“I’m not sure I’m up for all that.” She sighed. “But I’m willing to attempt a civil conversation. Would we be able to talk on this date?”
“Absolutely.” Legend nodded. “That’s the plan.”
Karolena took a moment to decide. His heart pounded as he waited for the verdict.
“Fine, but if I change my mind you’ll need to bring me home right away. No arguments.” She crossed her arms. He loved that she was setting healthy boundaries and learning to be assertive despite how unused to it she was.
“Of course.” It was an easy promise to make. Tavish nodded too.
When he gestured for her to step out with them, she did and headed for the elevators. Unlike all the other times they’d done that, he pushed the up button instead of down. Karolena raised a questioning gaze to him. “Where are we going?”
“We still don’t have any real balconies at Shields, but we do have a roof.” Tavish entered the elevator. He held the doors for her and Legend then hit the button for the top floor.
Karolena’s eyes sparkled in the halogen lights. Legend was sure she appreciated an adventure and made note to take her on plenty in the future, if she’d let them.
When they were let out on the top floor, they had to take one final industrial-looking cement-and-metal stairway to the roof. The door had extra security that he cleared with a fingerprint scanner. When he held his hand to Karolena, she took it, so he led her outside, where their helipad occupied a portion of the space.
In the corner as far away from it as possible, an oasis of artificial turf was surrounded by oversized brushed nickel lanterns. Beveled glass sheltered the flames of zillions of candles. Strands of bistro lights with round bulbs were strung in long arcs between elevated poles that defined the rooftop retreat. Inside the area, a square wooden table with formal chairs on three sides sat diagonal from a canopied daybed. They’d swapped the heavy canvas curtains on it for mosquito netting to lend it an airy touch with the illusion of privacy that still allowed its occupants to stargaze while lounging on it.
Fresh flowers overflowed vases set on pedestals of varying heights between the lanterns. White heirloom roses and peonies nestled among unique greenery he didn’t even know the name of. Didn’t need to, to be impressed by how gorgeous and sophisticated it all looked.
Beside the bouquet at the center of the table, an ornate silver bucket held ice and a very expensive bottle of champagne. Three crystal flutes cast rainbows onto the table from the candlelight shining through them.
“You had this up here the whole time and you’re just telling me now?” Karolena went straight over to examine their handiwork. “This is incredible.”
“Actually, no.” Legend shook his head.
Tavish stepped in front of her at the entrance to the getaway. He took her hands in his and waited until she met his gaze before admitting, “The Shields and our other Middletown friends set this up to help us convince you that you’re special to us, even if we’re works in progress. I’m so sorry I got triggered earlier and that my insecurities came to the surface. It had nothing to do with you, Karolena, and everything to do with my past.”
Karolena sniffled, looking between him and Legend and then back to the open-air space. “You really did this for me?”
“Of course.” Legend joined them, putting his hands over hers and Tavish’s where they were joined. “And it’s only a small demonstration of what we would like to do for you. You’re good for us, Karolena. You make us tackle these difficult conversations and be honest about what we need from each other, because with you, I think we might finally have a shot at finding something we never thought we’d have. Everlasting joy.”
A tear rolled down her check and he couldn’t help but lean in and kiss it away.
“I think it hurt so much because I feel the same way and I’ve never had anything I was afraid of losing before.” Karolena looked back at what they’d made for her. “How the hell did you pull this off?”
“It doesn’t hurt having lots of helping hands.” Tavish smiled. “Plus Laurel and Kate have the home décor business, which came in clutch. Joe and Morgan had a lot of suggestions too. I guess he wooed her with a private dinner in a pumpkin patch once. If it worked for him…”
“Is it going to work for us too?” Legend asked, afraid to hope.
Before Karolena could respond, the familiarwop wop wopof an approaching helicopter cut through the night. Legend and Tavish bundled Karolena between them as the lights grew brighter. Legend said, “Duck your face, it’s going to get windy.”
Thankfully the lanterns did their jobs and the flowers didn’t seem too disturbed as the chopper touched down, light as a feather, and its engine cut out.
“What—?” Karolena looked to them until the pilot’s door opened and Aven waved.
The three of them crossed to the helicopter.
“I believe I have a delivery for you, ma’am.” She reached over and retrieved a black bag with a foiled gold logo from the passenger seat and handed it down to Karolena, followed by a shoebox.
She took one look at the packages and gasped. “These are my favorite designers.”
“Levin told us.” Tavish flashed her a wry smile. “I guess he’s good for something, huh?”
Legend braced himself, but Karolena laughed and swung the bag at Tavish, making Legend feel lighter than he had since that morning when the foundation for their future with her had nearly gone up in flames at least as devastating as the ones the Heat had unleashed on James’s car.
“You really believe me about him?” she asked Tavish.