It took thirty minutes of pleading and a favor to be named at a later date, but finally Leo budged and told Hailey where Ryder was.

“Kate called him in to help with some event at the Ritz-Carlton,” he’d said, clipped, over the phone. “You know, ’cause Ryder’s a good guy like that.”

Though Leo had said it to drive the point home, Hailey couldn’t agree more. She only hoped that Ryder would be the ultimate good guy and forgive her.

The taxi she hailed got held up on Broadway so she threw some bills at the driver and jumped out, hiking up the sidewalk in the heels she’d worn when she’d first seen Ryder. Screw a curse; they’d forced her into Ryder’s life. They were a goddamned good-luck charm.

Not to mention they made her legs looks great. As did the forest-green sheath that clung to her body like a shadow and brought out her eyes.

Ryder always had liked her eyes.

It took ages to arrive at the hotel, yet she was there before she was ready. Deep breaths. Courage.

The doorman nodded at her as she walked up to one of the doors. “Ms. Lawson. Planning another wedding?”

“You know me, Frank.” She smiled vaguely, her attention on the stairs beyond. Only when she got to the top did she realize she had no idea which event room Ryder would be in.

Her cell came out, Kate dialed in a matter of seconds.

“Hailey?” Kate’s voice held a note of surprise as she obviously recognized the caller.

“Kate, I’m in the Ritz-Carlton.” Hailey clicked across the lobby in her heels, shooting a quick smile to one of the receptionists. “Leo told me Ryder was here to help with an event. I need to talk to him.”

Kate paused. “That’s so weird. I was just about to call you for added help. You’re already here?”

“Yes,” Hailey practically hissed. “Where is he?”

Her belly quivered as Kate told her which of the banquet rooms Ryder was in. Of course it would be that one. “Thanks, Kate.”

Hailey hung up and made her way to the banquet room. Thankfully, the staff knew her from all the weddings she’d helped plan, so most only nodded as she hurried past.

Before she knew it, she was at the doors.

Hailey closed her eyes and inhaled from the gut. Everything was trembling, as if she was high up, so high up that one push and she’d plummet.

Love is a risk.

And one she was ready to take.

She let out the breath and opened the doors.

Memory slapped her across the face as she stared at the walls she’d encountered Ryder in, where he’d fixed her bid. Where it had all started.

Nobody else was around, the silence almost deafening. A few chairs had been set up in organized lines though. Another auction? Hailey had hung up before Kate had even told her.

She was hovering, wondering where to go for Ryder, when a man walked out of one of the side doors, his gait achingly familiar as he climbed to the makeshift stage. The sweep of his dark hair covered the face she could draw blind.

Love and sick fear twisted into a knot that hurt. Please forgive me.

She swallowed against it. “Ryder.”

He froze halfway on the stage before he turned with a frown. “Hailey?”

A vast gap separated them as both stared at each other.

Hailey recovered first and grabbed hold of her courage with sweaty hands. “Where is everyone?”

“Busy.” He stuffed his hands in his jeans pockets, expression inscrutable. “What’re you doing here?”

“I needed to talk to you.” She crept a bit closer, drinking him in. “Throw myself on your mercy really.”

He studied her, then with a grand sweep of his hand, gave her the floor.

Her shoulders rose and fell with her deep breaths. She actually thought she might pass out. He looked so . . . blank.

“You were right,” she started.

“Thanks.” He raised his eyebrows. “About?”

He was determined to make this hard.

Fair enough.

“I was . . . scared.” She breathed in and licked her lips. “I didn’t want to run too fast into another relationship, not one that had a future. I lost myself with Ethan, so much so that I didn’t think I’d ever put the pieces back together. Let alone trust another man with them if I ever did. Then I met you.”

His eyes were deep and dark. “Go on.”

She fisted her hands so her nails bit into the skin. “You saw me, Ryder. You challenged me to come out of the hole I was hiding in, beyond even. You made me happy. I think I knew, even from the start, how important you were going to be. That’s why I couldn’t end things, why I had to keep trying to draw a box around us with a label. So I could control it, but still have you.”

“But you did let me go.” His quiet words exploded like a lobbed grenade.

She took a hitching breath. “Because I was stupid and scared sick of making the same mistakes. I finally broke free of Ethan; I didn’t want to be chained again. I didn’t want to put my trust in something I couldn’t control.”

His face flickered, pained. “Hailey . . .”

“No.” She moved closer. “My dad reminded me love isn’t a chain, it’s a key, a lockpick, a ticket to an around-the-world cruise. It’s not about control—it’s about giving it up, letting yourself fly. When you pushed me to try new things with your ‘commands,’ it was the most freeing experience I’ve ever had. And losing you made me realize not everything should or has to be controlled. Sometimes, the best things can’t be. You were right.” She licked her lips. “When you care about someone, it’s already out of your hands. Nothing is ever certain. Love might be a gamble, a loss of control, but it’s the best kind, because even a day in love with you was better than any day that’s passed since. And I’m all in, Ryder.” She exhaled a slow stream and said it. “I love you.”

It was almost unbearable watching him watch her.

He didn’t say anything, didn’t indicate by a muscle twitch that her speech had fixed the damage she’d done. Not exactly a face that said we’ll be having makeup sex in ten minutes.

Then, as she was about to fall to the floor and beg—seriously—a sigh ripped from him. “You really screwed up, Hailey.”

The bottom fell out of her stomach and the whole world spun around her in sickening circles.

Oh, God. She’d blown it.

She nodded, despite the wretched pain. “Okay.”

“Kate wasn’t supposed to call you in until I’d set the scene up properly.”

Confusion whirled around her, buffeting. She didn’t understand. Couldn’t ask.

He glanced down, his expression blank. “I had this whole plan, taking it back to the beginning, but you screwed that up. So I guess I’ll have to be spontaneous.”

When he looked up, his eyes blazed with an emotion she hardly dared put a word to.

And then he did. “I love you, Hailey.”

Aw, damn it. There went the tears.

She tried to say the words back, but garbled as she choked on the damn things.

He grinned before sobering. “I never wanted to love a woman I could lose, but the day you tripped into my arms was the best day of my life. And I’d rather live one mortal day with you than an immortal lifetime by myself.”

Hailey swallowed, tears, the painful lump in her throat, the rush of joy that made her feet itch to run to him. “I don’t understand.”

He pressed his lips together. Love, affection, tenderness; he wore them all on his face. For her. “I’m not a Genie anymore.”

Faint. She felt faint.

Hailey put out a steadying hand. Sadly there was nothing around to hold on to. “What?” she managed, tottering on her cursed high heels.

“I’m mortal, Hailey. I could die any second.”

“Not funny.”

“Tell me about it.”

Her ears felt like they were underwater, roaring in them. More questions piled in. “How?”

“The Director gave me an introduction to one of the Partners. I petitioned them to quit, and to trade away my immortal . . . life-force.” He shrugged. “I never was doing much with it anyway.”

She widened her eyes, put a hand to her chin, then on her hip. Nowhere felt secure. “How could you give that up?”

“How can I put this?” He considered, lips pursed. Then a truly gorgeous smile spread across his face. “I’m all in, Hailey.”

The smile was like a shot of alcohol, burning her, loosening the tight muscles she’d carried since the day she’d said good-bye. Love shone like the sun emerging from behind gray clouds. He’d given up his immortality for her. “You pulled a Jax Michaels.”

“Except I don’t get to keep my powers. They’ll eventually fade because I’m not a Genie anymore. I’m just me.” He stared at her, into her. “Is that enough?”

It wasn’t even a question. “I don’t care if you’re a Genie or a mortal or a leprechaun.” She watched him smile, feeling it in the backs of her knees. “But if you quit, why did you trade away your immortality? Doesn’t it just go back to wherever it comes from? Why ask to . . . ?” She trailed off as she caught the satisfied glint in Ryder’s eyes. Then her brain clicked into gear. Love made her hands tremble. This man . . .

“Trade away,” she repeated. “You gave the life to Ben.”

“He needed it more than me. It’s no big deal.”

“There must have been a cost to balance that out.”

“Just a little one.” He shrugged like it was no big deal. “A trade just means I don’t have the standard year to adjust. I only have a couple weeks before my powers fade.”

“Ryder . . .” Her head shook from side to side, unable to believe everything he’d done. “You gave up your immortality. What about Leo?”

“I only became a Genie to save his life. He understood.”

“You gave up being a Genie.” Maybe if she slowed it down and said it twenty or thirty times, it’d start to sink in.

“For you.” Ryder smiled at her, his gaze soft. “It’s always been for you.”

Beckoned by the love in his eyes, Hailey drifted forward. She hadn’t kissed him in about a week and that was a week too long.

He held up a hand, halting her. “First, I want you to do something for me.”

“Anything.” Especially if it involved lack of clothes.

A paddle suddenly appeared in her hand. The number 345 was stenciled in black on it.

She stared at it until a smile broke out on her face. “The event. The thing you said about Kate calling me. Setting the scene.” Her head shook in loving disbelief. “You freak—you’re recreating the auction.”

“I want you to choose this time, Hailey. Choose me of your own free will. For always.”

Hailey didn’t even have to think. Her paddle rose.

“What do you bid?”

“Uh . . .” What was he up to? She eyed him, suspicious. “My love?”

“And?”

He had that glint back, the glint that had convinced her to love a Genie. The glint that warned of mischief.

“And a future.”

“And?”

Hailey scowled. “If you want me to pay five grand, it’ll be a long time coming.”

“I had promises in mind, more than money.” His smile was dangerous. Wicked. Loving. And thank God for it.

“All right. What do I have to promise?”

“Promise that you’ll never do that to me again.”

Easy enough. “I’ll never do that to you again.”

“Promise you’ll always trust in our love, that even though it can’t be controlled, it’s stronger than old fears.”

She dutifully repeated it.

“Promise . . . you’ll always wear naughty lingerie to bed.”

Hailey lowered the paddle. “All right, that’s it.” She tossed it behind her and stormed the stage.

He laughed as he walked backward. “Say you’ll always order in when it’s your night to cook.”

“Stop moving.”

“Say you’ll never get jealous when women come up to me.”

“Like I care.”

“Say you’ll marry me.”

She jerked to a stop, heart flipping out. “What?”

“Someday,” he amended. His half smile melted her. “I want a future with you, Hailey. Always.”

The man reduced her to a puddle of mush, but he was already way too full of himself.

“Maybe,” she consented.

“You said you’d do whatever I commanded.”

“For the love of . . .” She surrendered. “Fine. Someday—far, far from now”—she warned with a look—“I’ll consider, maybe, saying yes to a stunner of a ring.”

“Now do you think that’s the right attitude to have to start our life with?”

Genie—or mortal—was going down.

She feinted right and lunged, grabbing a fistful of his tee and hauling him in. His body nestled closer to hers, warm and strong. Mortal. And hers.

“Now you’ve got me, Ms. Lawson, what’re you planning on doing with me?” he teased, his hands smoothing down her back.

God, that felt right.

She stroked a hand across his face. Love exchanged between their gazes. “No more plans. Let’s be spontaneous.”

“In that case,” he murmured, skimming his lips across her cheek, “how do you feel about skinny-dipping in the Atlantic . . . ?”

* * *

(Not so) IMMORTAL LOVE!!!

Ryder Wood, one of our favorite tempting twins, has gone on record today, stating he has given up his immortality for his girlfriend of over two months, Hailey Lawson, previously of Erica Pearce Weddings. The gorgeous, and now mortal, Genie admitted he couldn’t imagine a world without the owner of new business Lawson Events—who incidentally is planning the most anticipated wedding of the decade for Jax Michaels and Charlie Donahue—and petitioned the Partners of WFY last week to both quit and gift his life-force to a sick child at New York General.

Could we love this (non) Genie any more?

Denying that the immortality issue was why the couple briefly split, Ryder went on to say that he hoped he followed his colleague, our sexiest Genie of the year, Jax Michaels, in more ways than one. Do we hear wedding bells in the future for this loved-up pair? This reporter hopes so.

In the meantime, our remaining immortal twin has been spotted in every bar and club New York has to offer. Seeking solace? Don’t worry, Leo. We doubt you’ll have any trouble finding a woman of your own to curl up with on the coming winter nights . . .