Actual goats in tiny top hats and bow ties, just… wandering through the melee like this is completely normal for a Friday night. Like I’m the weird one for noticing.
That settles it. I am completely out of my element.
And I’m just about to say so when I glance at Kiki and promptly shut my mouth.
She’s positively enthralled by the scene unfolding before her, her eyes lighting up as she spins around, clapping like a little girl. “Isn’t it magical?”
That’s one word for it.
“Nolan has gone completely off the rails,” I mutter.
“It’s fun. Funky. Totally Nolan.”
I wrap an arm around my woman, pulling her close. Who can argue with that logic? “Andyouare totally stunning.”
She is too. Kiki glows now. She’s the embodiment of sunshine with a little hurricane, and I fall more in love every day.
Kiki pulls from my embrace, giving me a slow twirl of her assets. “What can I say? Blissfully happy is a good look.”
Truer words have never been spoken.
The last few months have been a whirlwind. Between finishing Nolan’s house, which now apparently serves as a retirement home for theater goats, working on Kiki’s cabin, and Theo’s relentless sports schedule, we’ve been busy.
Plus, there are lines, literal lines, of people awaiting our services. Seems Nolan Montague has been singing our praises far and wide. Business is booming.
But I love working with Kiki. Some might cringe at the idea of working beside your significant other, but we have immense respect for each other, plus the sense to stay out of the way when our grumbly sides emerge.
I’ve unofficially moved into the cabin, and once my lease is up, I’ll become a permanent resident there. It’s a work in progress, but my crew added another bedroom and bath, so now there’s plenty of space for Theo… and anyone else who might come along.
Besides, there’s nothing like curling up next to Kiki every night, her curves pressed against me as she sleeps. She’s not afraid of what lies in the dark anymore, and if I have my way,she’ll never be again. I can’t imagine my life without her, which explains why I’m basically glued to her side, a fact which my crew loves to give me grief about, but I know the truth.
I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Drake is gone, along with several prominent folks from the area. They just up and vanished, no fanfare, no media coverage.
Hell, even Kevin Duncan couldn’t evade justice forever. He was arrested in the UAE. Seems his appetite for depravity followed him across the ocean. Hopefully now, he’ll pay for his crimes, although it’s anyone’s guess.
All I know is he’s far away from Sparkwood and I doubt he’ll ever come near this place again.
We didn’t ask, but we’re sure as hell not mourning their loss.
“Look who finally arrived. It’s the dream team!” Nolan strolls over, his voice carrying over the din.
I laugh and shake his hand. “This is quite the setup, Nolan.”
“I love it,” Kiki cuts in with a smile. “It’s like Cirque du Soleil meets Shakespeare in the Park.”
Nolan fires off finger guns like she just handed him a winning lottery ticket. “Seriously, that is exactly what I told my event planner. Good eye, Kiki.”
She smirks, planting a hand on her hip. “That’s why you pay me the big bucks.”
Nolan arches a brow, gesturing toward me. “Pretty sure I pay him the big bucks.”
I grab her around the waist, dropping a kiss on her shoulder. “Yeah, but since we live together, what’s mine is yours, right?”
Kiki tilts her head up for a kiss. “Quite right.”
“Which iswhyI pay him the big bucks,” Nolan adds with achuckle. “Enjoy yourselves. And if you need a little space, the west garden is cordoned off.” He winks and excuses himself, disappearing into the crowd.
