Page 87 of Sawyer
My lips purse, unsure what he means.“That’s your investment, though.”
“I bought it for you.”
I think my heart stops.“I can’t accept two hundred acres!That’s ridiculous, Sawyer,” I tell him, huffing a breath.He’s truly something else.
“Of course you can.Acts of service, remember?”His smile widens, and I could melt from the sight.
But I shrug that off and shake my head.“I’m not taking your land, Sawyer.”That’s way too much.This man does so much for me; I can’t just take a large parcel of land like it’s a simple gift or something.
“Fine, pay me a lease and do with the land what you want.”He shrugs.My breathing escalates at the prospect.I could do a lot with that land.
“You know I don’t have the money.”I’m disappointed by that fact, but it’s the truth.
“Well, that’s not exactly true…” he says cryptically with a smirk.
“What?”I pause, eyes widening, knowing something has happened.
“Just had a call with Valerie Van Cleef.She accepted our proposal.Congratulations, Annabelle, your business has just had a multimillion-dollar investment, with your rose-scented soaps now going to be found in over one hundred hotels around the country.”
The world around me stops, and I think I almost faint.
“What?”I whisper, completely shocked, happily so.
His tone centers me as he takes another step closer.“We got it, baby.We got the deal.”
My hands start to shake and my eyes water.I search his eyes for any sign that this isn’t true, and when all I find is sincerity, I throw myself at him.He barely has time to catch me before I jump up into his arms, my legs circling his waist as I hold him tight.
“You got it, Sawyer.Oh my God, you’ve changed my life.Oh my God… Oh my God!”Tears fall, good tears today as I grip on to him.He wraps me up in his arms firmly, never letting me go, and I squeeze my eyes shut, feeling like he’s back.
“You will have money for the kids' college.You can let go of the teaching job and focus on the farm and Gertie’s.You can get the repairs done to this place like you want to,” he tells me close to my ear, listing all my dreams.I bite the inside of my cheek to hold back a sob of joy, feeling the sting of new tears, my cheeks wet, my heart still thudding harder than ever.
“I can’t believe this is happening…” Pulling back to look at him, my mind goes back to the other good news.“So I’ll need to lease your land, after all.”
“It’s yours for a dollar a month.”
I balk, but I can’t help laughing, even as more tears fall.“Sawyer!That’s ridiculous!”
Chuckling, he slowly lowers me to the ground.“For the first six months.Once Van Cleef kicks in, we can renegotiate with Gertie’s paying the lease if that makes you feel better.”
I think about it.It’s still not remotely equal, but I know that’s the best he’s going to offer.
“Deal.”I hold out my hand for him to shake, and he grabs it and pulls me to his chest.
“Thank you, Sawyer.Thank you,” I say against him, genuinely thankful for everything this man has done for me and my boys.
“I’m sorry I’ve been distant this week,” he whispers into my hair as his hold on me tightens, his head ducking into my neck, like he’s scared I will disappear.
“It’s okay…” My hand rubs up and down his back.
“It’s not.I just can’t be responsible for danger coming to you.I can’t be the one who hurts you.”
I pull back and look at him, reaching up to cup his face.“You never would hurt us, and regardless of whether or not what’s happening around here is connected to you, that’s not on you at all.”
He looks unconvinced.
“What is a crime is the fact that you haven’t touched me all week.You haven’t fulfilled your promise of breaking my bed.”A small grin comes to both our mouths.
“How about we rectify that tonight?Once the boys get to sleep?”He leans in to kiss me.
