Page 9 of My Lumberjack Valentine

My pulse quickens. Have we done enough to convince him? Is this all it’s going to take to save my candy store?

“So you’re satisfied?” Boone asks. “The inheritance?—”

“Not so fast, boy.” Lloyd holds up a hand to silence him. “I’m afraid it’s going to take more than a ten-minute meeting to convince me this is the real deal.”

Boone glares at him. “You just said that I’m clearly in a relationship. That was the condition of Grandma’s will.”

“The condition is that you need to be in acommittedrelationship,” Lloyd says. “Emphasis on committed.” He crosseshis arms, looking pointedly at his grandson. “I don’t see Grandma’s engagement ring on this young lady’s finger.”

“Well, not yet, but?—”

“I also don’t see any of Rosalie’s things in here, so I take it you’re not living together.”

“Not yet, but?—”

“No buts,” Lloyd says firmly. “Your grandma left me in charge of her will, and I need to know this relationship is serious before I give you the inheritance. Those were her wishes, boy, and I take them very seriously.”

Boone’s arm twitches around my shoulders, and I feel a stab of guilt in my chest for lying to this old man. He’s just trying to fulfill his wife’s final wishes, and I’m deceiving him for my own gain. We both are. But I can’t let that hold me back. I said I’d do whatever it takes to keep my candy store, and I meant it.

But that doesn’t mean I feel good about it.

“Alright, Pops,” Boone says reluctantly. “But no matter what you think, I know Rosalie is the one for me. We’re serious about each other.”

Lloyd smiles slightly. “I’m sure you are, but it’s going to take more than just words to prove it.” He stands up, running a hand through his silver hair. “When you’re living together and there’s a ring on her finger, then we’ll talk.”

Boone nods, his jaw tight.

“It was nice to meet you, Rosalie,” Lloyd says, reaching down to shake my hand. “Don’t get up. I’ll see myself out.” He starts to walk away, then turns back to me. “Listen, I’m sorry about all this. It must feel pretty awkward for you. I hope you understand that I’m just trying to honor my wife’s will. I’m not trying to be hard on you…on either of you.”

His eyes shimmer with suppressed emotion, and I feel a rush of sympathy for Lloyd. I know how it feels to lose someone you love—it must be such a difficult time for him.

“I understand,” I tell him, reaching up to grip his hand. “Please don’t worry about it. You’re just doing what you need to do.”

Lloyd nods, smiling at me, his gaze sliding to his grandson. “You’ve got a real sweetheart here, Boone. Be good to her.”

We say our goodbyes and when the door closes behind Lloyd, I let out a deep breath.

“You okay?” Boone asks from beside me.

I swallow hard. “It wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be…lying to him like that.”

“You’re right.” His arm is still wrapped around my shoulders, like he’s forgotten to move it. “It’s not easy, but you did a great job. He liked you. I can tell.”

“I liked him too.”

We sit in silence for a few moments, staring at the fire crackling in the hearth, lost in our own thoughts.

“Your grandpa said something about an engagement ring?” I say eventually.

“Yeah, it was my grandma’s. She said it was for when I found the right person.” Boone makes a noise deep in his throat, withdrawing his arm from around me and standing up, pacing in front of the fire. “She never accepted that I wanted to be alone. I hate lying to the old man, but dammit, what else can I do?”

He runs a hand over his beard, looking agitated. I can tell that lying to his grandpa is taking a toll, but before I can speak, he stops pacing and turns to me. “I’m sorry, Rosalie. None of this is your problem. Hell, I really appreciate what you’re doing…more than you know.”

I smile at him, those sky-blue eyes making me melt as he looks at me. “I appreciate what you’re doing, too. If I hadn’t met you, I’d be clearing out my store right now. You’ve thrown me a lifeline.”

“It’s the least I can do. You’re doing me a huge favor here, Rosalie.”

He rejoins me on the couch, collapsing beside me, his giant frame taking up more than half the space. My instinct is to curl up against him, and I have to resist the urge to snuggle against his broad chest. His arm around my shoulders felt so natural, and my body feels cold without his touch.

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