Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 21041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 21041 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 105(@200wpm)___ 84(@250wpm)___ 70(@300wpm)
“I could take all of this away from you,” Jamie insists, looking at me. His eyes are filled with a fury and resentment I don’t understand.
“You just try,” Amos says, grabbing his friend by the shirt collar and hauling him outside.
I watch the two of them through the big glass window. I don’t understand this man at all. Sure, Jamie could be a bit mean-spirited to me at times. But it’s never been anything like this before. This is a whole new level of venom.
Amos shoves Jamie toward his car and stands on the sidewalk, watching until my brother’s vehicle finally pulls away.
The moment he comes into the shop, he’s pulling me into his arms. “I’m sorry, honey.”
“I don’t know why he has to be like that,” I sniff against his t-shirt. “It’s like he hates me sometimes.”
“I’ll make some calls. Figure out how to get the money that’s rightfully yours. You shouldn’t have to deal with him,” Amos insists, pressing a kiss to the top of my forehead.
11
LYLA
“Tell me,” I say when Amos comes into the living room of our beautiful cabin. He had a friend of his looking into my options with Jamie. But I know from the expression on his face that it’s not good news.
It’s been two days since Jamie showed up. He hasn’t tried to interfere with the shop. In fact, he hasn’t contacted me at all.
“It’s bad,” Amos warns, taking a seat beside me on the couch. He tugs my hand into his and gives it a gentle squeeze. “How much of it do you want to hear?”
“Everything.” I brace myself for what’s going to come next.
He takes a deep breath. “Jamie is a chronic gambler and a con artist. He’s blown through almost every penny of your inheritance. That’s why he’s worked so hard to keep it from you.”
“But he had documents,” I protest. “He’d send me these emails once a year that showed how it was invested and all the interest the money was earning.”
“He faked those,” Amos explains. “He’s being investigated. He’s swindled two businessmen out of millions.”
I frown. “Are you sure we’re talking about Jamie? I mean, sure he was a little mean and cruel to me sometimes. But the man you’re describing, I don’t recognize him.”
“I don’t either,” he admits.
“Where did his inheritance go?” I ask. “Did he gamble that away too?”
Amos hesitates. “You want to know everything?”
I nod.
“Jamie is a product of an affair your mother had. He’s your half-brother and as such, when your father died, he left every penny of the estate to you.”
My heart clenches. “I always knew he and dad had a complicated relationship. I thought it was just one of those things, how fathers and sons don’t get along.” I shake my head. “My dad adored me. No wonder Jamie hated me.”
“You had what he wanted the most,” Amos confirms. “But that doesn’t excuse him for being a dick to you.”
“I wish I’d known. Maybe I could have helped. Maybe he could have gotten treatment for the gambling and—”
He interrupts me by pulling me into his arms. “Don’t think like that. None of this is your fault.”
“It wasn’t his either,” I point out. All these years later, I understand the tension between my father and Jamie. They weren’t father and son who struggled to bond. They were strangers who resented each other.
“We’ll have to disagree on that. Jamie was no victim. He stole from you. He’s swindled others out of millions.” Amos sighs. “He wasn’t anything like the buddy I thought I served beside all those years ago.”
“He did introduce us though,” I point out, a grin playing at my lips. “That’s worth more to me than all the money in the world.”
He gives me a smile. I love the way he looks at me, like he sees the whole world when he’s watching me. “Yeah, I guess I should thank him for introducing me to my future wife.”
I pretend to pout. “You haven’t even asked me.”
“I’m not planning to,” Amos grunts. “You’re my woman. You’ll be wearing my ring and carrying my kids. No doubt about it.”
I chuckle. Somehow, this proposal is exactly Amos. “In that case, I accept.”
“That’s a binding agreement,” he teases as he wraps his arms around me and stands, holding me close to his chest. “And you know how I love to make sure things are tied together.”
Two weeks later, I step into my little donut shop with a smile on my face. I got the permits in the mail yesterday.
Today will be my first official day as a business in Mount Bliss. At first I worried because it was taking so long.
But Amos reassured me that it took about two weeks to get his pub approved too. He’s been so incredibly supportive. He’s an amazing boyfriend. Well, fiancé as he always likes to correct me.