Page 82 of You, Me, and Forever

“I’m sure you will.” He chuckled.

I shook my head at the shit show this morning had turned into.

And I knew that I needed to fix this before I left town.

I would make Montana Kingsley sign that contract if it was the last thing I did.

Chapter Twenty-OneMontana

I’d just taken a bath and slipped into my robe with my hair tied in a knot on top of my head when the knock on the door pulled me from my thoughts. It was late, and the sun was going down earlier and earlier these days. I looked through the peephole and was surprised to see Myles there.

I hadn’t talked to him in a few days, and part of me thought it was probably for the best. He was leaving soon, and to say that I’d grown attached was an understatement.

I hated sleeping alone now. I hadn’t minded having my bed to myself when I was dating Phillip. I actually looked forward to the nights we didn’t spend together. It gave me time to read and watch the shows I liked.

But I crave Myles in a way I’ve never experienced.

Even if he’d acted like a pompous ass and completely diminished what I did for a living.

I pulled the door open. He stood there in a pair of dark jeans and a black sweater. He smiled when my eyes locked with his, and that little dimple on his cheek was showing.

That’s when I knew the smile was genuine.

“Hey, Honey Badger,” he said as he held a large square object, wrapped in brown paper, in his hand. “I have something for you.”

“It’s going to take more than a gift to get me to speak to you again,” I said.

“I know. But the gift comes with an explanation.”

I stepped back and motioned for him to come inside, and he moved across the room to sit on the couch. My place was much smaller than his rental house, but it was cozy and charming, and I loved it. I’d worked hard to buy my first home, and I’d hired Charlie to help me make it everything I wanted it to be.

The original wood floors creaked as I made my way over to the couch beside him.

“I shouldn’t have said what I said to you.”

“Agreed.”

“I may not believe in that whole ‘happily ever after’ bullshit—er, fairy tale,” he corrected himself. “But that doesn’t mean that I should diminish what you believe in. Hell, one of the things I admire most about you is your ability to see the positive in everything. It’s why your business is so successful.”

“Thank you for saying that.”

“I understand you have an issue with the contract.”

“I do. It’s too much. And I know you were coming from a good place, Myles, but the payment plan was offensive. How can we be partners if we’re paying twelve dollars a year? I know we can’t contribute what you’ve contributed, but we can contribute much more than you’re asking for, and we want to. We want to invest in this. But we don’t want a handout; we want it to be fair.”

“Life’s not always fair, Montana. So what if once in a while someone comes along and gives you a break? Why not just take it? You’ve been dealt unfair hands before, so if an opportunity arises that’s good—why not just accept it? You’ve earned it, just by breathing. By existing. By being the amazing fucking woman that you are. And I don’t say that lightly, because I dislike most people.”

My jaw was hanging open, and I shook my head. “That is very sweet of you to say. I just want it to be fair, Myles. You’ve also been dealt unfair hands before, and I don’t want to be another person who takes from you.”

He smiled. “I made you something. I wanted to show you what you’re contributing to this partnership.”

He handed me a large square-shaped object that looked like it was maybe a piece of art. I unwrapped it, and my eyes widened as I took in the vision board he’d made. At the top of the board were letters cut out that saidThe Blushing Bride. And then photos of couples wearing wedding attire and hugging and dancing were plastered all over it. It had photos of the ocean surrounded by mountains, and wedding cakes and flowers. There were words cut out and glued onto the board that said “I do” and “Happily ever after.” The left side of the board had letters running down the length of it that spelled outI Believe in Love.

“What is this?”

“This is why I want to be partners with you. I may not be a believer in the whole concept of marriage and love, but I told you that I have a gift for spotting diamonds in the rough. And you, Montana Kingsley, are the rarest I’ve ever met. Determined and strong. Creative and talented. Everything you touch is better for it. Me included. I am a better man for knowing you.” He cleared his throat, and I sat there gaping at him. Myles wasn’t a man who liked to be vulnerable. So when he gave you a compliment, you knew that he meant it. “I have more money than I know what to do with. This is not a big-budget project for me. But what I knowwillmake it successful is bringing you into it. You will make it everything that wedding dreams are made of. I can’t bring that to the table. I can put the money up front. I can see a piece of land and a building that will go there—but I can’t see this.” He held up the canvas. “This is all you.”

A tear ran down my cheek, and I swiped it away. I moved to sit on his lap, one leg falling on each side so I was straddling him. I stroked his cheek. “Thank you. I’m a better person for knowing you too. AndI know that we’ll be going our separate ways, but just know that you have changed me for the better. And when you leave, you’ll be taking a piece of this with you.” I placed his hand on my heart as his beautiful green gaze searched mine.

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