Max had to admit, he was nervous. Parked in front of the Sunshine Motel again, he was acutely aware of what was on the line if this meeting went off the rails. But having Riley in the passenger seat, looking like she was ready for battle, was encouraging.

They had filled Gage and Addison in on the basics, and their friends had been appropriately outraged. Gage had even offered him money, while Addison talked things through with Riley. The women seemed to be in agreement over Riley’s strategy, while he and Gage got into an argument over Max turning down his cash offer.

In the end, Gage relented, wishing them luck in doing things their own way. Olivia was left in their care, and saying goodbye to the little girl had been harder than ever for Max.

Riley was dressed much like that day she had gotten off the plane, looking stern and professional in her immaculate button-up and knee-length skirt, with a pair of heels to match. In her lap lay a folder, containing paperwork they had printed out in Addison’s office.

She turned to him, holding his gaze.

“Ready?” she asked.

Pulling on the strength of his bear, Max squared his shoulders. If Riley said this plan was going to work, then it was going to work. He had to trust that. Since he already trusted her, it was made a little easier.

“Ready,” he replied.

Together, they walked into the motel, up the familiar stairs, and he led her to Eve’s room. He had texted her he was coming, so he knew she would be there. Knocking on the door, he could see Riley’s spine stiffen as she stood beside him.

The door flew open a moment later, with Eve standing there, dressed in the same clothes as yesterday. She smiled at first, before she noticed Riley there.

“And who the hell is this?” Eve asked, crossing her arms.

“I’m Mr. Lewis’ attorney,” Riley announced. “We need to have a word.”

Ice dripped from her words as she spoke, and Max could easily imagine her in a courtroom, confident and ready for a fight. He didn’t even wait for Eve to respond as he pushed his way into the room, with Riley right behind him.

“What is this?” Eve demanded, slamming the door after them.

“Mr. Lewis has told me everything, and I’m here to tell you you’ve made a mistake coming here,” Riley said evenly. “You will never get custody of Olivia, nor do I think you actually want to go through a costly legal process to obtain it.

“Your past will get dragged out in detail in front of a judge, there will be drug tests and interviews with mental health professionals, and let me assure you, you cannot afford a lawyer better than me.”

Studying Eve coldly, Riley laid it all out there, stunning even Max with her ruthlessness. He stayed quiet, letting Riley’s words sink in. Eve paled, her hands clenching into fists at her sides.

“Who the hell do you think you are?” she snarled at Riley, before turning her attention to Max. “Where did you find this bitch?” she asked.

Riley was undeterred by the insult.

“I suggest you shut up and consider what I’ve just said,” she simply stated.

“Oh, I’m considering it,” Eve shot back. “Just like Max should consider the fact Olivia might not even be his daughter.”

“That is irrelevant,” Riley replied. “The point is, you won’t gain anything by fighting him for custody. The money he promised you is no longer on the table. I think it’s best for all parties that you just leave.”

“No, no, we had a deal,” Eve jabbed her finger at Max. “You can’t back out.”

“I can,” Max replied, trying to mirror Riley’s self-assured impassiveness. “I shouldn’t have agreed to it in the first place. Just listen to reason, Eve. You played your hand, and you lost.”

“Oh no, you’re not getting rid of me that easily,” Eve replied. “I came here for a reason, and I’m not leaving…”

Riley cut her off, her voice echoing off the walls of the small room.

“Of course, we could also discuss how you attempted to blackmail my client,” she said, immediately silencing Eve. “Thanks to your numerous, very candid texts, I don’t think we’ll have any trouble proving it.”

Eve stilled, glaring at Riley with unrestrained fury. Max had to suppress a smile. They had Eve right where they wanted her, that much was clear. He could almost see the gears turning in the woman’s head. There was no way she would risk going to jail, where she would have to do without her booze and pills.

“Cut your losses,” Riley suggested. “My client will even be as generous as to buy you a plane ticket back to Carson City, with a little extra for your troubles. And to convince us you won’t try this again, you would have to sign this.”

With a smooth motion, Riley opened her folder, pulling out a neat pile of paperwork.

“This is a consent agreement for the voluntary termination of parental rights,” she explained, handing the papers to Eve. “Let this all be over. Go home. You can’t win here.”

Eve hesitated, eyeing the papers with suspicion. She flipped through a couple of pages before growing disinterested.

“How much?” she asked.

“For what?” Max asked.

“For my troubles,” Eve replied.

For a brief moment, Riley was unable to hide the disgust on her face.

“A thousand dollars,” she quickly said.

Eve thought about it for a long, tense moment. Max and Riley locked eyes as the air seemed to be sucked out of the room. This was it. What happened next would determine several futures. When Eve spoke again, she had their full attention.

“Give me a damn pen,” she said, and Max almost let out a sigh of relief.

After that, the whole thing was over in a matter of minutes. Eve signed the papers, Max got out an envelope from his back pocket and handed it over, promising to e-mail Eve her plane ticket.

She just rolled her eyes, wanting to get both him and Riley out of her motel room as quickly as possible. They were more than happy to oblige. Even when Max was back in his truck, with Riley sitting next to him, he could hardly believe what had just happened.

“Will that hold up in court?” he asked, pointing his chin at the folder in her lap.

“All that matters is that Eve thinks it will,” she replied, a devious smile on her face.

Starting the truck, Max couldn’t help but laugh. As they pulled out of the parking lot, all he could think of was how lucky he was to have found Riley, and how he would do well to remember that.

When they arrived back at the ranch, Gage and Addison were waiting, both dying to know what had happened. Max and Riley filled them in, and were both grabbed into hugs as soon as the good news was out.

“God, you must be so relieved,” Addison said.

“That’s an understatement,” Max chuckled. “And I owe it all to you three. Don’t think your part in all this has gone unnoticed,” he added, casting knowing glances at Gage and Addison.

“What, us?” Addison replied with exaggerated shock. “We barely did anything.”

“Just a little advice here, some mild meddling there,” Riley laughed.

“I hope now that everything has worked out, you can give more thought to my job offer,” Addison said.

“Job offer?” Max couldn’t help but blurt out.

It sounded too good to be true. He didn’t want to pressure Riley into leaving her old life behind, but if she had a brand new one already waiting for her here…

“I am very seriously considering it,” Riley replied, grinning up at him as she looped her arm in his.

“That’s good,” Addison nodded, her hand suddenly going to her stomach. “Because I’m going to have to start slowing down soon.”

Riley squealed, clamping her mouth in embarrassment as soon as the sound had escaped her lips. Max just grinned at Gage, and shook the man’s hand.

“Congratulations, brother,” he said. “You’re going to be a great dad.”

“Thanks,” Gage replied. “That means a lot.”

They all hustled inside the house after that, where Olivia was taking a nap upstairs. Gage and Addison disappeared into the basement, hoping to rustle up a bottle of champagne to celebrate. That left Max and Riley alone in the kitchen.

She was smiling up at him, but her eyes were shiny with tears.

“What’s wrong?” he immediately asked.

“Nothing at all,” Riley replied. “I didn’t get a chance to really tell you how I felt before, with the threat of Eve’s blackmail hanging over us and all, but I’m ready now. You said you had been falling in love with me since we met. And I want you to know I feel the same way.”

It was all that Max had wanted to hear. The words were even sweeter now that he knew he didn’t have to choose between being a father and being a partner. He had no doubt he and Riley would make a great team when it came to raising Olivia, and he couldn’t suppress the contented growl reverberating in his throat.

Grabbing Riley into a kiss, he could feel her smiling against his lips.

“So does that mean you’re staying?” he asked when they pulled apart.

“I’m staying,” she grinned.

“You have no idea how happy you’ve just made me,” Max replied, holding her face in his hands.

Smiling, Riley wrapped her arms around his waist.

“Hey, what are mates for?”