for Turning Pages, as it states in the legal documents my lawyer drew up. Once Mr. Brooks understood that I had every intention of letting you buy the building back from me, he agreed. He actually seemed relieved, claimed he never wanted you to lose it, but he had to think of his family first. It’s a win-win, Greer.”
My mouth opened and closed a few times before I was able to find my voice. “So, you went behind my back and bought it?”
His smile faded some. “Well, I had to move quickly. I didn’t want any other players coming into the game.”
I stumbled back until I found one of the chairs and dropped down into it. “You bought the building?”
“Yes. I mean, I will, once the paperwork at the title company is approved. The full amount for the sale is in an account with them.”
Pressing my fingers against my temples, I started to gently rub. “Let me get this straight.” I dropped my hands to my lap as I focused on Hudson. “You had enough money simply laying around that you were able to wire it to the title company.”
He blushed. “Well, we had to move some around, but…yes. I did.”
I looked away and took a few deep breaths before I stood and faced him. “You didn’t think this was something you should have spoken with me about?”
Confusion made him stumble on his words when he first spoke. “Um…you…well…you were so upset. You thought you were losing your dream. I just wanted to help.”
Frustration boiled up inside of me. “But…Hudson, why didn’t you talk to me first? This isn’t like going into a store and buying something small. This was a half-a-million dollars. I can’t afford that loan. The amount Tom and I had agreed on was one thing, but this…I can’t.”
“You can buy it back at the purchase price you and Mr. Brooks agreed upon, minus what you’ve already paid him in rent over the last five years. I don’t want anything other than your happiness, Greer.”
I was positive my mouth was about to hit the ground. “Are you crazy, Hudson? You’ll what, just wipe your hands of a hundred-thousand dollars?”
His gaze softened. “You’re worth the investment, Greer.”
“But…why didn’t you ask me first?” My head was reeling. I was confused, but Hudson’s gesture also had my heart nearly pounding out of my chest as I thought about how kind it was. Why in the world had he done it?
He smiled. “Would you have said yes?”
“No, I mean, I don’t know. I guess I’m in shock. Hudson, why did you do this for me?”
He reached for my hand and gently squeezed it. “I saw you hurting and upset, and I had the means to help you, and I wanted to help you. Yes, it was impulsive of me to do it without even talking to you, but I’ve fallen in love with you, Greer. I want to see you happy, not sad. And if you need to be upset with me for a few days before understanding my reasons for doing this, then so be it. But I wouldn’t change my decision. I’d rather be penniless than see you unhappy.”
My heart melted into a puddle right there on the spot.
“What did you say?” I whispered.
He smiled. “I said I love you! I know it’s crazy and fast. And I just bought you a goddamn building. And you have every right to think I’ve lost my fucking mind! But seeing you like that last night…so defeated…I never want to see you that way again. And I don’t want to go back to New York. I don’t want to go back to the life I had before I met you. I want this.”
He motioned between us, and my jaw started to ache as I tried to keep from crying.
“I want to go hiking all over Boggy Creek Valley with you. I want to watch your family go nuts over pick-up sticks and lose money over a freaking Go Fish game. I want to pick out our first Christmas tree together at Bishop’s Christmas tree farm. I want to watch you make your dreams come true, and if you’ll let me be a part of that, then this is where I want to be. I want to wake up each morning with you in my arms and go to sleep every night with you beside me. I love you, Greer. I love you!”
Hudson clearly wasn’t expecting me to launch myself into his arms,