Page 16 of Impossible Rapids

Shawn let that wash over him. From a scrappy kid on the streets whose own mother couldn’t stand the sight of him to feeling loved, accepted, appreciated, and needed. He was being unselfish like he’d always wanted to be. He would never turn his back on Franz Belle or disgrace Mercedes and Grayson’s memories.

“Thank you,” he managed through his thick throat. Fear traced through him. “I don’t know how I’m going to leave you for a week.”

Franz chuckled at that. “It’s a month from now, and you don’t need me holding your hand. You’ve got Julie to do that now.”

Shawn’s neck heated up. Julie. She was a separate issue he wanted to discuss, but first … “What if Lucas or Arianna try to hurt you while I’m gone?”

“The money is all transferred now, and the media releases have gone out about you and Mercedes being married a month ago. They’ll connect the pieces and it’ll be you they’re after, not me. Until the judge rules that the Belle legacy and trust are now in the Holister name, you have to be extremely careful.” Franz got very serious. “I want to hire more security and keep two to four men with you at all times.”

“I’m not worried about me.” Honestly, he’d welcome the fight. “Especially that week we’re on the river. If anybody can best Cash and I together, they’d have to be more impressive than Jagger, Hays, Sutton Smith, or Aiden Porter.”

“True, but you’ll have the ladies to think of, too.”

“Do you think we’re putting Julie or Brylee in danger?”

“I don’t know.” Franz rubbed his jaw. “Mercedes and her schemes. People always teased me about never telling her no, but she was so sweet and happy and loving I never could say no to her.”

“Neither could I.”

“I’ll hire somebody to shadow Lucas and Arianna and a specialist to monitor their communication. If they hire anybody to hurt you, we’ll know.”

“I’m worried about them hurting you,” Shawn responded.

“It’s all about you now, my boy.” Franz smiled. “You have to be very alert and careful. Thank heavens you’re strong and can fight with or without weapons. Once you produce an heir, you’ll have to be even more diligent about his or her safety. Being a father is a huge responsibility.” Franz wasn’t smiling or joking. “I pray your children will live long and happy lives.”

“An … heir?” Shawn stuttered. He should probably try to comfort Franz about outliving both of his children, but he was too stunned by what he’d said. “Being a dad?”

“Which brings us to Julie.”

Shawn leaned back in the soft leather couch, shocked about the whole heir thing and now fatherhood? That brought pinpricks of cold sweat to his neck. He’d never known a dad besides Franz. He knew nothing about children or being a father.

“One step at a time.” Franz smiled, knowing he’d thrown Shawn for a loop. “Julie. She was upset today.”

“Can you blame her?”

Franz shook his head. “It’s rough to be blindsided with your two best friends being married, especially when you’re in love with one of them.” He arched his eyebrows.

“In love?” Shawn shook his head. Julie wasn’t in love with him. Especially after today, she wouldn’t let herself have feelings for him. He thought of Julie—funny, dedicated, hard-working, smart, beautiful Julie. “Should I tell her the truth?”

Excitement mounted inside him. If he could reveal to Julie that he and Mercedes did love each other like siblings and their marriage was a business agreement, would she look at him like she used to? Today had hurt in so many ways. Mercedes’s funeral had gouged him, saying goodbye to his best friend. Then instead of him and Julie comforting each other, sharing funny memories of Mercedes, holding her close, Julie had looked at him as if he’d lied to her. He didn’t have a chance with her now. It was a moot point, as he doubted someone as spectacular as Julie could ever love a nobody like him.

“Can you wait until we’re certain everything is ironclad and Lucas and Arianna have no recourse? It’s not that I don’t trust Julie, but secrets like this need to stay undisclosed or we could risk years of hard work gone and Brandon’s expertise ruined, and those two conspiring nightmares using the money for evil.”

Shawn had already committed to holding the secret of why he and Mercedes had married. The photos and news of their wedding had leaked a few hours ago. It had been a media explosion. He nodded. “How long do you think?”

“I hope weeks, but maybe a few months. It won’t be years. Then you can finally be with Julie.”

Shawn wondered how transparent he was. Did everybody know he was gone over Julie? Did she?

“Mercedes and I know you and Julie will be incredible together,” Franz said with certainty.

“Franz.” Shawn licked his lips. The fact that Franz and Mercedes had discussed him and Julie being together was a separate issue but he found he had to know … “Do you really think a woman as fabulous as Julie would be interested in someone like me?”

Franz sprung to his feet. He crossed to Shawn and demanded, “You stand up.”

Shawn blinked in surprise and stood. Franz looked up at him. The six inches must’ve bothered him, because he shook his head and stood on the low coffee table. Now he had Shawn by a few inches.

“Better.” Franz smiled but sobered. “Shawn. I know how rough your upbringing was. I’m grateful to Isabella for taking you in and loving you like her own.”

---