That Ring: Chapter 19

I flew to LA with Jadyn on Monday, and it’s been a whirlwind of meetings and appointments. This morning, I had my hair cut and colored with honey highlights and feel like a new woman. And since I need to explore the area around my new house, I plan to spend the rest of the day driving around, checking out shops, grocery stores, and restaurants.

I’m just coming out of an adorable home decor store, where I purchased a bunch of blue-and-white-patterned mix-and-match dishes for everyday use and some brightly colored outdoor pillows when I get a call from Devaney.

“Dani, hey,” I say, happy to hear from her.

“Guess what,” she says dramatically. And I know that’s what I’m about to hear—drama.

“What?”

“Mom and Richard are getting married on New Year’s Eve.”

“That sounds like a fun time to get married.”

She lets out an audible sigh. “If you want to party with a bunch of old people.”

“I take it, you aren’t thrilled?”

“No! Us kids always have our own New Year’s Eve party. It’s one big slumber party. All the candy and snacks we can eat. We play the board games we loved when we were little. Like Candy Land and Yahtzee. Stay up all night. I can’t miss it.”

“It’s your mother’s wedding, Dani. You probably need to go to that.”

“She got me out of school today. We got our hair and makeup done, had brunch, and went shopping. She bought me a ton of new clothes and two really expensive handbags that I didn’t know I needed until I saw them. She said that she assumed my father hadn’t taken me shopping for a new winter wardrobe and totally spoiled me. I should have known she was buttering me up.”

“Is that what she does?”

“Yeah, but I mean, I get a lot of cool stuff, so it’s not like it’s a bad thing. And we found this gorgeous—I mean, killer—sexy gold dress that Dad will freak out over for me to wear to the wedding. She’s not having bridesmaids, but I guess I’m sort of an honorary one. Which means I’ll be looking amazing, and no one I care about will be there to see me. I haven’t told Damon yet. He will be upset. He loves our New Year’s Eve tradition even more than I do.”

“Well, maybe you should ask your mom to let you each bring a friend or two.”

“Hmm. I never thought of that. I suppose it would at least make it more fun. Anyway, then after shopping, she showed me her new house. It’s not technically hers yet. She doesn’t close on it until after the divorce is final next week, but it’s really something. It’s close to the Plaza, so there’s a lot of great restaurants and shops nearby. And it’s this old, historic house. Crazy big. Something like fifteen thousand square feet. Like more than double the size of our house. Seven bedrooms. Nine baths. It is really cool though. And it has an honest-to-goodness actual ballroom, like for dancing, and a dining room that seats twenty. The biggest chandeliers I’ve ever seen. The grounds are really pretty, too. I don’t like Richard’s penthouse because it’s small, and there’s nothing to see or do when we are there, but this is nice. I’ll have my own bedroom and not have to share with Damon. And it’s really pretty. Has a window seat overlooking the backyard. She said I could have my friends over whenever I wanted and that it was big enough for parties. In fact, they are going to have the wedding at the house. Mom says it’s going to be a exclusive affair.”

“I can only imagine,” I say, trying not to roll my eyes. “It sounds incredible.”

“It’s weird though. Seeing your mom with someone else. Having her marry someone else. My mom always acts like everything is perfect, but today, for the first time, I noticed that not everything really is.”

“No one’s life is perfect, Dani.”

“I know, but she sort of got choked up when she was in the house. I think it’s her dream house. She said something about it being the kind of house she always wanted my dad to buy. But she couldn’t convince him to move.”

“And how do you feel about that?” I ask, sensing the need to tread lightly in this dangerous, emotional territory.

“I was mad at her for leaving us. Now, I understand that maybe it was the right thing for her. I don’t like that she had an affair with Richard while she was married to my dad. I think that’s wrong, but I maybe sort of get it now. And I’m going to try not to be so hard on her. I’ve been hard on her since she moved out. We’ll probably never be close like Haley and Auntie Jay are, but I hope it will be better, if that makes sense.”

“It makes perfect sense.”

“So, are you coming home on Friday with Auntie Jay?”

“I am. Anything exciting going on?”

“I’m having a sleepover.”

“Does that mean having your friends to the ornament-making party helped?”

“Yes. They aren’t mad at me anymore and have all apologized. They said that they were just jealous.”

“It sounds like life is going well then.”

“I think maybe it finally is. It helps now that they know what I’ve been going through with the divorce and all. I’m glad I could finally tell them. Oh, shoot, Chase is calling me. We’re going for a walk. It’s warm here today but supposed to get cold this weekend. We might get our first snow! Bye!” she says, hanging up.

I take a deep breath before I analyze everything she just told me, but before I can exhale, my phone rings again.

“Do you have plans for tonight?” Jadyn asks when I answer.

“Nope.”

“Good. I was hoping you might like to come see something I did at the hotel. Remember that morning when I was baking? Something Cade mentioned about his clients’ needs stuck in my head, and I mulled it over. This is the outcome. ”

“I’d love to. What time?”

“Would around six work? We have some key people coming by, and I’d love to have you see it first. You’re welcome to stay for the party as well. I’m probably just a little nervous. And a little nauseous. And starving.”

When I arrive at the hotel, she says, “Look at you! You look gorgeous! I love the warm highlights.”

“Thank you. I feel refreshed. Did you get any food?”

“Not really. So, I have a plan. Tour and then dinner.”

“Sounds good to me. The hotel bar looked like it was open. I thought the whole place was closed down?”

“The hotel is. The bar, as per your request, isn’t going to change much. We are upgrading and expanding their kitchen as well as doing a few cosmetic upgrades, so they will be closed for three weeks in January, but other than that, they are business as usual.”

She hands me a hard hat and then leads me through a construction zone to the same dingy elevator I was brought up when I left Troy. “Sort of amazing to think how much my life has changed since I was last in this elevator.”

“When you were still in your slippers?”

“Yeah. And the next day, I saw Danny again. I’m so glad you texted me.”

“I am, too.”

“When did you start this renovation? Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago?”

“It’s been almost a month. But when you’re working three huge shifts twenty-four hours a day, it gets done a lot faster. The first three days were just the movers taking out all the furniture and equipment. That had to be done carefully, as some special things, like the hotel’s monogrammed china, we’ll be keeping for later use. Removing fixtures took the next three days. We then started on the walls. Every standard room in the hotel will get larger by almost half, cutting our number of rooms way down. And what I got approval to do on the upper floors will take the room count even lower. It will definitely have more of a boutique feel.”

“That’s one thing I noticed from the staff when I stayed here. They treated every guest like they were someone important.”

“I remember. And your specific situation, where you needed to get away from the press that first day and then again later when you were between homes, along with Cade mentioning a client who would be in town filming for just a couple of weeks but needed to stay somewhere with full services since she’d be so busy got me thinking.” The elevator dings as we arrive at the fourteenth floor. “What I decided to do was turn the upper six floors of the hotel into residential suites of varying sizes and price points. The largest two will feature five bedrooms and an expansive outdoor terrace. All the walls and floors are being soundproofed, and new windows will be installed.”

“Will you be able to buy them, like a condo, and live here?”

“No, they will be more like an upscale rental. You’ll have to go through a special concierge to get access for a reservation. You can’t just make them online. You won’t even be able to see photos of them on our website. And that hallway we took from the drive and the elevator we came up will be become a very posh, secret entrance that only those staying in the suites and their guests will be allowed access to.”

“It was the perfect way for me to hide from the press.”

“Which is part of the plan for when celebrities demand privacy. What you will see is a model of our two-bedroom suite. I haven’t decided what to call them yet. Suite, cottage, and bungalow don’t really fit. Penthouse sounds like a party space, and that’s the opposite of what we want this to be. It’s a refuge. Quiet. Private. And full service. Anything you want, they will arrange for you. Each suite, no matter the size or the cost, will come with a personal assistant. Butler service will also be available.”

“Wait,” I say, putting up my hand. “Something you just said.

. What if you call it that? The refuge?”

“It’s one that the team has definitely thought of. So far, they like . To me, that sounds too urban. Other options have been , , , , . I want guests who enter to feel like they’ve been wrapped in a blanket and enveloped in cashmere.”

“Like your guest room. Luxurious but still cozy. When Tripp asked me about what he should do, I told him to tell you to make the hotel feel like your home. Make it personal. Warm, inviting, and luxurious. The kind of place where you can curl your feet up on a chair, look out the window to enjoy a few moments of peace from your chaotic life, and sleep like a baby in the most comfortable bed you’ve ever felt.”

“You told him about the cookies, too,” she says as we approach a dark teal wood door. “Did you know that he ordered that my cookies be sent warm to each room every evening?”

“I didn’t know that. Very luxe,” I tease.

“Luxe,” she says. “That’s it—

. I see the logo handwritten in thin black ink—all lowercase letters.” She stops and gives me a hug. “Thank you! I’ve been trying to figure it out for days.” She gestures toward the door. “I’ll let you do the honors.”

I rotate the gold lever and open the door. “Jadyn!” I exclaim. “You did it!”

The room is gorgeous. Floor-to-ceiling windows highlighted by soft sheers, herringbone wood floor, furniture in linens and velvets rest on silk rugs. The colors are mostly neutral, but the kitchen cabinets are the same dark teal as the door and Danny’s kitchen island. Around the corner is a set of pocket doors that open to a den with bookcases and a cozy seating arrangement. A basket holds cashmere blankets, waiting to be curled up in.

“This room is really pretty. One question though: is there no television in here? I mean, it is Hollywood.”

“I’m glad you asked,” Jadyn says, picking up a remote on a side table. “This little remote controls everything in the suite. Including this.” She presses a button, and a large screen slides out of the ceiling and into place.

“The bookcases will house the latest in tech capabilities as well as old-fashioned board games, but the really cool thing about this layout is, we can set up the dining room swivel chairs into rows behind the couch to make a screening room that will seat twelve.” She presses another button, causing blackout shades to cover the panoramic view.

“Very cool. Will all the suites offer something like this?”

“Yes, in fact, the two largest suites can be reconfigured to host a screening for forty.” She presses another button, letting the light back in. “Let’s go check out the bedroom.”

The first thing I do is plop on the bed to make sure it’s comfortable. “Perfection.” I hop up, refluff the comforter, and make my way into the luxurious bathroom.

“Double vanities, the kind of lighting makeup artists prefer, and a closet large enough to double as a dressing room. If you need to get ready for an event, there’s plenty of space for a team of stylists.”

“And this is just the two-bedroom. Are they all like this?”

“Yes. The core of each suite is the same, whether one-, two-, or three-bedroom. The four- and five-bedroom versions will offer expanded living spaces, a built-in bar, butler’s pantry, and outdoor space. The colors of the painted cabinets will vary. We’ll be using charcoal, eggplant, crimson, navy, and gold along with the teal.”

“You’re really going to do it, aren’t you? You’re going to bring this place back from the depths, just like you did me.”

“I didn’t bring you back from the depths,” she scoffs. “You did that yourself.”

Tears fill my eyes. “That day, in your office, when you showed me those pictures and told me the stories of all the amazing people who have worked and stayed here, I felt it in my gut. Like my life didn’t need a complete teardown, that I was worth saving. Worth a new life with the kind of shine that befits me.”

“I hope that this project turns out with your kind of shine,” she tells me. “I’m starving. What do you say we go downstairs and get something to eat?”

“I’m all for that. I haven’t eaten since breakfast.”

We’re in the bar, being catered to, when Tripp strolls in.

“I heard you were down here,” he says. “Mind some company?”

I don’t answer, just set my fork down, slide my plate closer to Jadyn, and scoot over in the booth to make room.

“Have you been upstairs to see the model yet?” Jadyn asks him as he takes a seat.

“No. Just arrived. It’s my understanding you have a good turnout though. Is it true that your guest list is only talent agents and celebrity managers?”

“For now, yes. Next week, we’re bringing in an international security expert. He consulted on the project, and we want him to see this firsthand while we can still make tweaks.”

“Sounds like your team has it all under control.”

“So far, yes. No major snags. No asbestos and only a little lead paint so far. We already planned to upgrade all the major systems, so that’s most of what will be done once all the new wall studs are in place.”

“I’ll leave you two to enjoy your dinner and see if I can sneak in and hear what people are saying.”

“I can tell you what they are saying,” I say, setting my fork down.

“And what’s that?”

“That they wish it were open now.”

“Well, look at you,” I say the moment I see Jennifer’s face on our nightly video chat. “You look happy. Did you have a good day?”

“Actually, I had a great day. I wandered all over the new neighborhood. Bought some new dishes that are so cute. You’ll also be happy to know I found a great Mexican restaurant.”

“And you got your hair cut.”

“You can tell?” she asks, surprised.

“Yeah, it’s layered around your jaw. It also looks like the color is a little different, but I’m not sure if it’s just the lighting.”

She’s positively radiant.

“Wow,” she says. “You’re good. It was getting a little drab. Needed some highlights.”

“I can’t wait to see them in person.”

I’m not really looking at her hair anymore. She just sat up straighter against her pillow, causing a silky camisole that’s riding dangerously low on her breasts to come into view.

She must notice because she tilts the camera straight at them.

“I bought some new sleepwear, too,” she says, making the camera shimmy. “What do you think?”

“I am counting down the days for you to get back here and dreaming of what it’s going to be like, having you in my bed. Every. Single. Night.”

“For the rest of your life?” she says boldly, a perfect brown eyebrow raised at me in challenge.

“You bet your sweet ass,” I agree, grinning like a maniac.

“Did you know that it’s only been thirty-nine days since you came back into my life? It sounds like such a short time, but it doesn’t feel that way.”

“That’s because, for us,” I say, “it hasn’t been just a month—more like fourteen years.”

She contentedly leans back into her fluffy pillow and sighs. “It has been a long time coming. You know how you said that redoing your house has been part of your healing process? Of creating your own life?”

“Yes.”

“Not long after I arrived in Kansas City, there was one morning when I was staggering out of the bedroom, searching for coffee.”

“I can picture that,” I say with a chuckle. “You aren’t much of a morning person, are you?”

“Not at all,” she replies, shaking her head with an adorable grin on her face.

“I like that about you.”

“You do?”

“Yeah, you’re snuggly in the morning. It’s cute.”

She sighs happily. “I love you. I also need to finish my story. It’s sort of important.”

“I’m all ears,” I say, but I might reposition the camera myself, showing off my shirtless physique.

She puts her chin up in the air and looks toward the bottom of the screen. “Just a little lower,” she says with a smirk.

“But you are telling me an important story,” I tease.

“I think I just forgot,” she says, tilting her head, admiring me.

I laugh. Move the phone lower for just a second before bringing it back to my face. “Continue.”

“Danny Diamond, you are one sexy-ass man. Your body is just like … damn.” She lets out a whoosh of air and then shakes her head. “Back to my story, but I’d like to revisit some of those naked parts before we end our call.”

“Deal,” I say.

She’s so much fun, and I just can’t stop smiling when I’m around her. When Lori told me she wanted a divorce in May, it felt like my world was ending. It’s nice to realize that my universe was expanding instead.

“So, I came out looking for coffee, and Jadyn was at her drafting table and had all sorts of photos pinned to her bulletin board of the hotel’s past. People who worked and stayed there and the original photos of the building. And you and I had just met, and my life was a mess, and it’s like the hotel became about me. I didn’t want my life razed. I wanted my beauty restored. Does that even make sense? I feel like I’m rambling, but seeing just the one model suite made me feel like I’ve come a long way. If I’m ever lucky enough to get married someday, I want it to be there. At that hotel.”

I nod at her, feeling a little overwhelmed. She’s thinking about getting married. Hopefully, thinking about marrying me. The crazy thing is, marrying Jennifer has been on my mind lately. I’ve been thinking about proposing. About a proposal specifically. About when and where and how I would do so.

Because I know this: I’m going to marry that girl.