Brett entered my office, smiling like he was on top of the world. “Miss me already?”

I asked him to swing by while he was in town. He usually moved around a lot, going wherever the automobile business took him. “I never miss you.”

“Doesn’t seem like it.” He took a seat and crossed his legs, looking smug for sitting in someone else’s office.

“Thanks for blowing everything to Titan.” I knew my brother had the best intentions, but I didn’t appreciate him running his mouth like a goddamn idiot. Luckily, she wasn’t angry with me. If this had been a few weeks ago, things could have turned out quite differently. Fortunately, the woman already knew I loved her.

“What?”

“Don’t play stupid with me. She told me about your coffee visit.”

“I didn’t say anything.”

“No, but the woman is a genius. She can read between the lines pretty well. Titan is a mastermind. You better not forget that.”

His smile faded away when he realized I was seriously upset. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I just don’t like how she’s dragging you along.”

“She’s not dragging me along.”

“Seems that way.”

“Actually, she and I talked, and she said she wants to be with me.”

Brett’s smile returned, but this time, it wasn’t smug. It was genuine, the kind that reached his eyes. “Really? So she’s leaving Thorn?”

“Yeah.”

“Good. So you finally got off your ass and fought for her.”

“Something like that,” I said quietly.

“So Tatum Titan is officially your girlfriend.”

“Well, not officially. You still can’t tell anyone until Titan is ready.”

He rolled his eyes. “Why is everything a secret with you guys?”

“Because that’s how she wants it. So, can I trust you to shut up?”

He rolled his eyes again. “I would never throw you under the bus. You know that.”

I did.

“So, can I act like I know now? When I see Titan?”

“Yes. But make sure she understands you aren’t going to blab to everyone.”

“Alright, I will.” Brett rested his chin on his fingertips as he stared at me.

“What?”

“You’re happy. It’s a nice change.”

I was happy. Instead of being dark and brooding all the time, I had something to smile about. Not only had I finally fallen in love with someone, but I’d found the perfect woman. I found someone I adored, someone I respected, someone I truly enjoyed. I’d always thought if I ever settled down, my wife would be a housewife, spending my money and lavishing herself with gifts. She would have a nanny watch the kids so she could go to yoga. Basically, a trophy wife. But instead, I was getting the most badass woman on the planet.

Tatum Titan.

She was the kind of woman who would truly make me into a man.

“Yeah…I am happy.”

Brett winked. “That’s all I wanted.”

---

“Sir, Thorn Cutler is here to see you.”

This should be good. “Send him in. Thank you, Natalie.” I left my seat and moved around my desk so I could greet him properly. Any other time we interacted with each other, we always intimidated each other with our desks and offices.

But that was behind us now.

Thorn stepped inside, looking like a real executive in his black suit. His blue eyes and dirty-blond hair made him look more like a model than a business owner. I wasn’t threatened by anyone, but I was grateful Titan had never been interested in him. He had just as much to offer—and he’d risked his life to save hers.

He wore a slight smile and extended his hand.

I took it and shook it firmly. “Nice to see you, Thorn.” I spoke genuinely, truly making an effort to put everything in the past.

“You too.” He moved his hands into his pockets, wearing a slight smile. “I came by to congratulate you…and hit you up on that strip club.”

I chuckled. “My lady wouldn’t go for that. But I’m always up for a round of golf.”

“Are you any good?”

I shrugged. “Pretty good, actually.”

“Then we’ll have to hit the links together. That’s where I have most of my meetings anyway.”

“Anytime.”

“For now, you wanna get a drink?”

It was noon, but Thorn and Titan obviously started drinking as early as nine. I’d have to fit in. “Always.”

---

We went to a sports bar a few blocks away. We sat in a booth together, and if anyone recognized us, they would probably assume we were just doing business.

Thorn had a beer, and I ordered the same thing. Titan would be drinking an Old Fashioned by now, but I wasn’t quite there. A beer was good for now.

“So,” Thorn said. “I guess we’re friends now?”

“I’d like to be friends. I know it would mean a lot to Titan.”

“You’re right, it would. I know I’ve always given you a hard time, but I’ve always respected you, Hunt.”

“I know. And the feeling is mutual.”

He clanked his beer against mine. “I’ll drink to that.”

I took a long drink before returning the glass to the coaster.

“Just take care of her, alright? She’s a tough cookie, but she has needs. She hides them from everyone, but they’re there if you look hard enough.”

“I’ve picked up on that.”

“And don’t drag her name through the mud. If you ever do anything to cross her, I’ll have to declare you as my mortal enemy. I want the two of us to get along, and I’m sure we will, but I have to put that out there.”

“I understand, Thorn.”

He drank his beer and looked at the TV in the corner. “I knew you were different. The second you came around, I thought I might lose her. All the other guys…they just came and went. But every time I saw the way she looked at you, I knew you were going to be a problem.”

“Thanks for letting her go. I imagine that was hard.”

He shrugged. “She was the perfect partner. I’d love to grow old with her. But you know what? We still will grow old together. No matter who she loves, we’ll still be close friends. And if she has a chance to fall in love again and be happy, good for her. I’d never stand in the way of that.”

“Thanks.”

“And I can tell you love her too. She really set you straight.”

“Yeah, she did.” Now that Thorn and I were no longer competitors, it was easy to talk to him. He was easygoing, transparent, friendly. I could see him being a part of my crew eventually. “Now, when you meet the right person, you’ll be unencumbered.”

“Unencumbered?” he asked with a grin. “I’m not really a one-woman kind of guy. I’m sure Titan told you that.”

“I thought the same thing about myself…until she walked into my life.”

“Well, I’ve known Titan for a long time. She’s wicked smart, beautiful, funny…the perfect woman. But you know what I felt for her?” He shook his head. “Nothing. And if I can’t fall in love with my favorite person in the world, then it’s not in the cards for me. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. That’s just how I am.”

I still believed all of that would change if the right woman crossed his path. Maybe Titan was the perfect woman for me, but she wasn’t the right partner for him. “Never say never…”

He chuckled like the subject was funny. “I’m sure Titan told you I’m the controller just the way she is.”

“The controller?”

“Yes. The person in charge. I like to run my women the same way I run a business. I’m far too controlling to have a spontaneous and real relationship. But I’m okay with that. And the women I meet along the way are okay with it too.”

“You were the one who introduced her to the lifestyle?”

“Yeah. She had a lot of issues after I killed Jeremy. Mainly trust issues. I told her you didn’t need trust if you were always in control. Your partner had to give the trust, but you weren’t required to do the same in return. That worked really well for her.”

“Until me.”

He nodded. “Yep. Now that she’s happy, she can trust again. It’s great.”

“It is great.”

He pulled up his sleeve to look at his watch. “I should probably get back to work. How about golf on Tuesday?”

“Sure. Have your assistant call mine.”

“Will do.” Instead of shaking my hand, he fist-bumped me.

The corner of my mouth rose in a smile. “Is this how you say goodbye to your friends?”

“No. You?”

“No.”

He shrugged then got out of the booth. “Then let’s pretend that shit never happened.”