Page 124 of Playboy Pitcher

I don’t move. I can’t. It’s like the sun crashed through a lifetime of storm clouds. “Oh my God.”

Drake doesn’t try to deny it anymore. He simply closes his eyes and huffs out a defeated breath. “How did you find out about him?”

Releasing his hold, Ben stands, crossing his arms. “It doesn’t matter how I found out. All that matters is that I did. I’m pretty sure your wife wouldn’t appreciate knowing that hefty allowance she gives you every month has gone to support your whore the last three years.”

For some stupid reason, all I can concentrate on are the lingering champagne bubbles in Drake’s glass. I watch them rise to the top and disappear into thin air.

Just like his hold on me.

“What do you want?”

“What do you think, asshole?” Ben growls, pulling another document out of the folder and slamming it down in front of him. “I want you to sign away all rights to this franchise, and then I want you to get in that pretentious limo of yours and go the hell back to wherever you came from. And I swear to God, if you ever come near Willow or Emma again, I’ll fucking kill you.”

Drake’s jaw tightens. “Is that a threat?”

“No, motherfucker, that’s a promise. Now, as far as this goes?” Picking up the birth certificate, Ben waves it above his head. “We’ll keep your secret as long as you keep Willow’s.”

I barely hold back a peal of giddy laughter as Drake picks up the same pen I held earlier, his hand shaking as he signs his name. “Hunter is innocent,” he says, the pen falling from his hand. “Don’t use him to hurt me.”

My chest swells with a mix of relief and resentment.

Relief that Ben is here. Relief that he caught me instead of letting me fall. And resentment that Drake expects mercy from me when he showed none for Emma.

Moving toward him, I snatch the newly signed contract and hug it to my chest. “See, that’s the difference between you and me, Drake. I’d never do that.” Reaching toward the conference room phone, I hit the intercom. “Please send in security. Mr. Prescott is hereby banned from the premises.” I start to release the button, then add, “Along with Ned Riggins.”

After Drake is escorted out of the room, the breath I’ve been holding whooshes out in a wave of disbelief and awe. “How did you know—?”

Ben smothers the rest of my words in a devastating kiss. I melt into him, his lips tasting like home. Every time I pull back for air, he dives in for more, digging his hands through my hair and pressing us so close I’m not sure where he ends and I begin.

When he finally releases me, I’m boneless, exhausted, and deliriously happy. “Are you ever going to tell me what the hell just happened?” I ask.

Those dimples flash as he smiles down at me. “Maybe someday.”

Lifting a finger to his face, I trace the deep vertical line between his eyes. The one that always appears when he’s worried or confused.

Wrapping his fingers around my wrist, he pulls it away, kissing the tip. “I should have said it before allthishappened,but…” He inhales sharply. “Fuck it, here goes nothing… I love you, Willow. I’m certifiably crazy in love with you, and I’m so sorry I didn’t listen when you needed me to.”

I shake my head, the conviction in his voice hitting me hard. “You have nothing to apologize for. I’m sorry for not telling you everything a lot sooner. But you have to understand, Ben, Emma is my whole world. I couldn’t risk her being taken back to France.” I sigh heavily. “Or away from me.”

“We’d only known each other twenty-eight days,” he says, shaking his head. “You’ve protected her for ten years. You did what any mother would have done.” His gaze softens. “What your father did for you.”

I nod. “I know that now.” Snuggling closer, I close my eyes. “Ben, I don’t want to make the same mistake with you. I love you too.” I’m shocked at how easily the words roll off my tongue. “And I want you in my life.” Slowly, I open my eyes and gaze up at him. “As long as you want me in yours.”

“Where’s your ring?”

I stare up at him. “In my pocket, why?”

“Give it to me.”

Digging into my pocket, I wrap my fingers around the smooth metal and drop it into his waiting hand. “So, now what?”

Flashing me a cocky grin, he lifts myrighthand and slips the ring on my third finger. “Now, we go back to the beginning.”

Epilogue

Two Years Later

They saylife happens when you least expect it. It’s not a lie. When you’re not looking, the ground tilts beneath your feet, everything derails, and the universe grabs you by the hair, boomeranging your ass back to the beginning.