Total pages in book: 62
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 57853 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 289(@200wpm)___ 231(@250wpm)___ 193(@300wpm)
"Oh really?" Katherine's demeanor changes. "Was it the underhanded paperwork to steal the land and make your own resort?" she accuses.
"No." Pierce’s eyes come to me. I step past Katherine and around the island to make my way over to him.
"Where's my surprise?" I ask. I don't see anything. Like Katherine said, we're nosy.
"Is there species betrayal?" Katherine shouts. I partly turn back toward her. She's not one to yell at anyone. It's not her nature. I, however, don't have that problem.
"It's not betrayal. Calm down, dork." I laugh at her. "She saw an email about you investing with some Bilton people for the land and building the resort.” I wave it off.
"They did make an offer," he admits.
"Okay." I shrug. "Are you hungry?" I don’t want to worry about that. Not today. We’ll face whatever it is tomorrow. Once we’re back in New Hope. It might be time for me to come clean to Kindred and Hollis.
“You don’t want to know?” Pierce asks, his eyes watching me closely, but they always are.
“You said you’re working on it, so I’m leaving it be for now.”
“The email,” Katherine rushes to say.
“It’s an email. He might be toying with them. I don’t know. I’m sure for whatever reason he’s speaking with them, he knows what he’s doing.” Pierce's eyes grow soft around the edges. “I trust him.”
I won’t be jumping to conclusions anymore when it comes to Pierce. The man has been nothing but good to me, and until he gives me a reason, and I don’t think he will, I’m going to simply trust him.
People might call me silly and naïve, and maybe I am, but still, I trust my husband to protect that too. That had been another one of the things he’d told me last night between lovemaking. The things that I bring to life in him. The protectiveness over me in every way he has.
“Biff went to the Bilton family, their investment firm, with the plan he’d hatched. He was able to find out the land was about to go on the market and wanted to grab it beforehand. With Bilton and other connections, that was more than possible.” That doesn’t sound good, but I’m sure he tried.
“Does that mean—”
“No, they didn’t get it. I hatched my own plan and used some of my own connections. The deal is pretty much complete.”
“Pretty much?”
“I was able to buy half of it. When I have it transferred to you, I’ll need your signature. It then will be complete. I was going to tell you once my lawyer got the final papers done for your signature.”
I stare at him in shock.
“What about the other half? You get that for me?” I can’t help the bark of laughter that comes from me at Katherine’s question.
“No, but my wife can do whatever she wants with the land.”
“As in, it could belong to Katherine and me?”
“If that is what you wish. I would want you and Katherine to look over some numbers and a few ideas I have. The town is growing, and future plans should be made.” Holy crap, I love this man.
“I was joking,” Katherine says. I’m not. I love the idea of her and me having it together, and I love it even more that my husband is more than okay with that. “But still wondering about the rest of it.”
“I was able to have it protected. It’s now a conservation easement. No one can ever build there. The land will forever be protected.” I burst into tears and throw myself at him. “Hey now.” He tucks me close, rubbing his hand up and down my back, kissing the top of my head.
I sniffle and drop my head back to stare up at him. “You’re too good to me,” I tell him.
“Don’t say that,” Katherine hisses. “Gotta keep him chasing.”
“I’ll always chase her. I have a feeling I’ll be doing it a lot,” he says with a smile.
“Is there something in your pocket, or are you happy to see me?” I tease when a hard edge presses into me.
“You girls make surprises impossible.” He chuckles and does not sound mad about it as he steps back. Pierce reaches into his pocket and pulls out a box. I close my eyes.
“Is this really happening?” I peek one open to make sure I’m not dreaming. I mean, can you blame me? This man not only saved the future of my hometown but now he’s proposing to me even though we’re already married. This may be the best day ever. Yesterday was pretty fantastic, but this is right up there with it. “Someone pinch me.” I open both eyes when I see Katherine reach over to do just that. I smack her hand away.
I watch as Pierce gets down on one knee in front of me. Tears of happiness stream down my face. I can’t control them anymore. My emotions are bubbling free.