Going Down Hard (Billionaire Bad Boys 3)

“I can. I only wanted it as a means of revenge. Storms Consolidated means everything to you. This way nobody can take it away from you ever again.”

Tears leaked out of her eyes. “Derek, no. That’s too generous. Beyond generous. Put me in charge if you want. I won’t argue. I’ll step up and make you money on your investment. That’s all I really want.”

He unwound his arm from behind her and turned so they were face-to-face. “You told me to think about what it meant to have you in my life. And that’s all I’ve done since you shut me out.”

“I didn’t…” She closed her mouth. Opened it again. “I did. But I needed you to consider how you felt about the baggage that came with me.”

He shook his head. “Silly woman. Does my past come along with me? My family?”

“Yes.”

“And if things were reversed, would you walk away from me?”

She shook her head. “Of course not.” She furrowed her brows, her forehead wrinkling. “I was being ridiculous.”

“You could say that.” He tapped her nose.

“I panicked. I spent the entire day working on a rebuttal article to what Spencer printed. I laid out the truth of what happened, with my brother’s faults and lies.”

“Princess, you can’t prove he did it. He could sue you for libel. Your best bet is to let my kicking him to the curb suffice as his punishment. That and I’m sure your father isn’t going to be funding his lifestyle anymore,” Derek said, sounding satisfied with that outcome.

“I can live with that.”

“Good. Now, I have a solution to you not wanting to let me gift the company to you.”

Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest, her love for this man growing exponentially with every word that came out of his mouth. Nobody had ever looked out for her before. Put her first. Cared about what she wanted in life and gone out of their way to make sure she got it.

“What’s your solution?” she asked.

He grasped her hand and held it tight in his. “Cassie Storms, I love you and someday I plan on marrying you. I realize it’s too soon, and we have a long way to go getting to know each other better and building something solid and real. But when I do make you my wife, what’s mine is yours. And then, you’ll take the company as a wedding gift.”

Her breath caught in her throat. Again. “Derek,” she said, hardly able to believe the words coming out of his mouth.

“Not what I want to hear. ‘Yes, Derek. I agree,’ is about all I’ll accept.”

Her heart felt full to bursting. “Yes, Derek, I agree.” She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “Because I love you too. And I can’t wait to spend my days … and nights with you. To build memories and work toward a future,” she said, happy tears building behind her eyes.

He slid his hand behind her head, pulling her close. “Promise me you’ll never pull away again. We have an issue, we talk it through.”

She nodded. “I just wanted you to make a clear, rational choice.”

“Well, I did. And I choose you,” he said and sealed his lips over hers.

Epilogue

Lucas and Maxie’s wedding was taking place at a beautiful catering hall just outside of the city with windows all around, revealing the snow-covered trees and grass beyond the glass.

Kendall Parker sat in a chair by the floral-laden arch, surrounded by a small amount of family and friends, waiting for the procession to start. She was thrilled for Maxie, finally getting the happy ending she deserved, just as she was happy for her sister, happily married to Kade.

Kaden Barnes was a good

man. He’d forgiven her when he could have caused a lot of trouble in her life. And her life was already difficult enough. Kade had understood that. And she would be forever grateful.

Before she could muse further, Cassie, Derek’s girlfriend, joined her, taking the seat beside her.

“Hi.”

“Hi,” Kendall said. She’d met Cassie at a fundraiser, and Kendall liked the other woman.