Page 126 of How to Break My Heart
Mr. Fenech waits for my incessant rambling to finish. “I thought it would be. I know you have a lot of questions, andthe owner wants to move fast. Perhaps we can arrange to see the property, and you can ask as many questions as you need?”
“That would be great. Is there a time?”
“How about now?” he answers promptly. “I will call to make arrangements if you give me a moment.”
“Okay,” I say, with a new thirst for life.
He dials a number on the office phone but speaks quietly into the speaker. I try to make a mental calculation in my head of how much money I have saved. I’m praying it’s enough, and hopefully, after today, the store will bring in more customers, relieving any financial stress.
“Right, the owner will meet us there in ten minutes. Shall we?”
Mr. Fenech’s old Mercedes-Benz smells like mothballs and cinnamon. It’s an odd combination, but nevertheless, it’s the least important thing on my mind. I pray for this to all come true because it is something I’ve been dreaming of for the longest time.
He parks the car behind the house, and as we both exit, loose twigs and leaves crunch beneath my feet. We step into the clearing, and the moment we do, the dilapidated house comes into full view. Many would say it looks like a horror movie house, but I see the bones of a home I plan to makeperfect.
“Did they say what time?” I ask loudly.
“Now,” a voice behind me says.
I don’t turn around, my stomach flipping at the sound ofhisvoice. My heart starts to hammer inside my chest, and when I slowly turn, Aston is standing across from me.
Just like me, he looks tired. Dark circles have formed around his normally sparkling green eyes, and he has a beard. Though he looks damn sexy with one. My fingers ache to touch him, to show him I was wrong and need him more than I ever cared to admit.
“What are you doing here?”
“I’m here on business,” he states, but there’s a gleam in his eye.
He removes a bunch of papers from inside his suit jacket. I turn to look at Mr. Fenech, but he simply grins and walks backto his car, leaving us alone. I scan the area, but see no Porsche. All I notice is a small dinghy docked next to the modest wharf.
“The conditions of the property…” Aston begins, clearing his throat before continuing, “Number one, any house changes must be in accordance with its heritage listing.”
I place my hands on my hips, unable to hide my smile. “Well, duh.”
He glances at me, attempting not to smirk. “Number two, all plants and fauna must add to the nature reserve.”
“Right. Don’t plant something that will make this entire forest extinct. Got it! Is that all?”
“And third…” He bows his head, and when he raises his eyes to meet mine again, a glaze shimmers around his pupils. “You please forgive a man who is irrevocably in love with you and has been miserable since the moment he acted like a coward and never fought hard enough for what he wanted. I thought about all the ways to beg for your forgiveness, but the only way you would truly understand just how sorry I am, was to do something that made me extremely uncomfortable. If opening a social media account meant crazy girls would go nuts and chase the latest trend, then it’s one step closer to you fulfilling your dreams. For my entire life, I wasn’t allowed to have my own dreams. But you have yours, and I want to be a part of them.”
“Aston,” I call softly as my lips quiver. “You’rein lovewith me?”
He reaches out to caress my cheek. The touch is like a jolt of much-needed electricity, lighting up my heart and soul.
“It’s always been you. All those years ago, you were the only one to believe in me,” he admits, fixating on my lips. “And because of you, I’ve finally learned my worth. I love you, and no amount of money in the world matters if I don’t have you, Everleigh.”
A tear falls down my cheek, only for his thumb to slowly wipe it off as I smile back at him. “That’s one hell of a speech. How will you ever top that?”
“The day you marry me,” he whispers with his lips curving, only to then gently rest his hand on my stomach. “The day we find out you’re carrying our baby. The day you bring our baby into this world. I plan to never stop telling you how much I love you, Everleigh Woods.”
I jump into the arms of this unbelievably sexy man who has just made my world complete. His lips brush against mine, and softly, he kisses me, a kiss that melts away any doubt I have left.
My hands hold on to his jacket as I pull away, only slightly. “So, do you really own this land, and are you selling it to me, or was this a ploy to get me here?”
“I own this land, but I don’t plan on selling it to you. I wantusto make itourhome.”
A squeal escapes me. “You’re moving back to Cinnamon Springs?”
“Kind of.” He chuckles. “I was thinking we could live half here and half in Manhattan. The new job I was offered is pretty flexible, so—”
