He nodded. “Colin didn’t have the funds to back up his mouth. By the end of the meeting, Jes was begging me to buy.”
“I’m happy for you, Leo.”
“Don’t be yet. There’s one big condition first.”
“What’s that?”
“I told Jes and Zander that you and I were a team. If he wants to do business with me, he has to do business with you. And you have to be okay with this.”
“You . . . you want me?”
He nodded. “Forever, Paige. Whatever team you’re on is where I want to be.”
“But what about the stories? My reputation?”
“I know who you are. And I swear I’ll never lose sight of that again.”
I smiled and, holding the letter of recommendation I had worked for, kissed him so hard I felt his smile against my mouth. “I love you,” I whispered.
“I love you too.”
Epilogue
Have you seen the revenue report this quarter?” I asked, walking into Leo’s—our—bedroom. “With the added route to London and the new slip, we’re doubling not only in profit but—”
“Calm down, Red. It’s almost midnight. And work is over, time for play.” He winked and pulled me onto the bed.
Cathy, Leo’s assistant, came back a few months ago, gushing about her newly born son and showing a ton of pictures. She took over her old job and Leo made me his project manager.
It was the best job in the world. I got to oversee certain events and deals and felt part of the team. I was also lead planner on Lyssa’s seventh birthday. Though it was still a ways off, she’d put in the request for my services and this time, I wouldn’t disappoint. I’d never been happier.
“Did you see the picture Cathy brought in of Sammy? The one where he’s eating baby food for the first time?”
Leo nodded and kissed down my neck. “Cute kid.”
I looked at the ceiling. “Yeah.” And for the first time, I meant it.
I’d never loved the idea of motherhood, mostly because I didn’t think I was built that way, but Leo made me feel lots of things, including capable. Having a person running around that was half him and half me seemed so . . . amazing.
“Are you ever going to tell your friends we’re getting married
?” Leo said.
I glanced at the engagement ring on my finger. “Soon.”
He looked at me. “What’s wrong, Red? You’re obviously thinking about something.”
I nodded. “I was thinking about kids.”
“Oh.” Then he cursed. “Did my mom say something to you? Don’t let her make you feel bad. I just want you. I don’t need—”
“Will you shut up?” I smiled and kissed him.
Leo was so amazing that even knowing my stance on no kids, he still proposed to me. Saying something about as long as he had me he had it all and all things romantic. But I knew how important a family was to him and honestly, the more I thought about it, the more I wanted a baby. His baby.
I pushed him on his back, tugged his pants down, got naked in two seconds flat, and straddled him.
“I like where this is going.” He smiled.