“I thought I should talk to her first. And now he doesn’t have to know since Sylvie turned me down,” Rene admitted. “Which brings me to the whole reason I brought this up. How do I change her mind?”

Remy’s brows rose. “You’re asking me how to convince our incredibly intelligent mayor to marry you so you can save your company.”

He shrugged. “That’s one layer of it. I need to get a ring on her finger before I ask for advice on how to keep it there. I wanted specifically to ask you and Armie because you’re both happily married.”

“Is this about the accident?” Armie asked.

He laid his cards down. He’d didn’t like to think about the day he’d nearly died. There were times he wished he’d hit his head or passed out so he wouldn’t remember what it felt like to look down and see his lifeblood draining away on the pavement. He’d wondered exactly what his life had been worth. His leg still ached from time to time, and he’d required serious physical therapy to walk as well as he did.

The scars from that day had faded. On the outside.

Sylvie had come to visit him several times. Mostly with her brother, but once on her own. It had been the one time he could remember since she’d come home that she’d willingly spent time alone with him. She’d walked into his hospital room and it was like the sun had shone again.

“I told you I intended to change my life after that day,” he explained.

“You told me if I didn’t go after Lila, then you would,” Armie pointed out.

He had to smile at that thought. “Well, you needed a push, brother. Although I do admire your wife. But I’ll be honest. I’ve always cared for Sylvie. Since we were kids. We’re both at an age where we should think about settling down and raising a family.”

“Please tell me you didn’t say that to her.” Remy took a long sip of his beer.

“Of course I did. I was laying out a case for why this would be advantageous for both of us.” Maybe he should have done a PowerPoint. That always worked for the board.

“You walked into her office and laid out a plan?” Armie asked in that way that let Rene know he was a dumbass.

“Yes. Sylvie is a very practical person.”

“Sylvie is also a woman,” Major said with a shake of his head. “Did you at least bring her some flowers?”

“I offered to take her to dinner.” And to father her children. That might have been where he’d gone wrong. What if she didn’t want kids?

It wasn’t a deal breaker. He’d always wanted a family, but now he had to wonder if he didn’t want her more.

It wasn’t about love. It was about something more important. It was about companionship and partnership. It was about building something they could both enjoy, something they could trust in. Having someone who would always be on his side.