Page 23 of The Billionaire Land Baron

“Uh, sure. Are you…looking for a house?”

Shelby’s throat went dry. She would have to look for a house. “That’s not why I was calling. But yeah, I guess I have to look for a new place.”

“What?!”

“Do you know anything about land annexing?”

“Yeah, I mean, not a lot, but we did learn about it. Typically, it happens when a city or town needs a particular plot of land. They can claim it and then force you off, paying you a fair price based on appraisal. Why? Did that…Oh, Shelby. Tell me they didn’t annex your land.”

“So that’s it?” Shelby said. “They can just do it and it’s done?”

Gracielynn sounded like she was crying on the other end. “I’m so sorry. What can I do?”

Shelby slid down the wall until her butt was on the cement, next to a few cigarette butts and a dandelion flower that had sprouted in a crack. “Tomorrow can we look at houses? And tonight, we’re going to pretend like this isn’t happening and enjoy the Lucky Line. I’ve got a tall, handsome redhead staying in the Airstream and he’s coming with us.”

“What? A guy? Shelby, when did we last talk? How do I not know about all this?”

“We’ll catch up tonight. Or tomorrow. I may not want to talk tonight. Anyway, I’ve got dibs on the guy. He’s heading back to Chicago in a few days, but for now he’s just the distraction I need.”

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