Jinx (29 page)

Epilogue

Six weeks later

‘How does it feel, Bella?‘ Joanne asked.

I clutched the glass of champagne in my hand. Tonight, I knew there was no way I was going to spill it. “Wonderful. Absolutely wonderful.”

Joanne’s eyes roamed over my drawings, which lined the walls of the Bigtime Museum of Modern Art. Tonight was the grand opening of my first art exhibit at the museum. All the bigwigs on the society circuit had turned out, including Carmen, Sam, Lulu, Henry, Johnny, Fiona, and Chief Newman.

“Well, your work seems to be very popular. Most of the sketches have already sold,” Joanne said. A sad smile tinged her lips. “I’m glad I got my request in early.”

I’d done a portrait of Berkley for her a few weeks ago. Joanne had given me three times what the drawing was worth. I hadn’t wanted to take her money, but she’d insisted. I think it was her way of paying me back for hanging in there with her when we’d been kidnapped.

“How are you?” I asked, putting my hand on her arm. “I haven’t seen you at many of the events lately.

Joanne shrugged. Her face looked thinner and paler than usual under her perfect makeup. “I’m getting by.”

“Call me if you need anything,” I said. “Even if it’s just to talk.”

“Of course.” Joanne downed the rest of her champagne and moved off into the crowd.

Bobby and Grace appeared at my elbow. Both congratulated me on the exhibit. I congratulated the couple on their engagement, even though I still had some reservations about it. But as Bobby pointed out, there wasn’t much time to waste when you were their age. Still, I was happy for them, even if Bobby had started going out at night with Grace when she dressed up as Granny Cane. He called himself Grandpa Pain and carried a supercharged Taser. That had been my idea. Somebody in this family had to be practical. I just hoped Bobby didn’t give himself a heart attack with it.

An arm slid around my waist, and the world brightened.

“It’s about time you got here,” I said, turning to face Devlin.

“Well, I had to appear at the opening as Debonair and mingle for a few minutes,” he said, blue eyes twinkling. “It is part of my contract.”

“Come on,” I said, taking his hand and dragging him off to a deserted corner behind a potted fern. “Let’s get out of here and go home.”

Home for me these days was Devlin’s mansion out in the middle of the bay. Piece by piece, bit by bit, we were slowly restoring the home to its former glory, along with Devlin’s company, DCQ Enterprises. The business had finally begun to recover from Nathan Nichols’s corporate shenanigans. It was something else Devlin and I were rebuilding—together.

“But this is your big night,” he said. “Don’t you want to stay and soak up all the accolades?”

“And I’ll have lots more of them. Right now, I want to spend what’s left of the night with you.”

“I love you, Bella.”

“And I love you, Devlin. Now get us out of here. Pronto!”

“Are you sure?” he asked.

I put my arms around his neck. “I’m always sure with you. Now, take me home and seduce me. That’s an order.”

POP!