Page 114 of Rebellious

I throw my arms around him and squeeze. This man is more than the man I love. This man is my best friend. My beer-drinking buddy who hates the smell of eggs. He’s my personal space heater and my most trusted confidant.

I pull back and wipe under my eyes for any errant tears. “I don’t know that you can afford my rates,” I tease, reaching over to grab the marker and document from the nightstand.

He settles back, sitting on the edge of the bed, a casual smile nearly blinding me. “I’m prepared to negotiate.”

I cock a hip, ready to banter. “Good, because I’m expensive.”

“What’s your percentage, Ms. Von Bremen?”

Gah, he’s sexy when he tries. “One hundred percent.”

He whistles. “That’s steep and more than likely unethical.”

I grip the front of his shirt and pull him forward. “That’s my rate for you. You want to make a life with me? I require all of you.”

He cocks his head to the side, watching my mouth like he’s actually considering my offer. “Deal,” he agrees. “All of me is yours.”

We both know we aren’t talking about his football contract. “I’m going to need you to sign,” I tell him. “So it’s official.”

He flashes me a boyish grin and leans down, grabbing the marker. With his teeth, he pops open the cap and rakes up my shirt. His breath is hot against my skin, causing shivers. Placing a kiss to my skin, Bennett Jameson signs his name on my body for the first time since the rules came into play. No rules, just a claim. “I require one thing though,” he says after a moment, his voice full of gravel.

“And what is that?”

Standing to his full height, he reaches around to his back pocket.

I laugh. “How much crap did you pack in there?”

“Enough to seal the deal.”

Slowly, he brings his hand forward. A black velvet box sits small in his big hands. Painstakingly slow, he cracks it open, revealing a diamond nestled in a platinum band. It’s nothing huge or fancy, but old and full of character. “It’s my great grandmother’s ring.”

He only has a grandmother on his father’s side.

“In order to give you 100 percent of me, I need to know you’ll sign our agreement with my last name.” We both know that’s not legal. But we were never negotiating his representation contract. “Forever.”

My chest feels like it’s about to burst. I have a million questions. Does his father know? Does mine? But all I can think is Bennett Cole Jameson is asking me to marry him in his ridiculous contractual ways.

“You want me to be Mrs. Jameson?” I ask, because the words aren’t flowing like they should be.

“Yes, ma’am.” He does this southern gentleman chin tip that does me in.

“Forever? Not just for the summer?” I know. I know. Just take the ring and shut up. But I can’t. It’s Benn—

He plucks the ring from the box and tosses it on the bed. “Aspen Von Bremen. You loved me before I could even pronounce your name. I took my first steps into your arms. Will you do me the honor of taking your last steps as a Von Bremen into mine?”

Someone knows how to destroy a heart.

Like rain, several betraying tears streak down my face. It’s not pretty, I’m sure.

“Aspen, will you marry me?”

It’s not like I’m going to say no. “Yes.” I put both hands on his face, not even caring that he can’t put the ring on my finger. “I’ll marry you, BJ.”

He snorts and shakes his head. Pulling my hand from his face, he slips the ring on my finger. “Now, I’m going to need you to sign and make it official.”

I can’t help it. I’m an utter fool for this man. Leaning down, I pull up his shirt slowly, just as he did mine, and scribble my name on his chest. Except this time, I don’t sign Aspen Von Bremen. This time, I sign Aspen Jameson, because I’ve only been practicing that same signature since I could spell Jameson.

When I’m done, I look up and meet his eyes shining with pure love. “Done,” I tell him, holding up the marker. “Now you’ll never get away.”

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