Page 21 of The Marriage Auction 2: Part 4

Dad waved me off and went to answer the phone while my mother put her hand on the ball of my shoulder. “I’m sure it’s nothing to worry about.”

“Mom, what did Dad say regarding liens on the house? That sounds worse than being a couple months behind on the mortgage, which I told you I’d planned to help pay down once I got married.”

“We didn’t want to burden you.”

“Yeah, Ma, but having liens against your house is worse than just being behind. How far in the hole are you?”

“Honey, I’m sure your dad has it covered. Mr. White has been helping us set up a more reasonable payment plan, but it’s hard with the double mortgage and the fact that we’re six months behind.”

“Six months!” I barked. “Why the hell didn’t you tell me?”

“Baby, calm down.” Naomi pressed herself against my back, her hands on both of my arms.

“I can’t calm down. My family is about to lose their home!” I yelled.

“Not about to, we’re being foreclosed on,” my father said from the patio door. “My friend was fired from the bank. Some big wig called and had our account investigated. He was let go for allowing us to get so far behind without imposing the appropriate fines and deadlines.” Dad’s head dropped forward, his demeanor sullen.

“I’m sure there’s something we can do,” Naomi said. “I know a lot of people in the banking world. I’ll make some calls…”

“Yeah, apparently you know one very powerful person,” my father said, his words coming off curt.

“What does that mean? What are you saying, Dad?”

My father lifted his head, shame and anger all over his proud face. “I’m saying our house was foreclosed on and sold out from under us to one very insistent company.”

“Who?” I demanded.

“Shaw International.”

Naomi gasped and shook her head while backing up. Tears fell down her cheeks as her eyes widened. “No…he didn’t. He wouldn’t dare…”

“I’m afraid so. We have to move out in fourteen days,” Dad whispered, shoulders slumping in what could only be seen as defeat. “I thought we had more time. I’m sorry, Robin. I failed the family,” he croaked, his voice tight as he covered his mouth with his fist.

“This isn’t right,” Naomi said and wiped her tears. “I’m going to fix this, Mr. and Mrs. Taylor,” she grated and stomped to the side of the house that led to the front where the car was parked.

“Naomi, what are you going to do?”

“Well, first, you’re going to take me back to your place. And tomorrow, bright and early, I’m getting on a plane to New York. Then, I’m having a meeting with my father.”

Episode 93

The Lesser Evil

MAIA

Why in the world did I tell Rhodes I loved him?

The simple answer is because I do, in fact, love him.

He’s everything I could ever want in a man. Kind. Gentle. Unbelievably considerate and compassionate. An amazing dad. A devoted fiancé. Hard worker, as can be seen by the mansion I’m standing in today. Not to mention, he’s ridiculously attractive. Truly, a smile, a glimpse of his chest, the sound of his voice, and I’m swooning like some damsel in distress. And maybe that’s part of my problem.

I’d worked so hard to not be someone else’s baggage. Yet there I was staring into a closet half full of expensive clothes made by designers I’d never even heard of. I walked the length of my side of Rhode’s closet, that was larger than my entire studio apartment back in Vegas. The fabrics had a wide variety of textures and colors that were very appealing to the touch and the eyes. But I didn’t do anything to earn them. Rhodes knew I needed additional clothing and set about supplying them for me. It was part of that considerate and thoughtful nature that constantly blew me away. He was always worried about the ones he loved.

But did he love me?

He’d said he wasfallingin love with me, notinlove. Though stupid me, had to go whole hog and drop the love bombbefore him. I’d never told a man I loved them before. Not ever. Probably because I’d never trusted a man long enough to have those feelings. I absolutely did for Rhodes. After only such a short time, the man had become important to me. Important to my future happiness. He and his daughter Emily. For the first time, I felt like part of a family.

Areal, loving, caring family.

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