She paced back and forth in front of the large windows in her suite. She tried to focus on the snowcapped mountains in the distance. This was agonizing. She had delivered her design over three hours ago. How long was it going to take Tyler to make a decision? What if he already had and she wasn’t the choice? He had gone with someone else and she had six more weeks with the bachelors.

She closed her eyes, exhaling a long breath. The past two weeks had changed her. She hadn’t had any contact with Niall. She had a new kind of freedom, even though it was under the constraints Tyler and Lee set.

She felt free from the McIntosh world. No more doing Niall’s bidding. No more schemes to make money. She didn’t like to think about the ways she had helped him over the years. Something about her two weeks with Tyler and Lee had taught her the past could really be the past.

She had moved into a new home. Was given a new office. Had a new career, using her passion for art. And every night she dined with the sexiest most eligible bachelors in Denver in their secret fantasy retreat. As much as she had hated how it came to be, she had started to wake up with a smile on her face.

She went to bed feeling safe. She awoke feeling as if she had a purpose. Tyler and Lee had given that to her.

What happened if she did win the bet? Would Tyler throw her out of the cabin into the snow? How did this work? She would win and her freedom would become instantaneous? She shook with nerves, rubbing her arms. Was that really what she wanted? Did she want to leave them and not look back? Could she?

Brooke jumped when her door opened. It was Lee.

“Brooke, Tyler would like you to meet him in his office.”

She tried to read his expression. Did he know the decision.

“All right. Please tell him I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Want me to wait for you?” he offered.

Brooke nodded. “I do.” The butterflies attacked her stomach. She didn’t know if she could walk. This was it. The moment of truth was about to hit her.

* * *

Lee pushed the heavy double doors open for her.

Tyler leaned against the front of his desk, his arms crossed. She almost lost her breath. He shouldn’t look so edible.

She cleared her throat and took her first step into his office.

“I heard you’ve made a decision.”

He nodded. “I have.”

She didn’t know how much longer she could wait. She bit her lip. “Well?”

Tyler’s broad chest rose. “It’s you, Brooke. Only you.”

Her eyes widened. “Me? I won?”

He bowed his head in her direction. “Your design was impressive. Unique. Inspired. It was the only one I even considered.”

Her palm flattened over her heart. She tried to stop it from beating out of control. “I-I don’t know what to say.”

Tyler broke his stance and walked toward her. “Why don’t you take a seat? We have to discuss your obligations to the project at this point.”

“Obligations?” She sat on the leather sofa across from him. There was a coffee table in between them.

“You have heard Lee and I discuss the how crucial the project to our return to Denver. Launching the foundation is the pinnacle of our careers. It has to be flawless. The creator of the brand needs to be at the announcement. You are the vision, Brooke. You can’t miss being on an international stage with something so critical for the foundation.”

“We agreed if I won, I would be free.” She started to shake. There was a catch. She should have seen it coming.

“Yes. We did. You won. You can go. I’m a man of my word. I’m not breaking it.”

She exhaled, looking at Lee. He was wearing a sad smile.

Tyler continued, “I’m asking you to do this for the foundation. I’m asking you as the artist who created something beautiful, to see your vison shared the way it is supposed to be.”

Her chest prickled. Her blood rushed with heat. “You’re asking me to stay on?”

“I’m asking you to see this through to the very end. Represent your art.”

“You’re going back on your deal, Tyler,” she fired.

He shook his head. “No. I’m not. You can get up and walk out of here if you want. I won’t stop you. I swear.”

She looked at the set of double doors over her shoulder. “You’ll let me freeze out there.”

Lee sat next to her. “No one is going to freeze. We will have you safely delivered to wherever you’d like to go. As usual, Ty is being a dick about explaining what we’re trying to say.”

She shook her head. “I-I don’t understand.”

Tyler exhaled. “Thanks, man. Brooke, now that you’re free, I’d like you to stay because you want to see the project finished. At least return here and there over the next few weeks while we work on the details. We only have six weeks left at the cabin. And honestly, that’s not much time with a project this size.” He smiled devilishly. “I promise Lee and I can make those visits worth your while.”

She felt more heat rush through her. It spread between her legs and rushed to her nipples. Shit. What kind of effect did this man have on her? Was this even legal what he could do to her body without even touching her?

“You want me to come back?” she whispered.

He raked his teeth against his lip and she thought she might melt off the couch.

“Or just stay.”

Was it crazy she wanted to consider this? She could see it. Living here as a free woman. Hikes with Lee. Discussing art with Tyler over a glass of brandy. Building campfires in the backyard. Snuggling up together for movie night. Holy shit.

“You won’t regret it,” he urged. “Think about your career. Think about Dreams with Wings.”

She laughed. “My career or do you mean I should think about you and Lee?”

He leaned forward. “Can’t it be both? Can’t you have it all?”

The flutter soared in her belly. She nodded. She could have it all. She deserved it all.

“Spit it out, Ty.” It was the first time she had used a nickname for him. It surprised her as much as him. “What are you saying?”

“Stay with us, or at least promise you’ll come back in a few days. Because you want to work on the foundation. And you want what we can give you. Stay, Brooke. Stay because you’re free now. You can choose what you want. And you know Lee and I will give you everything.”

She didn’t have the willpower to tell him no. Not with those eyes and that sexy mouth. Not with large hands that could hold her close. Her lips practically parted, begging for him to kiss them. She knew she had officially lost her sanity.

He was pulling her in with that look. She knew it, but there was no lifeline to drag her back to reality.

“I promise you’ll never regret this, sweetheart,” Lee spoke in a deep voice next to her.

“I-I guess I could stay a little longer.” She looked between them. “But I can leave whenever I want?”

“Absolutely. You’re a free woman.” Tyler held up his phone. “A ride back to the city is only a call away. I swear to you.”

Tyler rose from the couch to escort her to the door. He pressed his hand into the small of her back. It was as if he seared her skin through her blouse.

“Congratulations,” he leaned to whisper in her ear before opening the door. “Why don’t you put on something special so we can celebrate at dinner tonight. I’ll even convince Lee not to wear flannel.”

She looked up at him, nodding slowly. She didn’t know whether to stay or to run. To say thank you, or screw you. She was filled with hope and regret. Confusion was pouring in from all sides.

The door closed behind her and Brooke was in the foyer to Tyler’s office. She was free.