Page 49 of Treasured
Love? Damn. I could feel goose bumps as I thought that maybe I hadn’t been wrong. “Yeah?”
At that moment, Bruce screamed. She tore a piece of paper out of her pocket with my name on it. She shoved it in my hand and said, “Look, I wrote you a letter. Read it, and I’ll be right back in.”
I stood up to go with her, but the tear on the corner of the paper caught my attention. If this was more heartbreak, it was best to be alone. I held it up and said, “Okay.”
My pulse raced, but I opened the paper and read the words. I reread that she loved me, twice. I wished she would say that out loud.
My heart grew, and I headed to the door to follow her, but she flew back into my office and right into my chest as I reached for the door. I stepped back. “Mary?”
Her eyes were wide like saucers. “Yeah?”
No-holds-barred time. My skin was alive, but I took her hand and said, “I’ve been in love with you since the first time I laid eyes on you.”
She had a smile that brought color to the darkest day. She batted her eyes. “Why me?”
I inched closer. “Because you brighten up the room and my life and make me see everything in color. Being with you is like sunlight in life, and without you, I’m lost.”
She cupped my cheek. “You’re not lost. You’re the best man I ever met. All the walls around my heart disappear when you come close to me.”
What few walls I’d built around my heart crumbled in one fell swoop. She loved me. I would wait for the words. I kissed her fingers and said, “Thank you for the letter.”
She reached for my hand. “Oh, I need that back.”
I whipped my hand behind me. “You’ll have to pry it from my cold dead hands.”
She wrapped her arms around me but couldn’t reach. Then she bounced on her feet and said, “Or maybe I can kiss you until you hand it over.”
I smiled at the idea, but I said, “That won’t work.”
She leaned up higher on her toes. “Let’s try that.”
I closed my eyes and lowered my head to kiss her. Her breath was warm and inviting, but my phone shrieked. I stepped back, put the paper in my pocket, and answered fast. “One second.”
California was three hours behind, but I answered on the first ring when I saw the Cole Securities number and said, “Jackson, what’s going on?”
“Wanda was arrested. Your mom is fine. We’re just waiting on Mark’s team and Arthur now.”
I let out a loud breath. Half the battle was done. “Can I talk to her?”
“Here,” Jackson said.
I heard her small breaths and didn’t wait for hello. “Mom, are you good?”
She sounded calm as always. “Devon’s friend here is nice. I’m glad you’re taking over for your brother now. I’ve been helping Jackson since I arrived with calling the board, so the paperwork for ownership is pretty much done.”
Maybe I should have involved her sooner. Mary came closer, and I stared at her. “Soon, I want to introduce you to my girlfriend, Mom.”
“I look forward to meeting this mystery woman. I hope she’s better than Wanda.”
“She is.” My mother meant to ask Mary questions about herself to formulate her character, but my mom meant well as she wanted to protect me. Mary was sweet and in my arms right now. “Talk to you soon.”
I realized she was reaching for my pocket, so I moved my hip out of her grasp.
“She’s safe?” she asked.
“Wanda’s been arrested. The company is pretty much mine now. All that’s left is for Arthur to be located.”
Her face reddened. “That still scares me.”
