Page 129 of As It Was

“I am.”

“And you two get along?”

“We manage.” I crossed my arms. “Do you want something from her?”

“In a way.”

“Then you’ll have to go through me.”

His eyes narrowed before searching me up and down, as if scrutinizing me.

I didn’t give a shit what he thought.

“Fine, I have no problem doing that.” He reached into his briefcase and pulled out a stack of papers. “Can you give this to Mollie? Tell her it’s from Trevor, and it’s the final offer for the farm.”

“For the farm?” I repeated slowly.

“Selling it.” He stepped back and let his eyes trace over the land. “She’s been sitting on a gold mine here. I told her that we could build hundreds of houses on this lot. Maybe more.”

I could only stare. She was talking to someone aboutselling?And now she had a final offer?

When the fuck was she planning to tell me this?

“Tell her that I expect an answer tomorrow.” As he started to leave, he gave me a smile, one that didn’t reach his eyes. He climbed into his car and drove away without another word.

I looked down at the papers and saw a number so large my jaw dropped. It was labeled as the final offer, with multiple others attached.

She’d beenbiddingfor this.

Goddammit. I thought I knew her. I thought I couldtrusther.

I should have known she was going to let me down.

23

MOLLIE

Strawberry Springs Neighborhood Watch

Kerry Winsor

Look at my little Brussels sprouts! I need Strawberry Springs to have a fair so I can enter them!

Comments:

Atticus Thompson: Nice.

Kerry Winsor: Nice?! Do you know how much work I put into these? They’re more than nice!

Kerry Winsor:@everyoneHELLO? LOOK AT MY HARD WORK!

I wasn’tsurprised when I woke up alone. Cain was always up way before me, and though this was still early by my standards, I was sure he was already halfway through his morning routine.

I got out of bed slowly, feeling the pleasurable ache from everything that had happened the night before. I couldn’t wait to see him after Eric went to school, when we could talk abouteverything that we could be. I wasn’t sure if I was ready to date, but I was willing to consider it if he offered.

We meshed well, and when we didn’t, I stood up to him. I knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that this was nothing like what I’d had with Trevor.

Throwing clothes on, I went downstairs to start coffee. I was expecting to be alone, but I wasn’t.

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