“I just want this all to work out.”
“Me and Michael, too. Don’t doubt that.” Sam pulled away and stared her in the eyes. “I do love you.”
She smiled. Kissed him.
Michael joined them. “Goes for me, too.”
“Because it would torture you so to say the actual words,” she jested.
He laughed. “Fine. I love you, Scarlet Drake.”
“Hmm.” She kissed him.
He let out a hearty laugh. “Now who’s the pain in the ass?”
She wrapped her arms around his neck and said, “I love you, too, Michael Vandenberg.”
“Now, about our weekend in Montana?” Sam prompted.
Scarlet told them, “I’m all in.”
Michael grunted. “Really, Montana? Why don’t we just stay here in the city?”
“Because Sam has work to do. Competitions to prepare for. And I want to watch.”
“Figures.”
“Stop grumbling,” she chided Michael as she untangled herself from him. “We’ve spent plenty of time in New York. It’s only fair to make the rounds.”
“If it’s what you want,” he conceded, albeit reluctantly. “I’ll have my assistant arrange everything.”
“Aw, look at you,” Scarlet teased as she gazed into his smoky eyes, “compromising.”
He tapped the tip of her nose with his finger and told her, “Don’t make me regret this.”
“Brother,” Sam said, “you have a lot to learn about women.”
“Particularly how willing this one is to reward you for good behavior.” Scarlet’s lips glided over Michael’s. Then she nipped at the corner of his mouth. “So play nice.”
“Only for you.”
“That’s all I’m asking.”
“Well,” Sam said, pleased. “Montana it is.”
EPILOGUE
Three months later …
“Girlfriend,” Jewel said with a lilt in her tone, “you have that ménage à trois glow going on.”
Scarlet grinned mischievously. “You would recognize it. You both see it in the mirror every day.” She nudged Bayli with her shoulder.
“Loving every minute of it,” Bayli concurred.
This beautiful spring evening, they were on the patio of Bristol’s in River Cross. The restaurant was Christian and Rory’s flagship establishment and a favorite of locals and tourists to the wine country alike. An apropos spot for a celebratory dinner that was about to start with a champagne toast.
Michael had secured a deal with Christian and Rory to open his rooftop restaurants in his major department stores, and Bayli and Rory were plotting how they’d incorporate the creation of the eateries and grand openings into their food/travel show.