Somebody cleared their throat nearby and they broke apart slightly to find Mike leaning on the bar toward them. “I believe you two already know this establishment has rooms for hire right?”
Reuben chuckled and it was so light and warm and delicious, Vivian wanted to lean in and taste it on his mouth. “Already ahead of you, buddy.”
Mike nodded. “Then may I suggest if you don’t want to be on the prayer chain at church on Sunday you’d best avail yourself of it.”
“Brilliant idea,” Reuben said as he slipped off the chair. “See you next year, man,” he said, then laughed at his own joke.
Mike departed and Viv delved into the front pocket of her jeans, removing her scrunched-up underwear and sliding them into Reuben’s palm as he offered her his hand.
He stilled, staring at her for a beat or two. “Are they what I think they are?”
“If you’re thinking my panties, then yes.”
He growled a little under his breath and heat flared everywhere. “Life’s never going to be dull with you is it?”
“Nope.”
“Good.” He kissed her hard and quick. “I can’t wait.”
Then he tugged on her hand and she followed him out of the bar into a whole new year and a whole new life.
Epilogue
March the following year…
Compared to Delish’s first opening day, its re-opening day was an outstanding success. It seemed like the whole of Marietta had come out to rejoice and celebrate. Everyone walked through the door at some point during the day from the mayor all the way through to Sage, which left Robbie, Mackenzie and Viv run off their feet.
Not that any of them cared. They were ecstatic to have customers and the day zipped by with alarming speed. Before any of them knew it, Robbie was flipping over the closed sign.
She sighed as she turned and leaned heavily back against the door. “That was insane,” she said with a laugh.
Mackenzie nodded. “I think if I have to fix another hot chocolate I might just turn into a marshmallow.”
Viv knew how she felt. Delish never usually did hot chocolates outside of December but everyone had been asking after them and there was no way Viv wanted to disappoint anybody on their first day. And besides, with yesterday’s snowfall—hopefully the last for the season—it was still cold enough to appreciate a nice warm beverage.
A knock to the door almost had Robbie hitting the ceiling. “Holy cow,” she muttered as she turned to discover it was Reuben. Shaking her head at him she opened the door. “Are you trying to give me a heart attack, Reuben Price?”
Reuben grinned at Robbie as he took his hat off. “No, ma’am. Apologies.”
Robbie huffed out a breath. “Just as well you’re pretty to look at.”
Viv had to agree. Even after months and months of looking at the man, she still couldn’t get enough of all his big, broad, rangy hotness. Made her pleased every damn day she hadn’t got on that plane to Houston.
“And I come bearing gifts.”
He held up a bottle of frosty champagne. Robbie sniffed, still obviously not willing to let him totally off the hook. “Is it French?”
“Is there any other kind?”
“Well why in hell are you still standing on the doorstep?” She stood aside. “Can’t you tell your woman is badly in need of French champagne?”
Reuben glanced across the room at her, his gaze hungry. “It’s why I’m here.”
Viv leaned forward on the brushed-pewter counter and smiled. He strode toward her, his uniform fitting him to perfection with that long-legged swagger of his and her ovaries exploded like firecrackers in her belly. But it was the look of love in his eyes that caused a bloom of heat and love in her chest that sucked her breath away.
It seemed like it got bigger every day.
When he reached the other side of the counter he slid his elbows on top and leaned in, claiming her mouth in a mind-melting kiss. Viv’s heart fluttered, knowing she had a whole lifetime of these kisses in her future.
“Don’t mind me, I’ll just take this,” Mackenzie said as she relieved Reuben of the champagne. “No telling how long you two will be at that.” She glanced at Robbie. “Shall we?”
Robbie grinned delightedly. “Heck yeah.”
They disappeared into the kitchen as Viv broke off the kiss and he pressed his forehead to hers. “I missed you today,” he murmured.
“You miss me every day.”
“You better get used to it. I’m going to be one of those horny eighty-year-old guys who gropes you inappropriately in public.”
Viv laughed. “Lucky me.”
“How many days until your next trip again?”
“I’m here all month and you know it.”
Viv hadn’t gotten on that plane to Houston on New Year’s Eve but she had gotten on it two weeks later. She went for two days, did what needed to be done and had returned to Marietta. They’d been the longest two days of her life and ever since then she’d been leaving every few weeks to go to the next place but always returning.
She had the best of both worlds now, she still got to travel but she’d finally realized what Reuben’s mother had said—it was okay to want to settle somewhere at some stage—was true. And she got to decide her path. Because surely that’s what true freedom meant—the choice to go or stay or even to do both.
But for this month, there was no traveling. She was helping out at the revamped store and then she was starting a whole new direction in her career with Delish. She was taking over all their social media content. She’d never thought she’d change direction so completely in her career but when a spur-of-the-moment video she’d taken while cooking in the Houston store with one of their staff had gone viral on the Delish Instagram account, a whole world of possibilities had opened up.
Harriet had been so impressed she’d offered Viv her new position if she wanted it and Viv had embraced the opportunity. She’d always loved that the company had supported her and given her chances to grow and this, as far as Viv was concerned, was another opportunity she was going to grasp with both hands.
The best thing was that it could be done mostly remotely. Sure, there’d still be regular travel for meetings and to collect content but by and large she’d be able to manage everything from Marietta. And with Reuben requesting permanent transfer to the Marietta Sheriff’s Department and moving in to the Bramble Lane cottage with her, everything was pretty damn perfect.
Okay, she’d never get to live in every state in America but she sure as hell could visit every one of them still and she and Reuben would work on that together.
“You guys want some of this or are we going to drink it all?”
“Let’s let them drink it,” Reuben murmured as he nuzzled her ear. “I have a second bottle in the fridge at home I plan on licking off you ASAP.”
Viv gave a husky laugh. That sounded pretty damn good to her. But. This was Robbie and Mackenzie’s day too so she and Reuben could cool their jets for a little while. “One drink,” she said. “Then we’ll go. That okay?”
He gave her a gentle smile, as he cupped her cheek. “Anything. Anything for you.”