Don't Hesitate Don't Hesitate (The Reluctant Heart Book 3) - Jeannette Winters Page 0,49
tell her before we went any further.
“I need to tell you something, Anne.”
“I know all I need to, Andrew. You love me. We can figure the rest out later,” she said.
I wish it was that easy. The last time I kept something from her I almost lost her. Never again. “Sweetheart, I want to explain why I don’t want your land anymore.”
“You can, but it’s already done. I went to the courthouse and signed the deed over to you.”
I laughed. “And what do you expect me to do with it when I no longer own all the land surrounding it?” I said.
“You sold it?” she asked.
“No. I…signed it over to you.”
She looked shocked. “You aren’t serious, are you?”
“I am. I wanted you to know that money and success are nothing to me without you.”
She laughed. “Well, I guess I have a problem. You see, there is one piece of property that is in the center of all of mine. I hear the owner is stubborn and probably won’t sell. What do you think I should do about it?”
“I guess there is only one thing you can do.”
“What is that?” she asked.
“Accept his offer for a merger.”
“What type of merger?” Anne asked.
“The ‘until death do us part’ kind.” I pulled her back into my arms and said, “Anne, there is so much we need to learn about each other, but I want to learn them with you by my side. These past few days have been hell thinking I’d lost you for good. I never want to feel like that again.”
“Me neither. I never knew what emptiness felt like until you weren’t there. But I want you to promise me something,” she said.
“Anything for you,” I replied.
“I want you to move forward with that development.”
“Why?” I asked.
“Because when you love someone, their hopes and dreams become yours. And what’s important to them becomes important to you. And besides, what on earth would we do with all that land anyway?”
I grinned at her and said, “I know what I wanted, but I think we can make that decision together later.”
“And what would you like to do in the meantime? she asked.
I looked over her shoulder and saw Clark standing there. Thank you, brother. I owe you. He gave me a brief nod before walking away.
I scooped her up into my arms and said, “I have a few suggestions, but none that we can act on here.”
“Hmmm, your land or mine?” she teased.
“How about ours?” I said.
“I love the sound of that,” she smiled.
As I carried her out the red-haired woman said, “Hey, what am I supposed to do with that car?”
“I’ll have it picked up,” I said.
Anne said, “I was going to have it junked.”
“It’s your first love note to me. Do you really think it belongs in a junkyard?” I asked.
Anne laughed. “We could just grab the note on the windshield.”
“Sorry. I don’t want just pieces of you. I want all of you. And that goes for your note as well.”
She snuggled her head into my neck and whispered, “I’m all yours.”
And I’m going to make sure you never spend a moment regretting it.
Epilogue
Anne
“Sorry. That call lasted longer than I wanted,” I said.
Andrew walked over and kissed me. “I’m glad to see you’re in such demand. Just don’t forget, I need you, too.”
Bermoose might be small, but it was growing fast, and my paralegal office was booming. It was funny that I had to run this business under the name The Treasured Chest, but it was the only way I could fulfill my dream and uphold the terms of Uncle Carl’s will. And my former employees were thrilled with their severance package. A year’s wages, without having to work a day. “You need legal advice?” I teased.
He nodded. “There’s this hot, sexy woman holding my heart captive.” He kissed me again, “And she promised to come to bed, but her phone won’t stop ringing.”
I needed to work on that. Although I wanted to help everyone, I had to remember none of it mattered if I wasn’t taking care of the one who takes care of me.
“That’s easily remedied.” I grabbed my cell phone and turned it off. “I’m sorry for keeping you waiting. Now, how can I make it up to you?”
“How about a glass of wine under the stars? It’s a clear night, not one cloud.”
“That sounds perfect.” I got up from behind my desk and Andrew took my hand in his as we headed outside.