in there to rescue my baby because I just know Grandma’s not going to listen to me. Come over one day and we can go over your books. Figure something out.”
I turn and leave, only to hear Savannah open the door and yell, “I told you not to wake her!” And then Brinley screams.
I smile to myself. I left at the perfect time.
Driving back to my office, I think about Savannah’s words of advice. She runs a huge company. Maybe she could’ve helped me, but it’s Friday and Mr. Richards wants his money for last month and this month’s rent and I don’t have it, so I’m going to have to get my things out.
I park down the block, and I’m surprised to find Colton waiting at my office door.
He holds up a bag from the sandwich place in Sunset Bay. “Lunch for my girl.”
“Sunset Bay?”
“Had to go to deliver puppies.”
“Did you bring one back with you?” I open the door to my office, and he follows me inside.
“Is that something you’d want?” He places the bag on my desk and pulls out the sandwiches.
“I’m actually surprised you don’t already have one.”
He nods. “I never felt settled enough for one, but now…” He wraps his arms around me and kisses my lips. “If my girlfriend wants one, I want to make her happy.”
“Oh, would you? Well, maybe it’s something we should talk about.”
“First you need to move in.” He squares his eyes on me.
I blow out a breath and wiggle out of his hold. “I’m starving. Tell me you got me the bacon turkey ranch?”
He stands in the middle of the room, apparently unwilling to answer me or move.
I look at him. “What?”
“Stop dodging the topic. Why won’t you move in with me?”
“What about Kingston?” Kingston actually told me a few nights ago, when I stopped home to grab some clothes, he’s thinking about moving closer to Anchorage.
“Fine, Kingston can move in too. We have two extra bedrooms.” He walks over and unwraps his sandwich.
“You mean you have two extra bedrooms.”
He leans over my desk, and right before he takes a bite of his sandwich, he says, “What’s mine is yours.”
“We’re not married,” I say, opening up my sandwich, which smells delicious. Cheese gushes out of the side and I lick my lips in anticipation. We found this place on a whim during one of the first days of spring outings.
“Yet.”
“Colton.” I sigh.
“Juno,” he mimics.
“I’m serious. We just got together. Let’s enjoy this. What if…”
“I hate your what-ifs,” he mumbles and bites his sandwich.
“What?”
He finishes chewing and digs paperwork out of his bag. “Forget it. We have something else to talk about anyway. I did something, and I don’t want you to say no right away. I want you to listen to my argument.”
He tosses some papers on my desk and I read the first line, realizing Savannah and Mrs. Stone aren’t the only ones to figure out I’m a failure.
Loan Agreement
As I scan the document, there’s no mention of Four Paws, but there is a loan amount issued to Colton Stone personally. I inhale, trying not to let anger take over, but you know what they say about redheads—we’re fiery.
Twenty-Seven
Colton
I wasn’t going to present the loan to her in this way, but she pissed me off with her what-ifs. Why the hell can’t she just move in with me? Hell, I’ll take her brother too. Rent-free if he wants. I just want her. But I’m starting to realize I may have gotten her out of her desperation to not see me with someone else, but I don’t truly have her because she doesn’t want to think about our future.
“I’m not accepting this.” She hands the papers back to me.
When I refuse to take my hands off my sandwich, she tosses the loan docs on top of the sandwich wrappers, dousing them with mayonnaise and seasoning.
“Damn it,” I say, picking them up with one hand. “I know you’re not making your bills.”
She finishes chewing her bite and narrows her eyes at me. “It’s none of your business.”
“Yes, it is. You’re my girlfriend and I want to help you.”
“Is that loan big enough for Four Paws too?”
“No.” I lean back in my chair. “I don’t have enough collateral. It’s strictly for you and SparkFinder, but I’m talking to Dr. Murphy next week when he returns from Portland. I’m sure we can figure out an arrangement.”
“How do you know he won’t find someone else?” She crosses her arms. She’s dressed down today