“What?” Aiden asked.
“I opened the store. I get a bonus. Fifty thousand dollars.”
Aiden stared at her.
“Plus, I have savings,” Lanie said, and lifted her chin. “I don’t want to be your employee, Aiden. I want to be your business partner.”
“Wow. I was not expecting that.”
“Are you open to it?” she asked.
“I think it’s a great idea. But I still need to replace you in Atlanta.”
Lanie held up a finger. “Hold that thought.” She ran over to Steph, grabbed her arm, and started dragging her toward Aiden. “Come here.”
“What are you doing?” Steph asked.
“You can thank me later.” Lanie stopped in front of Aiden. “Meet my replacement. Stephanie knows everything I know and practically ran this entire store opening herself.”
Aiden grinned. “So she comes highly recommended?”
“Very. Hire her, and you won’t regret it. I don’t know how I’ll live without her. You better snatch her up before I do.”
Stephanie laughed. “Oh, I’m being fought over. Every girl’s dream.”
“Stephanie,” Aiden said with a grin, “it sounds like we need to chat. And Lanie, after your excitement dies down, let’s sit down and iron out the details. I should be able to have a contract within a couple of days.”
Lanie nodded her agreement, but she knew she was going to agree. This was like a dream job come true. She turned to Tyler and gave him a breath-stealing hug.
“I have a confession,” Tyler said, turning serious.
“Okay…” she said, worried all over again.
“I said I’d wait years to marry you, but I don’t want to. I don’t want to wait. I want to get married soon. The sooner I marry you, the better. I want our life together to start right now.”
She leaned into him and kissed him. “I like the sound of that.”