Valorous(46)

“Well?” Addie says when she answers.

“Green light for ASAP.”

“Flynn… That’s fantastic. Congratulations to both of you. The soonest they could do it was Monday, so I’ll set everything up and call you tomorrow with the details.”

I know she’ll work nonstop to make it happen, but I also know she doesn’t mind. She’s a sucker for romance. “You’re the best, Addie.”

“I know! Congratulations again. I’m so excited for you.”

“Thanks. Me, too.” I stash the phone in my pocket and return my full attention to Natalie. We walk slowly, taking our time returning to the house.

“Are you happy, Nat?”

“I’m so happy. I had no idea it was possible to be this happy.”

“That’s all that matters to me. That’s all that will ever matter.” Before I marry Natalie, though, I need to talk to Hayden and quit the club. I need to deal with the playroom in the basement of my house as well, although I can do that later. It’s under lock and key, so there’s no chance she’ll discover it. There’s no place for the club and what goes on there or the playroom at home in my new life with Natalie.





Chapter 9





We return to the house to find Marlowe sitting on the back deck waiting for us. She jumps up when she sees us coming. “There you are!”

“Hey, Mo.” Flynn greets his close friend and business partner with a kiss. “What’s up?”

“I brought dinner. I’ve been thinking about you guys and wanted to check in to see how you’re doing.”

He pushes his sunglasses to the top of his head. “How’re we doing, Nat?” His eyes dance with the kind of glee I haven’t seen since before my story was made public.

I hold up my left hand so she can see the ring I still can’t believe he just put on my finger.

Marlowe lets out a scream and gets up to hug us both. “Oh my God! Flynn Godfrey is engaged! This is going to be the story of the century!”

“Shhhhh.” He’s amused by her reaction. “We’re not telling the world yet.”

“We need to have a party! Can we have a party? Please? Or do you guys want to be alone? Because if you do, I’ll invite the boys over and have a party on your behalf at my house.”

Flynn glances at me. I can tell just by looking at him that he’d rather be alone, but these are his closest friends and business partners—two of whom I haven’t met yet. “A party sounds fun.”

“Yay!” Marlowe claps her hands in delight. “I left my phone inside. I’ll go make the calls.”

When we’re alone, Flynn puts his arm around me and steals a kiss. “You’re sure this is all right?”

“It’s perfect. Look at this night and this ring and this view and my gorgeous fiancé. So much to celebrate.”

“I love to see you glowing with happiness.”

“I’m glowing because of you. Because you love me.”

“I love you so f*cking much.”

“And you wonder why I’m glowing.”

We stand there like that, wrapped up in each other, until Marlowe returns. “Everyone is coming, and they’re bringing booze and more food. I love a party that comes together without me having to do anything other than decide to have it.”

Her excitement is contagious. What am I doing at Hayden Roth’s Malibu beach house about to party with Marlowe Sloane and my new fiancé, Flynn Godfrey? It’s beyond surreal, but it’s also my life now. My new life. With a pang of regret, I think of my kids in New York and hope they’re getting by without me.

“You okay, sweetheart?” he asks, tuned in to me as always.

“Yeah, I’m great.” I’m better than I’ve been in eight long years.

“Hey, Mo, what’d you make for dinner?”

“Enchiladas, baby! Is there anything else?”

Flynn laughs. “Marlowe can’t cook anything other than Mexican. We think she might’ve been kidnapped from a Mexican family at some point.”

“What can I say? I’ve got tamales in my blood. Margaritas for everyone, coming right up!” She goes back inside to make the drinks.

Flynn’s phone rings, and when he checks it, he grimaces. “I’ve got to take this.”

“I’ll go help Marlowe.” I start to walk away, but he brings me back for a kiss.