Page 10 of The Proposal Pact
“I started with my suits.”
Grace shudders. “I’m scared to think what you did to them if this is what happened after you’d already expelled your negative energy on poor fabric.”
“Oh, I had plenty to still go around and around and around. Remember, I have no panties now.”
“Joy, first stop, the hair salon, and then we’re going to my boutique for some panties.”
Two hours later, we arrived at Grace and Luke’s adorable yellow cottage on a beach with an extra-large bag of panties from the Naughty Nox boutique my best friend now owns and runs in Loverly, specializing in fun underwear, lingerie, and all other attires for home and pleasure. Emphasis on pleasure.
It’s like Victoria’s Secret got high on drugs while unicorns flew around sprinkling glitter all over. I freaking love it! The store is so Grace and I’m so happy she’s doing what she loves.
She found it all in Loverly Cave, which gives me hope that I might too.
“This place…” I twirl around Grace’s living room that is filled with as much color and life as the town outside. “It’s amazing, Gracie,” I squeak out, running into the kitchen, then the bathroom, and taking a quick peek into the bedroom. “My place back in Brooklyn is a mortuary in comparison.”
Grace laughs. “Don’t you worry! We’ll find something perfect here for you too. For now, you can stay up in the loft.” She points toward the curvy staircase leading to an open-concept area.
It’s adorable, absolutely magical, but there’s no way I’m staying anywhere near my best friend and her husband.
“No offence, but as a sexless, depressed woman, I’m not staying here. I’ve seen the kinky stuff you sell at your store. I don’t need to see it in action too.”
Now, as for using it…well, that’s a whole other conversation…
“Don’t worry, Luke is on shift today, so you’re safe for the night, and tomorrow we’ll figure it out.”
I nodded, liking the sound of that as my eyes still took everything in. The view from the windows is stunning with just the sand and the ocean in front of your eyes.
I also spotted two other cottages here as well. One is blue and belongs to her sister Hope. The other is bright pink, and Grace told me Zoe lives there now since Joy moved into her husband’s tiny house on a cliff.
My attention gets pulled away when an orange ball of something furry attacks my legs.
“Crookshanks!” Grace shouts at her cat who is now climbing up my body. Thankfully, my hot pink sweatpants are thick enough to only feel tiny pinpricks as he does so, and I smile, picking up—or rather, ripping away—the tiny rascal from my body into the crook of my arms.
“Hey, you,” I coo to him, trying to tickle his belly but he lets out a hiss and swats at my fingers with his orange paw.
“That’s a bad kitty, Crookshanks!” Grace scolds him.
“Told you that was a devil in disguise, yet you keep insisting he’s a cat.” A male, deep voice sounds from the entryway, and as soon as Crookshanks hears Luke’s voice he bolts from my hold and runs for his daddy, climbing him instead.
I watch in fascination as this big, burly man turns into a soft puddle as soon as the cat is in his arms.
“And what does it say about you when you’re the only one he loves?” Grace cocks an eyebrow. “And what are you doing home? I thought you were working today,” she says, but the happiness in her gaze at the sight of her husband, cannot be missed.
“I never pretended to be an angel, wild one. He simply knows a kindred spirit.” Luke smirks, walking up to Grace who just rolls her eyes with Crookshanks in his arms as he wraps her in a hug, kissing her softly and then bending over to place a gentle kiss on her belly.
My best friend melts like an ice cream on a hot summer day in Luke’s arms and why wouldn’t she when a guy like that is crazy for you!
I sigh, mentally, wishing for a love like that one day too. Not the cheap knock-off version I keep getting.
“I’m only home for a minute.” He kisses the tip of her nose before turning to face me. “I had to welcome Sophie home personally, after all she’s the reason you walked into my bar all those years ago.”
“Hi, Luke.” I give him a small wave, feeling my cheeks heat up. Thank God for my olive-toned complexion that almost always hides any blush on my face because I’m definitely spotting it now. I mean, look at the man!
Tall, dark and handsome, what’s not to like? Luke actually reminds me of my brother a little bit. They have that same aura about them. You know, the one that says, “fuck around and find out.”
Also, I don’t miss how he called Loverly my home and I think I like the sound of it. If only I could figure out what I want to do with my life so I can support myself would be pretty great too. God knows I don’t want to move back in with my brother and Kira.
“How’s New York doing?” he asks me.
