The Very Naughty List

Epilogue

HAILEY

One Year Later

“Hey, Pippa, can you cover for me? I want to duck out a bit early.”

My sister peeks her head through the doors leading from the kitchen to the main room of the diner, raising an eyebrow at me. “How come? Do you have a hot date or something?” she teases before laughing. “Of course I will. Tell the guys I said hi.”

I thank her, then grab my bag to slip into the restroom to change.

I can’t believe it’s almost Christmas again. And I really can’t believe that it’s been almost a year since my life was turned upside down in the best way.

Over the past several months, I’ve been splitting my time between helping out at my family’s diner and pursuing my music career. The Griddle House has been recently expanded and is doing really well. I think it’s surpassed my parents’ expectations, and they both seem to have a bounce in their step these days that I love to see. Now that the Montgomerys’ threats are no longer hanging over our heads, we can focus on other things. Better things.

And just like the men promised, the development of my singing career hasn’t come between us at all. Fortunately, I’ve been able to remain based in Chestnut Hill, even though I travel for gigs sometimes. When I do, the guys come with me, and we make a whole fun trip out of it.

My heart races at the thought of the Cooper brothers as I lock the bathroom door and open my bag, pulling out the sexy lingerie that I bought the other day.

Moving quickly, I tug off my work clothes and slip into the lingerie set. Rather than putting my clothes back on over the skimpy, lacy items, I just wrap my coat around myself, then check the mirror to make sure that no one will be able to tell.

Fortunately, my coat is long enough that it ends just above my boots, so it’s almost impossible to tell that I’m not fully dressed beneath the outer layer.

My hands shake with excitement as I tie the belt on my coat, then I shove everything else into my bag and head out.

“Bye, Pippa!” I wave at my sister as I leave the diner, the bell over the door chiming.

Anticipation flutters in my stomach as I drive home. I’m still living with the Cooper brothers, and Bruno leaps up to give me an exuberant greeting as soon as he sees me, but other than that, the house is empty.

I frown, glancing around.

“Where’d they go, boy?” I ask as I rub Bruno’s head.

As my ever constant and faithful buddy, he pads over to the back door and snuffles loudly as he digs at the crack between the door and the floorboard.

Ah. The guys must be outside .

“Thanks, bud,” I tell him, giving him another pet as I glance out the window.

In the large open area behind their house, the guys have been working on building a music studio for me. It’s something so special and also so practical, and I adore them for putting all this effort into making it. It will allow me to rehearse and record music right here at home, and between all of their craftsmanship skills and ingenuity, it’s going to be decked out with everything that I need.

I head outside, and my boots sink into the snow as I pull my coat tighter around me. It’s cold out today, and I love the way it makes my bare skin feel against the inside of my warm coat. It feels as if every inch of me is alive.

As I walk toward the small building in the backyard, I can’t help grinning at the sight.

Reid took the lead in designing it, and they’ve all been putting in lots of hours to build it. Sebastian has been engineering all the sound system mechanics, and Nick has been running the electrical wiring and lighting—up to fire code, of course.

It’s all basically done.

I open the door to step inside, and all three of them look up when they see me come in. It looks like they were deep into working on something, but all it takes is one glance for me to have their full attention.

“You’re home early.” Nick smiles as he stands up.

Reid and Sebastian follow, and all three of them move in my direction. But before they can reach me, I pull off the belt on my coat, letting it fall open to reveal what’s hidden beneath.

Their words of greeting choke off as three ravenous gazes suddenly rake over me.

“Holy fuck,” Sebastian rasps.

The hoarseness in his voice gives me goosebumps, and I shuck my coat, letting it fall to the floor before I stride toward them with a sway in my hips.

As soon as I get within arm’s reach, Nick yanks me against him. The other two step close, and within seconds I’m sandwiched between all three men.

“Jesus, Hailey.” Reid’s words are a fervent exhale as he crushes his lips to mine and runs his hand down my body. “Are you trying to kill us?”

“No, definitely not.” I draw back, giving them an innocent look as I flutter my eyelashes. “Is it too much? I can put my coat back on if?—”

“Fuck, no,” Sebastian growls, spinning me around to face him as he takes his turn kissing me, his hands cupping my breasts.

I tip my head back, whimpering softly as hands and mouths roam all over my body. The feeling of being worshipped by three men at once, three tongues tracing my skin and hands touching me everywhere, is an overwhelming sensation that I can’t even put into words.

“This is stunningly sexy, songbird.” Nick’s teeth nip at my shoulder as he slips his fingers inside my delicate panties. “What’s the occasion?”

“There isn’t one,” I whisper, hissing out a breath as he teases my clit with his fingertips. “I just wanted to surprise you.”

“You definitely did that.” Reid chuckles as he pinches my nipple lightly, making me moan. “The best kind of surprise.”

“You know…” I trail off, my brain short circuiting for a moment as Sebastian sucks on my other nipple through my lacy bra. “I was thinking—since we already checked off every item on my list, I need to write a new bucket list of dirty things to do with all of you.”

“Does that mean we won the bet?”

Sebastian glances up at me through his lashes, his mouth still teasing my breast. His eyes glint with heated amusement, because he knows full well that they did. They ticked off every single item on my first naughty list, and it was more fun than I ever imagined it could be.

“Yeah, you won,” I tell him, tugging his hair to pull him up for a kiss. “But now that just means we have to start all over again with a new list. I dare you.”

I arch a brow at him, expecting him to smirk as he meets my challenge. But instead, a serious, almost nervous look crosses his face, and he glances at his brothers.

“Actually…” He clears his throat. “We have a list of our own.”

My brows shoot up. “You do? What’s on it?”

He glances at Reid, then at Nick, and all three of them step away from me a bit. I immediately miss the warmth of their bodies, but I’m too intrigued by what they’re talking about to be disappointed that our moment was interrupted.

Nick disappears for a moment, heading into what will be the actual recording booth before returning and nodding at his brothers.

Reid pulls a folded up piece of paper out of his back pocket, and Nick and Sebastian come to stand shoulder to shoulder with him as he hands it to me. It brings back memories of the time when I went upstairs to grab my bucket list and then came back down to the living room to show it to them. I was so nervous at the time, and honestly, they look just as nervous right now.

“Let’s see…” I draw the words out as I slowly unfold the paper. “Just what kinds of dirty things do you all have on your lis?—”

My voice breaks off, shock ricocheting through me.

There’s only one item on the list, and tears well in my eyes as my gaze scans the words.

“Go on, songbird,” Nick says quietly. “Read it out loud.”

I swallow, licking my lips before I choke out, “It says, ‘marry the woman we love.’”

As the last word leaves my lips, all three brothers move in sync. Nick pulls out the object that he must’ve retrieved from my recording booth, a small velvet ring box. He opens it, and each of the men plucks out a ring before dropping to their knees.

Sebastian, Nick, and Reid surround me, each on one knee and each holding up a beautiful diamond ring. Each design is a little bit different, but I can already see how perfectly they’ll overlap and complement each other when they’re all on my finger.

“Oh my god,” I whisper, lifting a shaking hand to my mouth.

Nick smiles at me from behind his beard, his dark blue eyes warm and deep as twin pools. “We weren’t planning on doing it quite like this, but I don’t think I can wait a second longer. We love you, Hailey. We always have, and we always will. And we want to be with you for the rest of our lives—together.”

My breath hitches, and I reach up to wipe away the silent tears of joy that start to fall from my eyes as I gaze down at him.

“Will you marry me?” he asks, and I nod.

“I love you, Hailey Bennett. So fucking much,” Sebastian says, brushing his messy dark hair back as he grins at me. “You’re the best woman I know, and it would be an honor to be one of your husbands. Will you marry me?”

I nod again, and Reid clears his throat, dragging in a deep breath.

“Marry me, Hailey,” he says quietly. “Make my heart complete. I love you to the moon and back, and I never want to let you go.”

Their combined proposal is so beautiful, so heartfelt and filled with love, that I feel as if everything inside me is absolutely melting. My heart is full.

I nod again when Reid finishes speaking, but it’s not enough. Finally, the words that have been building inside me break free, more tears spilling out with them.

“Yes. Yes! Of course I’ll marry you!”

I have no idea how any of this will work since it’s all uncharted territory, but the one thing I’m positively certain of is that it will work. I’ve learned by now that with Reid, Nick, and Sebastian at my side, anything is possible.

They surge to their feet in response, pulling me into their arms as I’m once again showered with kisses.

Nick reaches for my hand and slides his ring on my finger. It’s brilliantly sparkling and lovely, with an exquisite diamond and a thin band that makes room for all three rings to fit together. Reid and Sebastian slip their rings onto my finger as well, and I vow to never take them off.

The piece of paper with their single bucket list item flutters to the floor as my soon-to-be husbands pass me between them, hands and mouths and tongues exploring me as if I’m their favorite work of art. My legs wobble and my breath comes faster as my head tips back, a plaintive whimper falling from my lips.

I close my eyes as Nick kisses his way down my neck and onto my collarbone. Reid slips a hand between my legs, and I hear Sebastian whisper something in my ear.

“Time to get our new naughty list started… wife .”

Thank you so much for reading!