Page 95 of The Publicity Stunt

Oliver stands with a group of girls, and they all scream when they see him. Or maybe when they see Bri on his back. He doesn't really care, and his agent turns to look at him with shock.

"Lyons?"

"I need to talk to you," he says and sets Bri down.

Needing to touch her, he reaches out and takes her hand. He's gone so long without her, he doesn't want to let her go for longer than he has to. They take a few steps away, following Oliver, who turns and smiles his cheesy smile at Bri.

"Oliver Weiss. I'm Kace's agent."

She shakes his hand, forcing Kace to release hers. "Bri Waters."

"I know who you are. You've created quite the situation for my man here."

Pulling her hand back, she steps back and looks shocked. Kace's hands shake, and he takes a step towards him, towering over him. "What the fuck did you just say to her?"

"I was just saying... I didn't mean..."

"Maybe I should go," Bri says, and he hears how uncomfortable she feels.

Kace whips around. "No, please."

She nods, telling him she's staying put, and he turns back to the man he now despises. "First, you're going to apologize to her, or you'll be picking up those shiny, white fake chompers off the fucking floor."

"I'm sorry," Oliver says, his voice shaking slightly, as shifts to look around Kace to Bri. "Really, I didn't mean anything by it."

"Second, take whatever offer Mario extends. No countering. I don't want to lose that deal."

"Kace, don't be stupid. We can get more money-"

"I don't give a fuck about the money. I have money. If Texas falls through, I'm done. You not only lose the deal, you lose me. I need to be in Texas because the woman I love and plan to spend my life with lives there. And you just put yourself on thin ice, so you either make this deal happen or you lose the household name client you brag about. Don't think I don't know you use my name to get women like them into bed," he says, his thumb pointing over his shoulder to the women.

Nodding, he holds his hands up. "I'll make it happen."

"Good. And stop talking like a fucking frat dude. You're forty-three, man. Accept it and move on."

The girls all gasp and hurry away. "Thanks, Lyons."

"That's what you get for being a dick to my girlfriend."

Turning back to Bri, he presses her against the wall. Her eyes look up at him, and he feels her pulse racing. "The woman you love? Your girlfriend?"

"I fucking hate that Rudy and Brett told you before I did, but I love you, Bri. I have for what feels like a lifetime, but I wanted to tell you when it felt special. I planned to tell you when I gave you the necklace you're wearing, and I wish I'd said it sooner. Maybe you wouldn't have had as much reason to doubt me."

"You love me?"

"For so long."

Her lips find his, and he lifts her up, her legs wrapping around his waist while her arms slide around his neck. "Take me home, Kace Lyons."

"Bri, we don't-"

"Yes, we do. We really, really do. Take me home, boyfriend."

Knowing better than to argue with the woman he loves begging to climb into his bed, he carries her out to his waiting car. They climb into the backseat, and he closes the dividing window to keep them out of view from the driver.

Bri stays in his lap and kisses him, her hands running all along his body. "I don't know that I can wait."

"Until we get to my place?" he asks, kissing her neck. "It's a thirty-minute drive."

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