Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35305 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 177(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 118(@300wpm)
"Dad," I whisper, my throat raw.
"I'm your dad, Lilah. It's my job to help support your dreams. Whatever the bid is, we'll match it. You're keeping your building."
"Thank you," I whisper. "I'll find a way to pay you back."
"The hell you will," he growls. "You'll take the money, and paying me back won't ever cross your mind again. That's what I want from you."
"But—"
"No buts. Those are my stipulations." He pauses. "And I want to meet your Lincoln."
"I want you to meet him." I bite my lip, suddenly worried. My dad is overprotective on a good day. He'll give Lincoln hell. "But you have to be nice, Dad. I'm grown now. I can torture him myself if he makes me sad or breaks my heart. I just need you to give him a chance, okay?"
"He means that much to you, huh?"
"Yes."
"Then let's buy this building so you can bring the man to see me," he says.
"Will you be nice?" I ask, eyes narrowed in suspicion.
"Just bring him to meet me, Lilah Jean."
"Dad!" I cry, not missing the way he refuses to answer me. I know damn well that means he doesn't plan to be nice. He'll threaten Lincoln, put him through the wringer, and then do it again, just for fun. Honestly, my dad is a menace. And I have two brothers who will gladly help him.
"Lilah," he says, mimicking my tone.
"You're impossible, you know that?"
"Your mom may have told me that a time or two," he says, a smile in his voice. "Just bring him, Lilah. I won't kill him if he's worthy of you."
"He is," I whisper, absolute conviction in my voice.
"You want to talk to your mom?" he asks.
I hesitate because, yes, I always want to talk to my mom. "I'll call her in the morning," I decide, looking around at everything I still need to do here. "I need to finish closing up the store for the night."
"Send me the info on the bid, and I'll draw up the paperwork. We'll get it submitted by the end of the week so you can stop stressing about it." he murmurs. "I love you."
"I love you too." I swallow hard. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me, baby girl. All you have to do is live your life. That's all the thanks your mom and I need."
I blink away tears, my grip tight around the phone. My parents are the best. They really are. I think that's why I hate relying on them so much. They've always been there, willing to sacrifice anything for us. I want to make them proud and prove that everything they did for us wasn't for nothing.
I guess I've always thought that the best way to do that was to do it all by myself. But maybe it's the opposite. Maybe the best way to show them that everything they've done matters is to learn when to accept their help and when to conquer the world on my own.
The phone clicks in my ear as my dad disconnects. I hold onto it for another moment before setting it on the counter, my heart lighter than it has been in days. For once, I feel like I might be able to have everything I want. Maybe, just maybe, heartbreak isn't how my story ends.
Chapter Nine
Lincoln
Lilah's store is dark when I park out front at almost ten, but I know she's inside. Her car is still in the lot, and I can see her moving around through the windows. I think she'd live in this store if she could do it. She's here more than she's at home.
I kill the engine, grab the document roll from the passenger seat, and hop out, eager to see her. I was busy all fucking day, trying to get everything in order. I barely had time to breathe between meetings, let alone call her. If I'm being honest, I didn't want to have to lie to her if we did talk.
Some things are better said in person. This is one of them.
I just hope she doesn't kick my ass. It's a distinct possibility.
I stride toward the door with my heart in my throat. She doesn't notice me standing outside, so I stop, just watching her through the glass. She's so goddamn beautiful, moving from task to task in a way that makes my dick throb just watching her. But it's more than just her curves or her smile or the blue shade of her eyes or any individual piece of her that drives me wild. It's everything.
I've never met anyone like her—someone so comfortable in their own skin. There's a confidence to her that's rare, like she knows and accepts herself exactly as she is. She doesn't care what anyone else thinks about her or if they like her. She's just living her life. I can't get enough of that.