Page 52 of Loving Decker

“I don’t even know what it is yet.” He would rather have looked at it on his own, but he clicked it open. He scrolled through the message, opening the attachment next. “Looks like an amazing offer.” They were going to pay him as though he’d already been there a couple years. “Wow, a full moving package.” He scrolled some more. “This is a great offer.” He sat taller. “They really want me.”

“Of course they want you, brother.” Maverick’s hand on his shoulder felt almost like his dad’s. What would he have said? It felt good to be successful and wanted by one of the largest accounting firms in New York, in the world. But did he want to go?

“You gonna take it?”

Decker sat back in his chair, looking up at his brother. “Dude. I don’t even know. I’ve been sticking around here because of our books. I didn’t like the idea of leaving all this mess with you. But this is about to be solved. The sale should put us in a good way for a long time. If we invest well, forever.”

“So you’re thinking we don’t need you anymore? You’re free to go?”

Decker couldn’t tell what Mav thought about this. His voice was deceptively blank. “Uh, what do you think I should do?”

Mav ran a hand through his hair and then sat back down with a heavy grunt. “I don’t have any real advice. You know what Bailey and I went through. We are strong proponents of following your dreams. Sometimes you have to learn the hard way what you really want.”

Decker considered his brother. Bailey had left him to go pursue her music, and he had left to chase after his world championship title. And they’d both come back here. “Maybe not everyone’s life plan includes living in Willow Creek. I love it here. I love our land. I love Ma and you guys, but what if I’m supposed to spend some time in New York?”

“Supposed to?”

“Yeah. What if God’s hand is in this?”

Mav nodded. “Well, if that’s what you want to know, then you’re asking the wrong guy.” He laughed and pointed up to the sky.

“Good point.” He smiled at his brother.

“But something else to consider is Faith.” Maverick stood. “Bailey and I both learned the hard way that no dream is worth it if the person you love isn’t involved.” He turned. “Oh, and take a look at those contracts, would you? I need another set of eyes on them.”

Deck nodded and then turned back to his offer. This was the chance of a lifetime. Anybody in his field would jump at this, would have already accepted the offer.

Mav was right. He was going to need to take this to God. He wondered if this was a chance for him to make up for lost time. He’d given up a lot to stick around in Willow Creek, and it was all coming back fourfold.

But Faith. He stared out the window toward her property. He often did that when thinking about her. He needed to ask her what she thought. But that was crazy talk. They weren’t even officially a thing yet. He hadn’t even kissed the woman, for heaven’s sake. But he wanted to. Laughing to himself, he pulled up the contracts. Did wanting to kiss her count?

Well, he would bring it up first chance he got, the first moment it didn’t feel like a creepy guy moving too fast.

He read through the contracts only half paying attention. Everything looked standard to him. Then he stopped on a couple words.Mineral rights. His breath caught. Now that was something to explore.

Soon he was diving deeper into the law and property sales and the town records of Willow Creek. He hardly noticed the time passing until his phone beeped. “Are we going matching?” Faith sent laughing emojis and an old photo of them in high school going to a school dance with matching outfits.

It was getting dark outside. He jumped up. And then sent a laughing emoji. “Whatever you want.”

Nah. But I’m looking forward to this. I haven’t seen the Deck swing dance in a long time.

He groaned. The Decker Swing. Oh boy. He’d been such a goofball, and honestly, he’d loved the attention.Only if I get to see the Faith Wiggle.He grinned. She looked good. And it was fun. Tonight might be the much-needed break from everything that was weighing them down.

And even if she didn’t know it yet, he needed a little celebration. He’d just received a dream offer from the company he’d always wanted to work for. And he had learned some very interesting things about Willow Creek that just might change everything. He couldn’t tell Faith, or anyone, yet—not until he was sure about what he thought he knew. But it might be good news to a lot of people.

But tonight? Tonight was all about the fun.

Chapter Nineteen

Faith ran out the door as soon as she saw Decker’s truck pull up and then swung up into the front seat before he could even get out.

“What are you doing, Faithy girl? That’s my door to get.” He grinned.

“I don’t have time for that. Let’s go!” She smiled and then cranked up his music. And suddenly things were back to normal between them. At least as normal as a person was in high school and college. They sang at the top of their voices to every country song that came on. And by the time they arrived at the bar, he was well and truly ready to just get out there and dance.

The place looked like it always had. Solid wood lined the walls. It was mostly dance floor, with tables surrounding it and filling the room off to the side. A bar on the far end was packed already. “We getting some food?”

“Oh yeah, I haven’t had their queso in forever.”

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