Adriana
5 Years Later

Bryant, Landon, Nolan, and I all sat at the same table. I was gripping Landon and Nolan’s hands tightly, while Bryant sat tensely beside Landon. We all stared at the stage, where Jonathan Hughes was announcing award winners.

Nolan had already gotten one for his work in the kitchen, but now we were waiting for the ultimate announcement.

“It’s got to be us,” I told Landon. “Who else?”

“Nobody comes close,” he agreed, but I wasn’t sure if he was completely convinced. There were other executives from other high-end hotels seated at the tables around us, all just as expectantly.

“For the Forbes Travel Guide Five Stars Award,” Jonathan started, opening the envelope in his hands far too slowly for my likely. “The Pacific Hotel!”

All four of us leapt to our feet, barely able to keep our cheers back. We walked up to the stage together, and I was certain that I’d never smiled so widely before in my life. I couldn’t believe that this was real. The last five years of my life had been completely devoted to the Pacific and the men; except for the weekend breaks that I took to see Sierra.

She’d eventually accepted my unusual situation, especially once she realized that all of them truly were in love with me, and weren’t ever planning on leaving me behind.

“We would like to thank all of our staff and guests who have made this momentous occasion possible,” Landon said, beginning a speech that made my heart full. “And especially to those of you on stage, who have been instrumental in our success.”

I listened to him with stars in my eyes, which didn’t disappear when we received our applause and returned to our seats.

By the time the event ended, I felt so happy that I could explode. I followed the men from the venue to the limousine that was waiting for us outside. As soon as we got in, I screamed and clapped my hands.

They all stared at me, amused.

“I’ve been holding that in since we won,” I said with a nonchalant shrug. “Don’t tell me that you don’t all feel it too.”

“We do,” Bryant agreed with a grin. “But as men, we’re not exactly going to shriek and clap our hands.”

I laughed. “Right, right. Excitement is illegal for you, right?”

“There are other ways to celebrate,” Nolan said as he pulled champagne from a console. “First, we have a toast.”

“And later,” Landon added while he put his hand on my leg. “We’ll have you.”

“Sounds like a plan.”