Page 76 of Sealing the Deal

She snorts. “It’s been two weeks.”

“Yeah.” I grin. “And I’m still celebrating.”

It’s true, in more ways than one. We won. And our playoff run gave my takings the boost I’d been praying for. For the first time in months, I can look at my accounts without my pulse spiking. Owning the building instead of paying rent still feels surreal, but the fear that used to sit heavy in my gut is gone.

Izzy makes her way toward me, and I take her in. She’s wearing an oversized gray sweatshirt that hangs low over her bump and black leggings stretched tight across legs that look ready to give up at any moment. Her dark blonde hair is loose, framing her face, but even from here I can see the tiredness in her eyes. The kind that says sleep is a distant memory.

“If that’s a caramel latte in your hand, I might have to marry you,” I say, stepping around the bar.

She hands me one. “It is. But I’m already taken.”

“Tragic.”

She looks around the bar. “I took a gamble you’d be here. Dylan had an errand in the city, and I fancied a break from the ranch. I haven’t been here for ages. It’s looking good.”

“It is.” I follow her gaze to the polished tables and the new cushions on the booth seats that I ordered last week. The place smells faintly of lemon cleaner and paint instead of the beer and fried food that will come when we open later.

“And it’s yours, right? The building, I mean.”

My grin widens and I nod, thinking of the deeds Grayson gave me the day after the Super Bowl. “All mine.”

Izzy gives a cheer, sliding her coffee onto the bar and giving me a hug. “Congratulations.”

“Thanks,” I reply. “Now, am I allowed to say you’re huge?”

She laughs. “Mad does every day.” She rests a hand on her enormous belly and sighs. “My due date’s still two weeks away. I might just collapse on the couch and wait it out in full beached-whale form.”

“I bet Dylan tells you you’re gorgeous,” I say.

Her smile turns soft. “Yeah. He does.” She snorts. “He’s already talking about more kids.”

“Really?” I lift my brows. “How do you feel about that?”

“More children, yes. Carrying another one after this one?” She makes a face. “I’m not sure. But Dylan’s keen to look into adoption.”

I nod as a warmth spreads through my chest. I think of Chase. Of the way being taken in by the Sullivans at two years old changed the course of his life. It changed my life just spending weekends at the ranch with this family. “I can see that.”

“So, tell me about you,” Izzy says as she eyeballs the barstool. “And don’t look at me while I climb onto this thing. I’m about as graceful as a knocked-over cow.”

I laugh. “We could sit somewhere else.”

“We always sit at the bar,” she says, stubborn as ever, hauling herself up with a dramatic groan. “How are things with Grayson? Your deal is over, but are you…” She trails off.

“Still seeing each other? Yes. Things are good.” I lift my coffee to my lips as my cheeks heat.

Izzy narrows her eyes. “Flic. Look at me. I did not haul this huge belly into the city for ‘good.’ I want details. You know—dragging-him-into-cloakrooms-to-have-your-wicked-way-with-him details.”

I laugh, shaking my head, regretting telling Izzy about the moment at the party. “Honestly, there’s not much to tell. Our deal is technically over, but we’re spending just as much time together as before. When Grayson’s in Denver, we’re pretty inseparable. And he’s still inviting me to management meetings for the Stormhawks and asking my advice.”

“Smart man,” Izzy replies, eyeing me carefully. “Why do I feel like there’s a ‘but’ coming?”

“Because we haven’t talked about us and what we are. We’re just living in the moment, I guess. Which is great, but there’s still New York. When he’s here, it’s perfect. But he has this whole other life I’m not part of. Every time he leaves, I still worry he won’t come back.”

“But he does,” Izzy says, voice gentle.

I nod. “He’s given up his suite at the hotel. We spend most of our time in my tiny studio now.” I picture Grayson falling into my bed at the end of the day, exhausted but always reaching for me. “But I feel like I’m waiting for the bubble to burst or it all to go wrong. And…” I pause and shake my head. “It doesn’t matter.”

“What?” Izzy pushes.