Page 80 of Better than Yesterday
A shadow of wistful sadness crossed her face. “Braden, itisperfect. It’s also a fantasy. We looked at the listing, and it’s impossibly expensive.”
“It’s been on the market for over a year,” I countered. “Nobody’s touched it because it’s a specific kind of property. It needs a buyer who cares more about the land and the water access than a turnkey property.” I took a breath. “I know the realtor handling it.”
As she stared at me, her expression was a mixture of confusion and curiosity. “Okay… so you know the realtor. That doesn’t change the price tag.”
“No, it doesn’t.” I took both of her hands in mine, needing her full attention, needing her to feel the absolute sincerity of what I was about to say. “But what if we stopped thinking about what the foundation can’t afford and started thinking about whatwecan do?”
Her eyes widened. “We? What are you… Braden, what are you talking about?”
“I'm talking about you and me. As partners. The McGregor property is the key, but the foundation can't afford to buy it outright. So let's change the strategy.”
Her brow furrowed. “Change it how?”
The vague cloud of thoughts and plans that had been circulating in my mind for weeks solidified in an instant into absolute certainty. “Tidal Hops becomes the center's first official corporate partner. A founding partner.” I watched her process the words, my idea taking shape as I spoke it aloud. “I’m talking about leverage. The hardest part for a new non-profit is proving to a bank they can keep the lights on.”
I took a step closer. “I’ll pledge a percentage of Tidal Hops’ quarterly profits to the center’s operating fund. A guaranteed revenue stream. With my business backing you, the bank will sign off on the mortgage for the McGregor property. You won't have to scrape for rent every month—you’ll have a safety net. And I’m sure we can get the purchase price dropped since it’s been for sale for so long.”
Her hands trembled in mine. “Braden, do you know what you're saying? A commitment like that... you’re tying your business’s stability to mine. If I fail...”
“You won’t fail,” I said, my grip on her hands tightening as I willed her to understand. “But that’s exactly what this is. It's me putting a real, tangible stake in our future. It's me saying my success is tied to yours. All this time, I thought I was building my business to prove something. But maybe I was building it so it would be strong enough to support your dream. And now ours.”
The full weight of my offer finally landed. Her mouth opened, but no sound came out.
“I spent all this time terrified that your big, ambitious life would pull you away from me,” I continued. “I was so scared of being left behind. You stood up today and declared you were staying. This is me saying I’m not letting you go. This is me anchoring myself to your dream so it can become our dream. I don’t want to just be the guy who loves you, Tessa. I want to be your partner on the board of directors. I want my name on the founding charter, right next to yours.”
Tears streamed down her face, but she smiled—a wide, watery, brilliant smile. “Partnership. You’re talking about becoming full partners.”
“I’m talking about forever.”
She let out a sound that was half a laugh, half a sob, and launched herself into my arms, wrapping around me so tightly I could barely breathe. I held her just as tightly, holding her to me and this moment. The moment when everything came together at last.
Then she kissed me.
And this time, it wasn’t a gentle seal or a quiet promise. It was everything else. The years of waiting, the weeks of misery, the hope and the fear and the absolute certainty, allpouring into one all-consuming kiss. Her hands tangled in my hair, pulling me closer, while mine grasped her waist, lifting her against me until there was no space left between us. It was the taste of relief, the heat of a future finally claimed.
When I finally pulled back, the cool night air was a vivid contrast to the fire between us. “I need you. Tonight. I need to take you home.”
She nodded, her eyes dark and filled with the same urgent need that tore through me. I grabbed her hand, our fingers lacing together in an unbreakable grip, and pulled her out of the gazebo, away from the ghosts of our past and toward the parking lot. Toward my truck.
Our shared dream, once abstract and fragile just hours ago, now had a name. It had an address.
It had a future. Our future.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
TESSA
The driveto Braden’s cottage was a giddy blur of desire, love, and possibility. His hand rested on my thigh, and I threaded my fingers through his, resting our joined hands on the console between us. Outside the window, the night sky was scattered with stars, and the narrow Dove Key roads unspooled before us.
“Stop looking at me,” I said, though I was smiling.
“Can’t.” He glanced over again, his profile sharp in the starlight. “Making sure you’re still here.”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
The words sounded different than they would have even an hour ago. In the park, apologizing and reconciling had been momentous and fragile. Now, driving toward his cottage with our hands joined and the scent of blooms drifting on the warm breeze, it was inevitable.
It was destiny.
