Page 24 of Secret Billionaire

Her shoulders sagged, “I guess not. I’m sorry.” She buried her face in her hands, “Can we please just forget this whole thing? Can you forgive me for jumping to conclusions?”

“Nothing to forgive. I’m sorry too. I should have pushed it earlier when I realized your mistake…and I didn’t.”

She peered up at him, “Jesse, can I ask you something?”

“Shoot.”

“Do you think I’m crazy to try to make a go of this place?”

He put his knuckles under her chin and tilted her head up, “You want to know what I think? I think you’ve got gumption. And you know what else I think? You could have yourself a little gold mine here.”

She gave him a watery smile, “Thank you for saying that. I’m a bit overwhelmed at the moment and I hate feeling so dependent on someone else.”

“No more or no less than anyone who needs a contractor. You’re already open and selling alcohol. The rest is just the icing on the cake.”

Still glassy eyed, when she smiled at him it was like the sun peeking through the clouds after a hard rain. “I’m really grateful you agreed to take me on, Jesse of Carlisle Premiere Construction.”

“I’m really glad too, Faye LeBlanc. Truce?”

She nodded her head yes, “Truce.” She looked away, biting her lip, then said, “Now where do you suppose we should put our statue when he returns from his makeover?”

“He’ll have to be prominently displayed, front and center. He’s quite impressive.”

Faye looked up at Jesse through her lashes. “Jess, I hope I didn’t embarrass you in front of your friend.”

“Nope. I’m sure my whole crew will have the blow by blow account, but I can handle them.”

Faye grinned, then impulsively stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek.

“What was that for?”

“Because you’re a sweetheart.”

He gave her a salacious grin as his eyes scorched her body from head to toe.

“My future just got a little brighter,” he said.

“Don’t press your luck.”

Chuckling he left her alone in the kitchen, her beautiful face tugging at his heart.

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