m serious when I say, “You’re not broken. You don’t need to be fixed. You’re perfect just like you are, and I wouldn’t change a thing about you or our story. It happened the way it did because that’s the way it had to happen to get us here.” It’s circular thinking, but the loop-de-loop of it makes perfect sense to me. I think it does to Griffin too.
“I fell in love with you the moment I saw you, and I would go through the hell of the last five years a thousand times over if it meant that we would end up here, together every time. I love you, Penny.”
“I love you, too, Honey Bunches of Oats.” He frowns. “Get it? Like the cereal.” He frowns harder. “No? I’ll keep trying. I’ll find the perfect name. Just you wait ... Sugar Smacks.”
His left eyebrow shoots up like he’s Mr. Spock. Maybe that’s the one?
Epilogue
Griffin
Six Months Later
“Are you taking me shopping? Like, you’re going to wander the aisles with me and hold my stuff like the sweetest boyfriend ever?” Penny asks, excitement sparkling in her eyes.
I understand why. We’re downtown, near Yesteryear Antiques, so, of course, her brain is on jewelry. This time, mine is, too, but we’re not going to see Carolynn.
I turn the corner, heading the opposite way of the antique store, and Penny pulls on my arm where she’s hooked her gloved hand into the crook of my elbow. “That way,” she informs me, jerking her head in the opposite direction.
As if I’ve forgotten where Yesteryear is. I pull her along, leading her toward our true destination. “This way.”
A few more steps, and she figures it out. “Ice cream in the dead of winter should be eaten in the comfort of one’s home, while wearing your rattiest of sweatpants and holiest of socks, cuddled under a blanket, with the fireplace going.”
