Epilogue

Harlow

1 Year Later

“Sit with Uncle Blade while I go and see where Daddy is,” I said to Aurora as I made my way to where Blade sat with Layla.

His eyes lit up when he saw us approaching, and his arms automatically stretched out to take my daughter from me.

“Thanks,” I said. “I just want to go and find Scott, and then I promise I’ll be back for her.”

Layla grinned. “Don’t rush, Harlow. Honestly, he can’t get enough of her.”

I watched as Blade blew raspberries on Aurora’s belly, and decided Layla wasn’t lying. “Looks like babies might be in your future?”

Blade diverted his attention from Aurora for a moment and said, “Yes, they are, but my wife seems to think we should wait a little while longer before we start trying.”

Layla sighed, but I could tell she wanted this as much as he did. “All I said was that I wanted another six months or so to get my bar operating at more of a profit, and then we could start working on a baby.”

“It’s a good thing I’m a patient man,” he muttered before going back to playing with Aurora.

“It’ll happen,” Layla mouthed and I nodded in agreement before leaving them to go and find Scott. I knew it would happen for them because Blade was a man who made sure he got what he wanted. And as much as Layla was a kick ass chick who pulled him into line when needed, we all knew she needed Blade as much as she needed the air she breathed. They were a couple you just knew would last forever.

“Harlow!” Velvet called out from the table where she sat with Nash.

Changing my direction, I headed over to see what she wanted. “What’s up?”

“I just wanted to tell you that Scarlett’s done an amazing job!”

Looking around at the decorations in the restaurant, I agreed. Scarlett had brought Trilogy to life. “She really has.”

“She might be a moody bitch, but she’s pulled off a great party today,” Nash admitted with only a small amount of grumbling in his tone. It was no secret that he and Scarlett clashed, but he always gave credit where it was due. “Fuck knows how Wilder manages to work with her as closely as he does and not kill her, though.”

At my suggestion, Wilder had hired Scarlett just after Scott and I got married. I decided Storm’s restaurants could do with an image update, and after seeing examples of Scarlett’s decorating talents, I knew she was the right person for the job. She hadn’t wanted to work for Storm, but her dwindling finances had dictated a need to find work, and the universe had conspired to bring us all together.

The rest was history.

Well, maybe not. Maybe there was more to this story. I watched as Scarlett argued with Wilder over something and wondered how long it would take those two to admit their attraction. They’d known each other a year now, and the sparks were wild.

“Have you seen Scott?” I asked Nash.

“No, but check with Griff. He’s with Sophia at the bar,” he suggested.

“Thanks, will do,” I said.

A few moments later, I met Sophia’s gaze and smiled. Griff sat facing the bar and Sophia stood in front of him with her arms around his neck. I’d known her for a year now, and I swore she seemed happier every passing week. The same could be said for Griff. He’d gone from a man of few words, who I hardly knew, to one of my closest friends over this past year. “Hey, Harlow,” she greeted me. “Great party.”

“It would be if I could find my husband,” I grumbled.

Griff turned his head. “I saw him about ten minutes ago, out in the kitchen. Try there, otherwise ask Wilder.”

My impatience was kicking in.

I need to do this now.

“Okay, thanks. Oh, and your house warming is next weekend, right?” They’d recently built a new home and had finally moved in.

Sophia beamed. “Yes, you guys are coming, aren’t you? For the love of God, please tell me you are. I’ve got so many people coming who I don’t even really know, partners of work mates and friends of my sisters, and you just know I’m going to spend all day rambling about shit if I get nervous. I need you to be there, Harlow, to help centre me and tell me to calm down.” Her eyes bulged with desperation and I couldn’t stop myself from laughing. Sophia was uniquely her own woman and it was one of the many things I loved about her. The way words just fell out of her mouth always made me smile. Especially that. There should be more women like her – we could all do with the honesty.

I reached out and placed my hand on her arm. “I promise I’ll be there.”

She exhaled her relief. “Oh, thank goodness.”

“I’ll be back soon, but I really need to find Scott.”

She waved me away. “Go.”

A couple of moments later, I pushed through the door that led to the kitchen. It was a hive of activity, but Scott was not out there.

Damn.

Where is he?

I pulled out my phone and sent him another text, my third so far.

Me : Where are you???? Stop ignoring me or else I will withdraw husband privileges for at least a week.

His reply came through swiftly. Funny how threats like that always worked with men.

Scott : I could go a week, but you couldn’t.

Me : Ha! You wanna test that theory?

Scott : Sure. I give you two days at the most before you come begging for my cock.

Me : Tell me where you are and I will come begging for it now.