“Mommy! Say yes!” Layla whispered loudly.
The reporters laughed.
“Yes.” It was a whisper. “Yes.” Damn it, where’s my voice?
Hugh rose to his feet with hope in his eyes. “Yes?”
She nodded, her legs somehow propelling her forward. “Yes!”
He dropped the microphone, swooped her off her feet, and spun her around. “God, I love you!”
He kissed her in front of the world, a long, passionate kiss that stole her ability to think—as all of his kisses did.
“I ordered your ring, but I won’t have it until next week. I’m so sorry, but I didn’t want to wait.”
“Ring?” Her mind was still in the clouds.
“Yes, an engagement ring.” He hugged her again. “You’ve made me the happiest man on earth.”
Treat held up the sign and showed it to the crowd. SHE SAID YES!
“Congratulations!” Her mother’s voice found her.
Brianna embraced her mother. “The sign?”
“I was a little overly confident,” Hugh said with a grin.
The reporters buzzed with the news. Brianna caught bits and pieces of the announcements. Her mind reeled.
“…have it folks…Hugh Braden is off the market!”
“Braden engaged…”
“Mommy!”
Her mind snapped to attention as Hugh picked up Layla and she put her little hands on his cheeks.
“I knew you were her prince! We will marry you, Prince Hugh! We will!” Layla pressed her pink lips to his cheek, then wrapped her arms around his neck.
Treat’s arms came around Brianna. “Welcome to our family,” he said. “He’s a good man, and now he’s a lucky man, too.”
“Thank you, Treat.” She swiped at the never-ending flow of tears.
“Another sister-in-law!” Max hugged Brianna. “I can’t wait to get to know you better. And you’ll love the rest of the girls, and of course the men, too, but you know what I mean.” Max sighed. “I never imagined I’d have so many sisters.”
Jean pulled Brianna into a hug before she could say another word. “This, I had no idea about.”
“He didn’t tell you?” Brianna asked.
“No, and I’m so happy for you, Bree.” Jean nodded at Layla, still in Hugh’s arms as he thanked his sponsors. “He’s right, Bree. You deserve a man who will adore you and treat you well, and it’s obvious that Hugh is that man.”
She watched Hugh walking toward her, his broad shoulders pushed back, his chest out, and the smile that had been on his lips since he took off his helmet lit up her heart. Love coursed through her, and when he finally stood before her, her hand was drawn to his stomach. Even through his thick suit, she felt his strength.
He arched a brow. “You know what that does to me.”
“I’m counting on it.” She licked her lips, because she also knew what that did to him.
He stepped closer. “I told you that I’m not a halfway guy.”
“I wouldn’t have you any other way.”
“What about your twelve-year plan?” He cupped his hands on her waist, and it sent a thrill right through her.
“I exchanged it for a lifetime plan.” She pressed her cheek to his and whispered, “And I didn’t even need a sidecar.”
Chapter Forty-Three
THE WEEK FLEW by in a flurry of congratulations and too many hours of work for Brianna. Hugh waded in and out of video press conferences and interviews. By the time they arrived at Hugh’s father’s ranch in Weston, Colorado, Saturday morning, they were exhausted and equally as excited. It had been a week since they’d gotten engaged, and last night, Hugh wanted nothing more than to climb into bed beside Brianna, wrap his arms around her, and fall asleep, but they’d decided that they wouldn’t live together until they were married, for Layla’s sake. Which is how their decision to get married tonight, after the engagement party, had come about.
“This is gorgeous, Hugh.” Brianna looked out over his father’s ranch. “I can’t even imagine what it must have been like to grow up here. It’s so…fresh and free.”
“We can live anywhere you want and raise our children in any state. If you want to stay in Richmond, that’s fine. If you’d rather move to someplace like Weston, I’m all for it. Home for me is wherever you and Layla are.”
She touched his belly, and he pulled her close.
“Other than college and your race, I’ve never been anywhere, but I like the idea of being around family.”
“Then we can stay in Richmond. We have a beautiful house there, and Layla’s friends are there.” He opened the front door.
“Hugh, I meant maybe around your family. Let’s see how we get along and think about it.”
Hugh stopped cold. “You would move?”
“Families offer love and support. It might be nice for Layla to have more people around to love her. Let’s think about it.”
“Hugh!” Savannah flew out the front door and wrapped her arms around him.
“Hey, Vanny. Where’s Jack?” Hugh kissed her cheek.
“He’s down at the barn with Dad.”
Savannah’s auburn hair flowed to the middle of her back. She flashed a bright smile at Brianna and folded her in her arms. “Bree! I am so glad to finally meet you.” She looked at Hugh out of the corner of her eye. “I told you you’d find her when you weren’t looking.”
“Hi.” Brianna put her hand on Layla’s back. “This is Layla. Layla, say hello to Savannah. Savannah is Hugh’s sister.”
“Hi, Savannah,” Layla reached up to touch Savannah’s hair. “Your hair is pretty.”
“Thank you. Your hair is pretty, too.” Savannah whispered to Bree, “She’s adorable.”
Layla jumped up and down. “Guess what?” Before Savannah could answer, she squealed, “We’re marrying Hugh today!”
Savannah laughed. “I know! I’m so excited!”
“Savannah, are you sure you’re okay with us getting married tonight?” Brianna put her hand on Layla’s shoulder.
“Oh my God, really? Bree, you’re gonna be my sister-in-law. Do you know how many years I spent with just brothers? Now I have five sisters in my life. I’m thrilled. We all are.
“Come on inside.” Savannah took Layla’s hand and walked through the open foyer to the living room, where all of Hugh’s siblings and their significant others were waiting.
Brianna hugged Treat and Max, and Max introduced her to the others. Hugh loved seeing his family embrace her and Layla. Brianna smiled at Hugh over her shoulder.
“You’ve gone all googly-eyed on me.” Treat appeared by his side.
“Yeah. I probably have,” Hugh admitted.
“Brianna’s great. She and Max really hit it off.”
“I know.” Hugh watched Lacy hug Brianna. Lacy’s golden tan set off her thick blond corkscrew curls. Layla reached up and sprang one of Lacy’s curls.
Treat put his arm around Hugh. “Are you ready to be a husband?”
“More than you can ever imagine.” The truth of his words nearly pulled tears from his eyes. He swallowed past the lump of love that had lodged in his throat.
“And you’re adopting Layla? I’m proud of you, Hugh. I wondered if you’d ever settle down,” Treat said in a serious tone.
“Says the man who was almost forty when he got married,” Hugh teased.
“I was waiting for the right woman.” Treat nodded toward Max. “By the way, what’s up with no ring, you cheapskate?”
Hugh turned his back to the others and pulled a velvet bag from his pocket and handed it to Treat. “Cheapskate, my ass.”
Treat withdrew two rings from the velvet bag and admired them. “Emerald cut, three stones, what is that? About a carat?” He smirked.
“Two, you ass. And I’ve got a matching wedding ring.”
“And the little one?” He put the tiny ring on the tip of his pinky.
“For Layla.”
“I figured since it has a diamond tiara on it. That’s sweet, Prince Hugh.” He elbowed Hugh and handed him back the rings.
“Bro.” Dane embraced Hugh. His thick dark hair was longer than it had been the last time they’d seen each other. As a shark tagger and marine researcher, he spent about as much time on or in the water as he did on land, and his copper skin was proof that nothing had changed. “You’re biting the couple bullet. I never thought I’d see the day.”
“Yeah, well, the best men finish last,” Hugh teased. Dane was six years older than Hugh and two years younger than Treat. He’d gotten engaged to Lacy a few weeks after Treat and Max’s wedding.
“Sorry we missed your race. You guys will have to come out and see us sometime.” Dane ran his hand through his hair.
“No, he should visit us more often,” Rex’s deep voice interrupted. He wrapped Hugh in his arms. “Missed you, Hugh.”
Hugh could barely get his arms around his brawny brother. Though Rex was the same height as him, he carried an additional thirty pounds of muscle from working on the ranch. Combined with cowboy-long hair that brushed his collar and his ever-present Stetson, Rex was the epitome of a Colorado rancher.