Our simple life gets more complicated every day.
But I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Epilogue: Melanie
I stare into her tiny eyes, and a wave of fear grips my stomach. “I don’t know if we’re ready for this,” I say.
Robbie sighs beside me. “Yes, we are.”
I stand up. “Are you sure?”
“Yes!” he answers for the fortieth time.
“It’s a lot of responsibility, though.”
He shrugs. “We can handle it.”
“But there’s...” I hesitate, “feeding schedules and potty training.”
“It’s not as hard as you’d think, Mel,” he says.
“And walks!” I add. “Who’s going to walk her around and pick up after her when she poos?”
“We will.”
I frown.
“Okay, I will,” he says with a laugh. “Trust me, Melanie. We’re ready for this.”
I turn to gaze into the cage again. “Well, she is really cute,” I say, kneeling on the floor. “With the big ears and stumpy tail.”
The corgi puppy stares up at me. She wags her bum as she spins around in circles, more than a little excited to get out of that cage.
“Aww,” I say, smiling.
Robbie lowers down with me. “See?” he says. “Nothing to be scared of. Just a little puppy.”
I swoon a little more. “I’ve never had a dog before,” I say.
He rubs my back. “I’ll walk you through it. We’ll teach her how to fetch at the dog park and how to walk up and down stairs. It’ll be fun.”
“It sounds fun,” I consider. “And Trix and Lance have a pooch, too. So, they can be friends. Go on little doggy play dates and stuff.”
“Exactly.”
A woman approaches us from down the hall with a clipboard and a set of keys. “Are you two ready to become parents?” she asks, smiling.
Another rush of fear strikes my gut, but one look at Robbie and it all melts away.
“Yes,” I answer. “Yes, we’re ready.”
She grins as she unlocks the cage. As soon as she’s able, the puppy hops toward us. She reaches up Robbie’s calf, and he scoops her off the floor, allowing her to lick the crap out of his face.
“Hey, Sasha!” he greets. “I’m Robbie.”
She barks happily.
I laugh, completely in love at the first sight of them.
Robbie and I lie on the bed side-by-side, barely able to keep our eyes open after a long day of introducing Sasha to her new home. She rests, finally, at our feet, all curled up in the blanket while Robbie and I quietly chat by lamplight.
“Who knew being a puppy parent was so exhausting?” I ask, keeping my voice low so I don’t wake her up.
Robbie chuckles. “We’ll get the hang of it.”
“We never even left the apartment,” I say. “She literally just ran around this place for hours and hours and she never looked bored. Not once.”
“That’s a puppy for you.”
I look at Robbie. “Thanks for talking me into this,” I say. “It was a good idea.”
He briefly stretches his arms above his head. “I didn’t talk you into anything.”
“You know what I mean. I’ve never been one to veer too far outside of my comfort zone. There’s so much I never would have done if it weren’t for you, so... thank you.”
Robbie pauses, his gaze locked on mine. “You’re welcome,” he says.
I present my hand and he takes it, entwining our fingers together as he leans toward my lips.
Sasha rolls over and hoists herself up on all fours, suddenly very, very awake again.
“Think she needs to go out?” I ask.
Robbie sits up. “Yeah, I’ll go.”
“Want me to go with you?”
“No, you stay here and...” He leans in, stealing that kiss she interrupted. “Stay warm for me.”
“Will do,” I say, kissing him back.
Robbie picks up Sasha and gently sets her on the floor. “C’mon, girl, let’s take a walk.”
I lie back and listen as he attaches the leash to her collar and leads her out into the hallway. With tired eyes, I glance around the bedroom and, just like every other night, I’m amazed that this is my life.
After so many years of heartache, the very best parts of me and Robbie found each other again. Nora and Clive are bound together in kinky, wedded bliss. Trix and Lance have a beautiful baby boy. I have no idea what tomorrow will bring. This Sunday’s brunch could throw an entirely new curve ball into our lives and I’m genuinely excited for what that could be.
All’s right with the world.
Or, as they say in my business...
They all lived happily ever after.
Thank you so much for reading! The Chicago Nights series is now complete, but that doesn’t mean you have to stop reading!
Have you met the Botsford Boys? Yes, of the Botsford Plaza Botsfords! You can meet all four brothers in my Heartthrob Hotel series!
Turn the page to meet Graham, the eldest brother, and Jen, the one who got away…
Excerpt: Just a Touch
Graham
Monsoon season. Of all the times to come home again.
If I even make it home again, that is. Las Vegas drivers have no idea how to drive in these infrequent downpours but I must give this taxi driver some credit. We’re not dead yet.
“Sir? Sir?”
The taxi lurches to a stop and the driver mutters something vulgar under his breath before moving on. I watch out my window as the car behind us blares their horn and flips an angry hand gesture in our direction.
“Graham.”
I blink away from the window to find my assistant gawking at me over her blue-rimmed glasses from the seat beside me.
“What is it, Paige?” I ask her.
She tilts her head. “I asked if I could have the night off so I can go see my mother and then your eyes went dead. Are you okay?”
I chuckle. “Right. Yes. Of course. Take the weekend, actually.”
“Sweet,” she says, pitching her voice. She turns back to her phone and texts away. “Not gonna argue against a weekend in Vegas.”
“Just be back at the hotel first thing Monday morning,”
