Ashley’s words hit me like a force of nature. I simply stand there and stare at her for a time, studying her face, trying to figure out if what she’s saying is true. I totally forget that Lola and Chase and the camera crew are all standing around watching and filming what could be the most defining moment of my life.

“Is this true?” I finally ask her, my voice low and controlled.

She nods, her eyes filling with tears.

Then she grabs my hands, gripping them desperately. “There’s more, though, Carter. You have to let me explain.”

I keep my face blank. I don’t know what she’s going to say next, but I have a feeling it will go one of two ways. A make or break kind of thing.

“I’m listening.”

She sighs, and then lifts earnest blue eyes to my face. “When I started this, I was in it for the money. I took a job, initially trying to seduce you. And when that didn’t work—that night at the strip club—Lola upped the stakes. She wanted me to make you fall in love with me. Like I said, that was supposed to send you over the line, make you give in.”

Ash glances at Lola, but I can’t even look at her. Fucking Lola.

“But it quickly became something else for me, Carter. You have to believe me. I don’t care at all about the money now. I haven’t for quite a while. From the beginning, really. Once I got to know you, I knew I couldn’t do it.”

“So why didn’t you quit?” I say gruffly.

She swallows hard, and she looks so distraught that I just want to take her in my arms. But I don’t. She needs to say this. And I need to hear it.

“Because I fell in love with you. I couldn’t walk away from you, even though it started under false pretenses. I needed to be with you. I love you, Carter. I really do. I don’t want the money. I don’t want anything. All I want is to be with you. You’re all that matters. And if a lie is what got me into this situation, I really don’t care because it gave me the opportunity to get to know you. To fall in love with you. And for you to fall in love with me too. None of that was a lie.” She looks up at me again, her gaze almost desperate. “You have to believe me.”

I wait for a long beat before speaking, letting her words sink in for both of us.

“I know.”

Ashley cuts her eyes at me. “You know?”

I nod, a smile breaking across my face for the first time since walking into the room. She’s said everything I hoped she would say. Everything I needed to hear. I know without a doubt that she’s telling the truth. But I had to know.

“I’ve known all along, Ash,” I admit.

She gasps, her hands flying to her mouth. “What?” she shakes her head. “I don’t understand.”

Taking her hands again, I bring them to my lips. “Don’t be mad. I had to know how you really felt. Lola came to me, trying to get the twist of me falling in love to move along. It was perfect for ratings. So she told me what she’d done—that she’d hired you.”

I glance at Lola, still angry at her. I don’t know what her deal is, but I swear she’s angry and resentful that Ash and I have found love. I’m sure it all goes back to her not wanting to pay out my incentive, but I can’t be bothered to give a fuck right now.

Turning back to Ashley, I say, “I was shocked at first. And I’ll admit, a little hurt. But it didn’t add up. I didn’t believe you could fake everything we had. I knew deep down that our love was real. But I had to wait it out. I needed to hear it from you. I knew if you came clean about all this then it would mean that everything you’ve said is true. That you really do love me for me and the money means nothing. Don’t be upset that I didn’t tell you. I just needed to hear it, Ash. And now I have.”

“You have to know that’s true,” she says, so earnest it makes my heart crack. “I do love you, Carter. All of this—everything we’ve had from the very beginning—it’s all real. My love is real.”

I pull her closer to me, so glad that this fucking show is almost over and that Ashley and I can begin our lives together for real. “No, Ash. Our love is real.”

And then I kiss her, ready for everyone to get the fuck out because I’ve waited long enough to claim my woman. No more waiting. Ashley is mine, heart and soul. And I’m going to show her over and over again until I’m sure she knows just how much I love her.