Page 42 of XOXO, Summer
How do I manage my feelings from the reality of being in debt to him? We just met, and he’s throwing money at me like he’ll somehow get it back. There’s no way for me to earn enough to support my family and pay off a loan like that. So as much as I love the feel of him holding me like I’m the only woman in the world that matters to him, I can’t take both risks at once. It’s either my heart or my head. This is when logic needs to prevail.
Give it a rest, heart.
“I’m not most people.” He sure isn’t. His gaze softens as he catches mine.
I’m still not sure how he broke through my carefully built walls with unattainable standards to match, but here he is like he conquered the whole damn fortress. “I’m learning that the more we spend time together.”
But looking at him sends my heart racing again. There’s no restraining a genuine reaction. I cup his face, loving the prickles from the dusting of scruff on my fingertips. “Why are you doing this?”
Reaching over my arms, he cups my face with a grin that can only be construed as he’s lost his damn mind, and replies, “Because I want to and because I can.”
“But it makes no sense for you. This isn’t a good investment, so why waste your money?”
“Are you trying to talk me out of it?” he asks under muted chuckles.
“Yes.” I can’t manage a smile even from seeing his. The pressure to take the offer and run weighs heavy on my chest. “I can’t owe you the rest of my life. I’ll never be able to get out from under that debt.”
“I’m not investing in the property, Summer. I’m investing in you to keep Mountain Laurel Cove alive.” He glances toward the ocean. “Look at this place. I thought everywhere had already been overdeveloped. Not here. This place needs to exist, not just for you but for others to see how beautiful nature really is.”
I smile because my heart does. He gets it. He truly understands that if one domino falls, they all do. I can’t let that happen. “Careful, or I’m going to start to think you were brought on purpose.”
“To save the day? It wouldn’t be the first time.” His laughter echoes, thinking he really did something there with that compliment to himself.
I can’t join him, but it’s too real for me. “I’m starting to believe that might be true.”
“All clear?” a little voice calls to us. We turn to see Roman standing in the doorway.
Roman’s been so good and patient that I feel bad for making him wait around as I spiral over something personal. He’s here for a vacation, not to be dragged into my drama. “All clear,” I call, checking in briefly with a glance whose smile has stuck to his face like it’s glued there and evokes mine in response. “We need to talk more about this.”
“We will, but I want you to consider it.”
“I am. There’s just a lot of details to consid?—”
“Can I go?” Roman asks, dropping his bag beside us and startling us apart like two teens busted making out by their parent.
Daniel rubs his hand over his head. “What do you mean you go?”
“You guys are talking, and that’s boring.” The whine in his tone doesn’t seem to go over well with his dad.
“What do we say about being bored, Roman?”
He kicks his foot out and then drops it with a pout of his lips. “Find something to do.”
“Yep.” He rests his hand on Roman’s back. The pats are light with care as if he’s rooting for him. “So what are you going to do?”
“Go see Dolly. I can walk down there by myself.”
Daniel glances at me with a question in his eyes. “Is it safe?”
“You see how little traffic there is. Ten homes and a dead end don’t impress many to drive down here,” I reply. “She’d love the company.”
“I’m not a baby, Dad.”
“I know you’re not.” He looks at the road once more and takes his bag from him. “I’ll bring this down when we return.”
I pull out my phone again and text Dolly. “I’ll let her know you’re heading her way.”
He throws his arms around my waist. “Thanks, Summer.”
