Total pages in book: 117
Estimated words: 115435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 115435 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 577(@200wpm)___ 462(@250wpm)___ 385(@300wpm)
“It was meant for the museum, so it’ll cost you.”
“I’ll pay double your standard fee.”
He growls in my ear, and I laugh because Kane never passes up extra money, despite being good and wealthy in his own right.
“Fine. We’ll make it work. Tell me about her.”
I shove my hands in my pockets and stare out at the mountains I’ve grown to love over the past year.
“She’s everything, mate. That’s the long and the short of it.”
“Welcome to the club,” he says, sounding cheerful for the first time. “I’ll see you soon.”
He hangs up, and I sit at the desk and dial another number.
“This is Cassie,” my chef answers. “How can I help you, Mr. Gallagher?”
“I’d like to make some changes to our arrangement.” I outline exactly what I expect of her moving forward. When I’m finished, I can hear the smile in her voice.
“Oh, this is no problem. I thought this call might be coming. I’m sorry if I made Billie uncomfortable in any way.”
“It’s not your fault. I’ll give her your number so she can call you and inform you of her preferences.”
“I look forward to that. Thanks, Mr. Gallagher.”
I end that call, then check the time and make one more.
“Anderson,” my architect barks in my ear.
“I want you to build me a library. Today.”
He laughs. “Of course, you do. I can’t do it today.”
I grind my molars together. “When?”
“First, I need information. How big? Are we remodeling existing rooms or adding on to the house? Is this for you?”
I close my eyes. I don’t want to explain any more. I just want it to happen.
“I’ll get more information and call you back. I want this project to move fast, Anderson.”
“When the hell don’t you want it to move fast?” He snorts. “Get me more info, and I’ll see what I can do.”
I should pass this along to an assistant, but I want anything I plan for my angel to come from me. Strangely, for me anyway, this isn’t about control. I’ve learned to delegate well over the years and have built skilled and trustworthy teams across several countries. But for Billie? For the woman who has become my everything? Only I can design what I want her to luxuriate in. Only I can ensure every chair is as comfortable to read in as the ones in her shop. And only I can guarantee that when she walks into her library, she feels … cherished. Adored.
Loved.
After two more hours of work, I meet Miller at the car, where he’s waiting with the back door open.
This man knows my schedule better than I do.
Ten minutes later, we pull up to my sister, Skyla, and her boyfriend’s farmhouse.
Beckett Blackwell owns this ranch and the dairy farm on it and does well with the business. He also built eight small cabins in the woods with an incredible view of the mountains to use as vacation rentals, and although they rent well enough, Beckett has discovered that dealing with guests is his least favorite thing in all the world.
So he’s taken them off the rental market, and we’re working to offer them to families with sick children who want to come here on holiday.
I’m providing the charity and the money, and Beckett’s providing the cabins—for a fee of course—and we’re going to build a lodge for more guest suites, a kitchen, and a common area.
“You’re the only bloke I know who would come out to a ranch in a suit,” Skyla says as she steps out onto the porch and grins at me.
“I’ve been working,” I inform her and pull her in for a hug. “No time to change. Where’s your man, then?”
“He’s coming over from the barn,” she replies as her dog, Riley, steps outside with her.
I scratch his head between his ears, and he leans into me, reminding me of my bumble bee and how much she loves to be touched.
I like to be touched.
When she said those words to me in the shower, I felt … shame. Because everything slipped into place at that moment.
She loves sex, but she blooms when she’s snuggled.
She leans into my hand when I cup her cheek.
She can only sleep well when I have my arms wrapped around her.
It made me feel so much shame that I hadn’t picked up on it sooner, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure she’s treasured, if she’ll let me.
“I’m looking forward to getting this project off the ground,” she says as I hear Beckett walk up and join us.
We pile into a UTV with Riley and head over to the cabins on the other side of the property. Just as every time before, when we come around the bend and the mountains are revealed from behind some trees, my breath catches.
The mountains are spread out before us, with a pretty meadow full of wildflowers in the foreground, and it’s simply stunning.