Page 90 of Smitten with the Single Dad

It was the view, however, that pulled the gasp from deep within Vica’s chest.

Unlike the view at the McEvoy property, which was mostly south-west facing, the view from Bonn Remmen’s land was north-west facing, providing in the entirety of the setting sun. And it was completely breathtaking.

For a moment, they just stood there, hand in hand, taking it all in.

“It’s beautiful,” Vica finally said.

“I was thinking the same thing.”

Smiling, and still holding his hand, she spun to face him. “I can see why youwant this land. For the view alone, I would throw in a proposal too.”

He tugged on her hand. “Let me show you all of it. It’s a huge chunk of land.”

She let him lead her deeper onto the property which was slightly sloped.

“We’d put at least five more cabins along here. The pavilion down here, as close to the tideline as we can get and permits will allow.”

“What about the house?”

He scrunched his brows. “Well, we’d bulldoze that.”

“But it’s so cute and quaint. Surely you could move it and turn it into one of the cabins. Renovate it.”

His lips twisted. “I’m not sure it would be worth the hassle.”

“But would the preservation of Bonn’s memory and paying tribute to it not be worth it?”

“Depends on what’s inside, I guess. And if we could even move it at all. But it’s something to consider.” They wandered further up through the grass, and she was grateful she chose to wear long, loose-fitting pants because the grass surely would have made her legs itch. “Up here is where we’d put the garden and plant the hops. It’s protected but it still gets lots of sun. And it’s on the waterline from the road, so irrigating the garden would be easy.”

They were basically at the top of the property at this point with the long driveway to the main road behind them. But even from where they stood, they still had a gorgeous view of the water and sunset.

“This is a really special place.” She leaned into him, and he wrapped an arm around her as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “Thank you for showing me your family’s dream.” Guilt hit her hard though.

“What’s wrong? The light literally just went out in your eyes.”

“Do you think it’s true? That it’s going to be more difficult for you to get this land now that you’re helping me? I couldn’t live with myself if I were the reason your family didn’t get this land.”

It was starting to be their thing, cupping each other’s faces. She liked it. It was intimate and sweet, and made her belly warm in a way she was beginning tocrave. “I already told you, the Island Elders won’t let anybody bully them. If we don’t get this land, it will be because someone else had a better proposal. Not because they were blackmailed or manipulated into denying us.”

She swallowed. “I’ve been talking to Gabrielle.”

“And?”

“She used to do this back in Seattle, you know. Help abused and assaulted women. She also helped women get out of abusive relationships and go into hiding. She is looking for somewhere else for me to go.”

He released her cheek and clasped both her hands. “No.”

Vica blinked at him. “No?”

“No.”

“Wyatt …”

“No, Vica. We’ve discussed this. I am committed to helping you. To protecting you. Nobody else is better equipped at it than me and my brothers. You are safer here than anywhere else.”

She broke free of his grasp and stepped away. It was harder than ever to see how as the sun had all but completely set beyond the horizon. Nothing more than a sliver of gold was left and the sky was turning from soft oranges, pinks, and blues, to deeper purples and indigo. “Sometimes I wonder if I should have just taken the money. It would have saved everyone a lot of pain.” She glanced back at him.

“Are you considering taking the money now?”

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