Page 85 of Hooked on Trouble

“We might have a client.” Shay is always stunning, but with her hair piled on her head and her skin glittered like mine, she’s cover-model gorgeous.

“If I dug girls, I’d totally kiss you,” I say.

“If I dug girls, I’d press my face into your boobs.”

We grin at each other, then I prompt her. “What’s this about a client?”

She cranes her neck, searching the crowd, then she points to a ten-million-year-old lady. “That woman wants to throw a baby shower.”

That woman’s face is about to slide to the floor. “If it’s for herself, I’ll need a lobotomy to erase the visual.”

“Hilarious, but no. You know Kolton’s assistant, Stella?”

Of course I know Stella. She’s the only woman in this room with as much ink as me. Where my work is black and gray, hers is a swirl of bold colors and fun designs. Her fuchsia hair is hard to miss, too. “Not only do I know Stella, but I’m a member of her fan club. Nico and I were at the office once and walked in as she told Sawyer to stop whining or she’d wax his ass.”

Shay cackles. “She keeps Kolton in line, too, and”—she does an imaginary drum roll—“she’s having a baby.”

“No way.”

“Way.”

“I thought she was single.”

“She is.”

“Scandalous.”

“Not exactly,” Shay says. “She went to the spank bank.”

“Shut up.”

“Swear to God. She’s always wanted kids and got tired of dating Mr. Wrong, so she took matters into her own hands. Her grandmother wants to throw her a shower. Since Stella is into all things ink and sexy, they’ve asked for a burlesque theme.”

Forget member, I’m now her fan club president. “I need to retract my earlier statement. If I dug girls, I’d sex her up.”

“Right? And this means we might actually get paid to do this.” She gestures around the room.

Another piece of my life falling into place, another milestone reached. It doesn’t ease the discomfort lingering from the letter I got this week—Rose’s first communication since everything went down. I’ve reread the single page, trying to assess the sincerity of her apology. It’s unclear if she’s reaching out because she has no one left, or if she truly realizes how badly she’s messed up her life. I doubt I’ll ever trust her again, but I’m not sure I can cut her off, either.

I’ll write her back, once I get my head around what I want to say. However that plays out, my relationship with Nico is hopefully on the mend, I have an exhibit up in a gallery, and our event business has broken ground. This move to Vancouver was the best decision I ever made.

“Does Lily know?” I ask.

She shakes her head. “I’ll tell her after the ceremony.”

Speaking of which, the lights illuminating the exterior panels dim, and the galaxy shining on the ceiling casts more magic. A violin joins the harp, and we’re ushered toward the back. Kolton and Nico are on the far side of the room, the boys whispering and looking our way.

We’re not much better. Shay’s in front of me, facing them, and she leans back. “I might ask Kolton to marry me.”

Just when this night couldn’t get any better. “Seriously?”

“He’s taking too long.”

This from the girl who stuck with her ex well past their expiration date, waiting on a ring that never came. “Bold move.”

“Yeah. It’s just, with Jackson and everything, I want it to be more permanent. I want him to have that security, and Kolton is…”

She trails off, and I rest my chin on her shoulder, wrapping my arms around her waist. Both our dresses are the softest of velvet—mine midnight, hers electric blue—both dotted with crystals through the layered skirt. “Yeah, Kolton is.”