“Hey,” I answered, moving toward him. Shade reached around the back of my head, pulling me in for a long, hard kiss that would’ve knocked up a lesser woman.

“You’re pretty full of yourself,” I murmured when the kiss finally ended. His hands slid down my back, one wrapping around my waist while the other cupped my ass as the music washed over us.

“I hear it’s a big day,” he murmured, swaying with me as Chris Isaak wailed about not wanting to fall in love. “Guess this means you’re finally free.”

“That’s me,” I said lightly. “Free as a bird.”

Shade pulled away and looked down at me, a shadow crossing his face. “Let’s go outside.”

Catching my hand, he pulled me toward the back of the bar. Sara gave me a wink as we passed by, and I giggled, feeling silly. What’d been a good night was about to get better and I couldn’t bring myself to regret that—not for a minute.

Shade pushed through the door and then we were on the back porch. He stepped over to the picnic table and sat down, leaning back against it. I gave him a sexy smile and straddled him. Then I wrapped my arms around his neck.

“I like this table,” I said, pressing my breasts against his chest.

“We need to talk,” Shade said slowly. “I have a present for you.”

I perked up. “A present?”

He smiled. “Yeah, a present. I sold that motorcycle today.”

“What motorcycle?” I asked, confused.

“The one that Rebel tried to trade you for. I sold it.”

“Nice,” I said. “So what’s my present? Let me guess, is it in your pants?”

Shade laughed, then shook his head.

“Nope, it’s right here. Lean back.”

I did, watching as he reached into his vest and pulled out an envelope. Then he handed it to me. “Congratulations on finishing your probation.”

Smiling, I opened it and froze. There was money in there. A lot of it. Hundred dollar bills.

“What the hell is this?” I whispered, looking back up at him.

“It’s the money from the bike,” he said, his voice serious. “I want you to have it.”

“I’m not a whore,” I told him, feeling almost sick to my stomach.

“I know,” Shade replied. “But now that you’re free, I wanted you to have some traveling money. Options.”

“That’s crazy. This isn’t mine.”

“Yeah, it is, and you’re going to take it.”

“Fuck you, Shade.”

“You can use it to buy me breakfast tomorrow.”

I blinked at him, feeling sick as the words sunk in. I’d known it was coming. He’d never pretended otherwise, but I’d always assumed that Future Me could handle it.

Now I wasn’t so sure.

I swallowed, then licked my lips. His eyes followed the movement and I felt his cock hardening between my legs. Jesus. Here he was dumping me and the guy still wanted to get laid. And wasn’t I just the dumb bunny, because even knowing he was leaving me, I’d still sleep with him tonight. I’d take as much of him as I could get. Somewhere along the line he’d turned into something more than a one-night stand.

Too bad he didn’t feel the same way about me.

“So,” I said. “This is it.”

“Will you take the money?”

“Yeah,” I whispered, feeling sick. “I mean, I shouldn’t, but…”

“It’s freedom,” he said. “You could use some of that.”

Shade was right—I really could. Unfortunately, for the first time in my life I didn’t want to be free. I wanted to be stuck right here. With him.

We stared at each other.

“Have you ever been to Portland?” he asked.

“No.”

“That’s my next stop.”

“And you’re leaving tomorrow?”

“Yeah,” he replied. “First thing. Something came up and I have to go.”

“Right after breakfast,” I whispered.

“We could eat later, instead. Somewhere down the road.”

“That’s not funny,” I told him, my eyes suddenly full. Fucking hell. I hated crying. Hated it.

“I’m not joking,” Shade said. “You could come with me. Just because I’m moving on doesn’t mean our one-night stand has to end. I’m not ready, and neither are you.”

“Maybe you don’t remember, but I have a real bad track record with relationships,” I said, sniffing.

“Well, I got no track record with old ladies,” Shade replied, his voice serious. “But I’m willing to take the risk if you are. That’s what the money is for.”

“I don’t understand,” I said, looking down at the envelope again. There had to be a couple thousand dollars in there, maybe more.

“In case at some point you decide it’s time for breakfast,” he said seriously. “That’s your out. If you come with me, you’ll have to leave your job. I’ll take care of you but I know you don’t want to have to count on a man. If you decide to end things, that’s your ticket back home. You won’t be trapped.”

“You’re really serious?” I asked.

“Yeah, I’m serious. I want you to come with me.”

I waited for Wonder Woman to tell me what to do, but she must’ve been off fighting crime. I’d have to make this decision all on my own. Studying his face, I tried to read him.

“And what would I be?” I finally asked. “I mean, if I went with you.”

“Free, Mandy. You’d be free.”

“And you?”

He raised a brow, then shrugged. “Do you really have to ask?”

“Yeah, I guess I do,” I said. Was he serious? He looked serious. “What will you be?”

Shade smiled.

“I’ll be yours, Mandy.”

“For how long?”

He leaned forward, resting his forehead against mine.

“For as long as you want me, babe. I don’t have much to offer, but what I’ve got is yours. So are you in, or what?”

I considered the question, wondering if a girl like me really could get a happy ending.

Maybe.

There was really only one way to find out. I took a deep breath, meeting his gaze head on.