Epilogue

Three months later

Ngozi felt sexy as she came down the stairs of Chance’s mansion in Alpine in the beautiful silver beaded sheath dress she’d seen in the window of Spree the very same day she reconciled with Chance. She had returned to the upscale boutique and purchased the dress the very next day. She now finally had just the right opportunity to wear it.

A celebration.

She looked over at Chance, looking ever so handsome in his black-on-black tuxedo as he awaited her. Life is good.

Chance’s foundation, Second Chances, had just received a multimillion-dollar grant to help fund its philanthropic efforts toward underserved and sorely underrepresented lower-income defendants unable to afford bail or bond. With Ngozi’s involvement as cochair of the board, the foundation’s efforts would also expand to recruit skilled attorneys for pro bono work, including helping innocent men serving time for crimes they did not commit. Together, Chance and Ngozi were determined to effect change with the unfair treatment of people of color within the judicial system.

“Ready?” Ngozi called over to him, striking a pose.

Chance turned, and his eyes instantly went to the short hem lightly stroking her legs midthigh. “Worth the wait, Ngozi,” he said, now looking at her face as he came over to her.

They shared a brief but passionate kiss.

When his hands rose to grip her buttocks, she reluctantly shook her head. “We have a whole party and all our family and friends waiting for us at Alek and Alessandra’s,” she reminded him, using her thumb to rub her crimson gloss from his lips.

“To hell with that party,” he growled low in his throat.

“Don’t you want to celebrate the sale of your second app, Mr. Tech King?” she teased.

He smiled, and it slowly broadened. “Tech King, huh?”

She shrugged one bare shoulder. “Forbes’ words, not mine,” she said, accepting his hand as they crossed the foyer together.

“Not bad for a kid from the projects?” Chance asked as he opened the front door for her.

She glanced up and stroked his cheek as he passed. “Not bad at all,” she assured him.

The sun had disappeared, but the summer evening was still warm as they made their way to Chance’s new white Lamborghini—a celebratory gift.

He deserves it.

She looked around at the beautiful grounds of his estate before climbing inside the car. “You sure you’re not going to miss all this?” she asked him once he was behind the wheel in the driver’s seat.

“We’re building from scratch. I’ll be fine,” he assured her.

Ngozi covered his hand on the stick shift with her own. “Good, because I really want our home base to be in Passion Grove,” she said as she eyed the ornate bronzed for-sale sign just outside his exterior gate.

She had gladly given up her rental. Its purpose in her newfound independence had been served.

Chance chuckled. “Can you believe I used to make fun of Alek for moving to a small town?” he asked, accelerating the sports car forward.

“Yes, but Passion Grove is no ordinary small town,” she said, thinking of the ability to maintain its charms but still perfectly blend with luxury.

“Damn straight it’s not.”

Chance pulled the car to a smooth stop at a red light. His hand went to one of her exposed thighs.

She released a little grunt of pleasure. “I can’t wait to let everyone in on our secret, Mr. Castillo,” she said.

Chance smiled as he looked over at her. “Me either, Mrs. Castillo,” he said.

Just that morning they had followed their impulses and flew to Vegas to get married. Neither longed for a huge event after their past experiences with such—his nuptials never happened and hers led to anything but marital bliss.

They chose to focus on their marriage and not the wedding.

“My tentadora,” Chance said, indulging himself with a kiss.

“Will I always be your temptress?” she asked, her voice and her eyes soft with her love for him.

“Until death do us part.”

“Now that sounds tempting.”