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My heart rate increases the closer we get to the shop, and my palms are a sweaty mess by the time we pull into the parking lot. I’m expecting Luke to burst out the door when we arrive, but he doesn’t, so I take a minute in the backseat to finish some water and try to steady my breathing.
When I step out, I make my way to the front door, but I pause in shock when I pull it open.
Luke Bowden, the classiest man I’ve ever met who wears money like a comfortable shirt, is standing behind the counter serving up a sandwich. He’s in a plaid button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, and he’s got an apron tied around his waist and I can’t stop staring.
He waves me in the door and tells the customer to enjoy their food. Thankfully, no one else is in line.
“What the hell are you doing?” I ask in a half whisper so the few customers eating don’t hear me.
He shrugs and winks at me as he wipes the counter down behind him.
“I may not run a grocery store, but I do run a sandwich shop. I’m hoping that’s good enough for you.”
No longer caring what customers think, I rush behind the counter and throw my arms around him. “You’re insane, Luke Bowden. You can run the sandwich shop. But only part time because as much as I love this look on you, those suits you wear are a real weakness of mine.”
He hauls me closer and puts his forehead to mine. “Thank fuck. I don’t think I could do this full time. But I would sure as hell try for you.”
He scoops me up and carries me to the back and through the door that leads to the club.
“What about the customers?” I ask.
He kisses me tenderly and sets me down. “They’ll be OK, and Grace is in the prep-kitchen if someone else comes in. Come on, Ms. Blaire. You have a lot of explaining to do. You listed four properties for sale and purchased a fifth one in the last two weeks, and you drastically changed your website. Tell me what’s happening.”
“Compromise,” I say with a smile as I lead him to a couch in the empty dungeon.
“I love my work, and I never want to give it up entirely. But I’m done with in-person work. And before you ask, it’s not totally because of you. When Pratchett was walking me around that ball, I saw multiple clients who could have easily outed me. For the first time in a long while, I didn’t feel safe, and it’s because I’m too good at my job. So, I dumped my client list. Sold a portion of it actually to a woman I mentored when she first got into the business.”
He lifts an eyebrow. “I didn’t know that was a thing.”
I put a finger to his lips to shush him so I can get the rest of my story out.
“The properties I sold were apartments I used for my work. The one I bought is going to be my studio. I’ll take the occasional custom video order, but mostly I’ll rent the space to other sex workers to make content. It’s an enormous space with plenty of rooms to rent out. No in-person work will be allowed, so I’m not breaking any brothel laws. On paper it’s an elaborate photo-studio.”
He sits back and stares at me a little speechless.
“And you’re totally OK with this?” he finally asks.
I straddle his lap and kiss him before I answer. I’ve missed the way his mouth feels on mine. “Luke, I’ve never been more certain of anything in my life. I love you and I want this to work between us.”
We kiss again, and this time we get lost in each other, and it isn’t until Skylar clears her throat that we break apart.
“Zara, you’re back. Thank God. Luke has been miserable to be around without you.”
I grin and pat Luke’s cheek. “That reminds me. I did keep one remnant of my old life.”
He quirks an eyebrow up. “Oh?”
“June and Joe. But Joe won’t be hiring me anymore. We’ve agreed to be good friends. I just need you to get June some Skylar Cameron tickets.”
Luke throws his head back and laughs. “Oh, Flower. She can have permanent front row seats to every show if it means you’ll marry me.”
My heart leaps into my throat. I didn’t expect him to jump straight to marriage, but I find myself nodding. It feels right. He’s the one and we both know it.
“There’s just one thing we need to discuss, lass.” His expression grows somber, and I can’t imagine what he’s going to bring up.
“What is it?”
“Your sister. Vegas. Where do you stand on those?”
