to come up with that kind of extra cash, and Tom knew it. All he told us was that this was going to work out for you. He wouldn’t say anything else.”
“I’m going to go kick that asshole’s ass!” my father ranted as he started toward the door.
“Wait! Hold on a second,” I said. “How can it be that easy? Doesn’t the title company have to do things…can this person really just swoop in and buy the building so quickly? And what does that mean, it’s going to work out for me?”
“If they had that kind of cash simply laying around, it is that easy. All Tom had to do was fill out the paperwork to get the title transferred over. According to LouAnne at the title company, the money’s in an escrow account. Once they have the paperwork finished, both parties will sign and it’s a done deal,” Kyle said.
“Who’s the buyer?” I asked.
Aiden frowned. “I don’t know. LouAnne couldn’t tell us.”
I brought my hand to my stomach, trying to keep from getting sick. “Then, that’s it. I’ve lost the building!”
Aiden shook his head. “I don’t think so, Greer. Even LouAnne mentioned that this new buyer wasn’t looking to change a thing.”
My head spun in confusion. “What does that even mean?”
Suddenly, Kyle’s expression changed, as if he had just thought of something. “Greer…I think I know who the buyer is.”
I jumped when my phone vibrated in my hand. It was a text from Hudson.
Hudson: I need to talk to you right away. I’m at the bookstore, but Candace said you left for your folks’. Are you still there? It’s urgent.
I quickly typed my reply.
Me: Yes, I’m at their place. Where are you?
The phone rang, and I answered it. “Hudson? Is everything okay?”
“Yes, everything’s great. I’m right around the corner.”
“Okay, well, just come on in. We’re all in the kitchen.”
“All?” he asked.
“Yeah, Kyle and Aiden are here as well.”
He paused for a moment. “I’m parking out front now. See you in a second.”
Hanging up, I glanced at the others. “That’s Hudson. He said he needs to speak with me right away.”
Before I had a chance to ask Kyle who he thought the buyer might be, there was a knock on the door and then Hudson’s voice.
“In the kitchen!” my mother called out.
Hudson appeared, and my heart did a little skip. It was crazy how even when I felt like utter shit, simply seeing him made me feel so much better.
“Hey,” he said softly. His smile seemed forced…and not relaxed at all.
“Hey,” I repeated.
He glanced around, then looked at me. “Could we maybe talk in private?”
“Of course, let’s head out onto the back porch.”
Once the door shut, his smile grew, though he looked nervous. “I’ve got some news for you.”
I tried to smile back because clearly Hudson was happy about something. A part of me wanted to fall into his arms and sob and tell him the bookstore was done. I was going to have to move it and start over again somewhere else. The other part wanted to just forget my problems and get lost in Hudson.
“Oh yeah?” I said with a forced calm I didn’t feel.
He handed me a folded piece of paper, and I took it.
“Open it.”
This time I did smile, only because I could hear the excitement in his voice.
I started to read it…and realized it was a legal document. I sucked in a breath as it dawned on me what I was looking at.
I snapped my head up to look at him. “What is this?”
“I couldn’t sleep last night, and so I sent an email to my lawyer and financial advisor. I told them both what was going on, that I needed some help with a few things. My lawyer drew up the contracts, my financial advisor moved some money around…and here we are. The building is yours still, Greer. You’re not going to lose it.”
Stunned, I looked back at the document and continued reading.
Tom had sold my building to Hudson. Part of the agreement stipulated that the deed to the building would be put in my name. I looked back up at Hudson in confusion. “You bought the building?”
He nodded. “Yes. For you.”
I slowly shook my head. “W-why?”
His brows pulled down in confusion. “What do you mean, why? Mr. Brooks knew damn well you didn’t have the means to purchase it. So I offered him twenty-five dollars more than the original investor was offering. I told him I intended to let you keep the building