Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 58962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58962 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Brooke Lee,” I said.
“Hi. I’m Caren O’Toole, a broker with Mortimer and Zeilen.”
“Hi Caren. I’m not familiar with your company’s tax paperwork, but I can connect you to the receptionist who can help you find the right person.”
She laughed. “I’m not a client. The reverse, actually. You’re a client of mine.”
I frowned, still staring at my monitor but no longer seeing any numbers.
“Oh?” I asked, totally confused.
“Yes. I wanted to let you know that the closing documents will be signed on Friday, and the papers will be filed with the courthouse before close of business, so I can drop off your keys around six. Will you be at work then?”
I swiveled in my chair and set my elbow on the desk, propping my head up. “I’m sorry, what keys?”
“The keys to your loft in The Vista Towers.”
“I don’t have a loft there.”
“You do now!”
I shook my head even though she couldn’t see. “I think there’s been a mistake.”
“No mistake. He was very clear about everything from the start. I admit, this was one of the easiest transactions I’ve had in a while. It’s not often someone buys property sight unseen. Good thing we have amazing photos on our website!”
My heart skipped a beat as I swallowed. “He?”
“Roy Banner. He saw the listing we had in that building and wanted to put an offer in. He didn’t even want to consider any other properties. That it had to be that building.”
I sucked in a breath. Oh my God.
“I, um, I’m afraid I can’t afford a loft there. The mortgage will be too much.” Even with the raise I’d gotten and a future one once the licensing was finalized, I still couldn’t swing that monthly payment. Either way, it didn’t make any sense.
“There is no mortgage. It was a cash sale.”
I blinked, trying not to cry. My throat ached from unshed tears. “Roy bought me a loft?”
“Congratulations. May I say that that man is fierce for you. You’re a lucky woman.”
“Um… thanks.” I hung up after agreeing to meet her Friday afternoon.
Roy bought me a loft. In the building I’d pointed out one time from his hotel suite. One time!
Why? Why would he do that? I’d dumped him.
Yet he’d still bought me the place of my dreams. He gave me exactly what I said I wanted even though we were no longer together.
I put my finger to my lips and tried not to cry. It was impossible these days.
Roy bought me a loft. My loft. In cash. I would have something permanent. Something mine, no matter what happened. Or who I met. Or who I fell in love with. Or if I went off with a guy, and it didn’t work out, like going to Montana with a fling.
My desk phone rang again. Absently, because I was still lost in my thoughts, I picked it up. “Brooke Lee.”
“Hey, Brooke. It’s Mark Ruhl.”
“Hi.” My mind was still swirling because of the loft and all the questions I had about it.
“Listen, I’ve finally dug myself out from all the paperwork on the Lazano case. I wondered if you could come down to the office and give your sworn testimony, so I can close it all down.”
“Oh, um, sure.”
Wait. Mark knew Roy. Mark was a shifter. He could probably answer my questions that had been swirling in my head since I saw Roy shift the first time.
“Great. We’re at the corner of–”
I popped to my feet. Suddenly, for the first time since I saw Roy last, I felt something. It was… hope. “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes.”
“Don’t you have to work?”
I grabbed my purse. “Oh, they’re not going to fire me.”
He chuckled again. “Yeah, I guess they’re not. I’ll see you soon.”
35
ROY
* * *
From my van, I watched Brooke leave the office. Her steps were quick, as if she was in a hurry to go somewhere. She had on black dress pants and a pale blue blouse. On her feet were another pair of stilettos. Fuck, I loved those heels on her. I wanted to feel the sharp points of them digging into my back as I fucked her.
She’d worn those several times before over the past ten days. They must be her favorite. I knew this because I’d been keeping an eye on her. Humans would call it stalking, perhaps. As a shifter, it was called protecting my mate.
She’d accepted my mark. It was hidden beneath her blouse, but I knew it was there.
It was the only thing that kept me from going insane without her.
No harm would ever come to her. I’d been following her. Ensuring no one bothered her within her home as I knew she was anxious about staying there after what happened. I’d keep watch until she moved into the loft. She wouldn’t need to be afraid any longer. She’d be safe behind multiple sets of security doors. She’d be happy living in her dream loft. She’d have the comfort in knowing it would always be hers. Always a place she could return to, no matter what happened.