I SHOULD BE EXCITED as fuck to be in a room full of men and women who want to sign me on as their brand ambassadors, but all I can think about is Layton coming back to me.

Hopefully.

Kingston claps his hand on my back. “Janae Williams, this is Aiden McHugh. He loves fast cars, big SUVs, and would be an amazing brand ambassador for Chevrolet.”

“Very nice to meet you.” Janae smiles. “Hopefully you’ve had a great time talking with the other reps this afternoon.”

So far, I’ve secured deals with Adidas, Degree deodorant, Old Spice—which would send my ma over the moon—and Jersey Mike’s. I love their fucking subs.

A hemorrhoid company is willing to pay big bucks for me to say I use them, but I don’t need money that bad for anyone to associate their cream with my ass. So I give them Dallas’s contact info along with Finley’s. I’m sure he wouldn’t care.

However, the biggest player in the room, according to the briefing from Kingston, is a sweetheart of a deal with Chevy, and the woman who’s offering that deal is standing in front of me, ready to sign.

“Very productive,” I reply.

“Good to hear, but I hope you have time to listen to what we at Chevrolet would like to offer you, if you decide to come aboard as a brand ambassador.”

If I do sign with them, I’ll not only get paid the big bucks, but they’d give me and my spouse—whenever I marry—or partner, whatever—vehicles that caught our eyes.

Only, all these benefits mean exactly shit if I don’t have Layton to share it with later. Who gives a fuck that I’ll have kicks for life, or always smell fresh while I’m eating subs when I’m doing those things by myself?

She needs a man to chase her. A man who will assure her that he’s not going to leave because a chick’s wearing a short skirt and a smile.

I shouldn’t have let her go. The last fucking thing she needed was time to herself. Hell, Joe gave her plenty of that when he left her on their honeymoon.

As soon as I’m done, I’m going to go get LT.

Fuuuuck. This is torture.

Focus, McHugh. Focus.

I know not only do I need to concentrate on putting my best forward, but keep having faith Layton will come to her senses like an adult and realize we belong together.

“How long is the contract?” I ask, keeping my gaze and mind where it needs to be.

“Two years with an option to renew for a third—as long as sales continue to rise, of course.” She smiles. “I can have this to Kingston by nine tonight.”

“And I can have it signed and back to you by eight tomorrow.”

“Perfect.” Her phone slips, falling to the floor. “Butter fingers. Bet you’re glad I wasn’t on the team.”

I laugh, bending over to retrieve her phone. “I don’t know. Butter fingers or not, you probably would have made my life easier with the guys.”

A dramatic gasp echoes behind me. My heart, recognizing that fucking gulp of air, kicks against my ribs.

Layton clears her throat. “Excuse me, but I need to speak with Aiden. Alone.”

Before Layton can make a fool of herself, and I hope to God she had plans to make a huge fool out of herself because she’s jealous as fuck, I extend my hand to Janae. She takes it, smiling. “It was great talking to you. I look forward to working with Chevrolet this summer.”

“Same here, Mr. McHugh.” She looks up and over my shoulder. “Kingston, let’s talk.”

I pivot, keeping my face neutral as I come face to face with Layton. She’s wearing an old college sweatshirt, her hair in a lopsided bun, and a pair of jeans so worn they have holes in the knees. Her face is mostly free of makeup, because she doesn’t go anywhere without mascara.

Damn if she isn’t the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.

“Something I can help you with?”

She puts a hand on her hip, giving me an awkward smile. “Nothing. I was wondering if you could help me with my boxes, but I see you’re too busy wheeling and dealing with women who have butter fingers.”

“I’m not helping you move back home.”

“I’m staying here—in Wake Forest at Paige’s old house, I mean. And if I don’t get this done, then I won’t have time to finish planning for your little brother’s event.”

I take a deep breath. “Let’s go talk somewhere private.”

“Fine,” she huffs, spinning around and marching up the stairs.

I follow her fine ass to Kingston’s guest room.

She shuts the door after me. “It’s private. Talk away.”

I grasp her face and kiss her until all the tension melts from her body. She wraps her arms around me, pressing against my chest until I’m hard for her.

“I thought you were talking to your dream girl,” she says between kisses.

“My dream girl is in my arms.”

Her sweet mouth parts, and I take full advantage again. Our tongues meet, dueling and sliding. She starts to rip at my clothes. Freeing my cock and gripping it, she works her hand up and down, until I’m nearly mindless with needing to be in her.

I tug at her jeans and underwear until they’re around her ankles, pin her against the door, then position my cock at her entrance, sliding inside with a thrust so smooth that my eyes roll in the back of my head.

“Holy sweet fuck,” I breathe.

Layton nips at my chin, her eyes widening as I grab her bare ass cheeks and lift her. My dick slides in another inch, and she whimpers my name.

“Hold on,” I order.

I don’t wait for her to actually do it before I’m pulling out, teasing her with short thrusts. Her head hits the door, and that’s my signal to drive deep.

I fasten my mouth to hers, and fuck her with everything I got. With love and lust. With desire and heartache. I give her everything inside of me.

Her fingers dig into my shoulders, her kisses more frantic than in sync with mine. She’s about to come, and so am I.

I grind my pelvis against her, and she rocks back against me so hard I know her orgasm is taking over.

She chants my name, says that she loves me, and tells me to fill her up.

I might not be a southern gentleman, but I know when to do what a woman wants.

My entire body shudders as I pour into her, as I whisper her name and breathe in her scent. I kiss her jaw, and her mouth, then lean my forehead against hers as I come back to reality.

The reality that we had sex without a condom.

“You with me, LT?” I don’t pull out. Hell, I rock back in a couple of times, just so she knows I’m not going anywhere. “Layton. Talk to me, sweetheart.”

She peers up at me, her eyes bright with emotion. “We, um... I’m not... I’m not scared like before.”

I stroke her cheek. “You finally willing to admit that you love me as much as I love you?”

Biting her lip, she nods.

“You love me enough to marry me? Have my kid?” I’m laying it all out there. It’s what I want. It’s what I hope to God she wants.

“I got the ring in my pocket,” I confess when she stares at me like I’m speaking another language. “Been carrying it with me everywhere because I’m too fucking afraid I’ll lose it otherwise. There’s nothing in our way. You’re free, right?”

Her smile lights up the fucking room. “Signed the papers yesterday.”

“And?”

“You make me want to say yes, Aiden.” She runs the tips of her fingers across my jaw. “So, yes, I love you. Yes, I want to marry you, and yes, I want to have your kids.”

“Swear to God, I’ll never leave you.” I’m dead serious. I don’t want her to dread the future once she’s not in my arms and reality sets in, with some of her old fears fucking with her head. “You’re my always and forever because, it’s just like you said to me once, true love doesn’t change its mind.”

“You remember me telling you that?”

“Hell yeah, I do.”

“You’re my rock, Aiden... always and forever, and I’ll never change my mind about you.”