Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 82893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82893 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 414(@200wpm)___ 332(@250wpm)___ 276(@300wpm)
He drops his eyes to me and smiles. “I think we’re good.”
“Cool. Have a great day.”
“Yeah, you too.”
Grabbing the handle of my cart with one hand, I give Mag one more head scratch before I begin pushing my cart down the walkway toward Roman.
“Is everything okay?” I ask softly while his eyes wander over my face.
“Yeah.” He holds one of the cups out toward me.
“What’s this?”
“Coffee.”
“Oh.” I take it, ignoring my stomach fluttering from the sweet gesture.
“From Jeff,” he adds, and the flutter disappears as I frown.
“Jeff gave you a coffee for me?”
He shrugs.
Weird, but okay. I take a sip, and it’s creamy and sweet, just the way I like it. Actually, I’d prefer it over ice, but I’m not going to turn my nose up at a free coffee.
“Who’s the guy?” he asks quietly, walking with me. When I look up at him, I find his eyes pointed ahead of us, but I know he’s asking me about Mag’s owner.
“I don’t know, someone staying here.” I stop at the housekeeping room so I can drop off the dirty laundry that’s piled on top of my cart and restock it. When I get the door open, I push it inside, and he leans against the doorjamb to watch me. “What are you up to today?”
“I have some work to do this afternoon.”
“Oh, what kind of work?” I ask, and I’m almost sure he’s not going to answer, but he steps into the room and leans against the counter, where I’ve just dumped a pile of clean towels from the dryer.
“A deal I’m closing back in New York.”
“You don’t need to be there for that?”
“It’s a real estate deal, so everything on my end can be done over the phone and online.”
“Is that what you do for work?” I lock my gaze with his. “Real estate?” He lifts his chin in response, and I nod. “Maybe you can give me some advice.” I start shoving the wet sheets from the washer into the dryer. “My mom signed the deed for her property back in Wyoming over to me, and I’ve been trying to sell it to settle her debts before it’s taken by the state, and—”
“They shouldn’t be able to take that property from you if she signed the deed over to you, regardless of her debts.” He cuts me off, his gaze locking on mine.
“You would be right.” I tug my eyes off his to continue what I was doing. “But she passed before she could go to a lawyer and file the proper paperwork, so her estate has to clear the debt she owes, which is significant between her medical bills and the taxes she hadn’t paid in years. Something I knew nothing about until after she passed.”
“What kind of property is it?”
“It’s a little over three hundred acres with a small house and barn.”
“That’s a lot of land.”
“I know.” I glance over at him as I shut the door to the dryer. “And I know that might be part of why I haven’t had anyone show any interest.”
“But?” He adds the single word I left out.
“My mom’s family still lives there and my ex-fiancé didn’t want me to sell, and they all have strong connections in that town.” I shake my head. “I know I could just be paranoid, but do you think it’s weird that not one person has even viewed it?”
“You were engaged?”
I frown at his tone and the look he’s giving me. “Yeah.”
“For how long?”
“Does that matter?” I deflect because discussing Tyler’s and my failed relationship with him is the last thing I want to do.
“No.” He shakes his head, scrubbing his fingers through his thick hair that looks so soft my fingers twitch with the urge to feel it for myself. “You don’t want to keep the land?” My muscles bunch, and he must notice, because his entire expression gentles. “There is no right or wrong answer.”
“If I answer no, I seem heartless. If I say yes, I’m stuck.”
“I’m not going to think you’re heartless.”
“You might not, but my mom’s family does.” I start loading my cart with fresh linens. “The property has been in that family for generations,” I tell him while the familiar feelings of guilt and anger land heavy in the center of my chest. “They were upset when I told them I would have to sell.”
“If they’re worried about the land staying in your family, they should purchase it from you or help you figure out how to keep it.”
“They don’t want it.”
“Then they don’t factor into any decision you make. It’s not your responsibility to make them happy.” He swings his hand back and tosses his empty coffee cup into the trash in the corner of the room. “Give me the address, and I’ll do some research. It might be a price-point issue or even a lack of exposure on the real estate agent’s part for why you haven’t gotten any inquiries.”