Lundstrom towns are built, and those who stay can rebuild their own home under our own finance package. It’s a big profit, more than if we just build and sell our own property.
My team gets a hard on over stayers as we call them because they get a commission on each finance package they sign up as well.
“Boss? What’s wrong?” Rick asks, confused that I’m not as excited as he is.
I scratch at my chin, feeling a growth of stubble, and step out into the hall, gently closing the door behind me.
“I’m not sure I wanna do this town like the others,” I murmur. “This town is different.”
I think of Jacinta, her mom, and even her dad, about all the remaining families in Cherry.
I think about our future family, wondering if Jacinta really does want Italy or just the big city here in the States.
Or does she want to stay in the country? Raise our kids in the way she was brought up, but with a better outcome?
Rick’s face says it all. It tells me he has no idea what I’m talking about, but that’s okay.
Up until a few days ago, I would’ve been bouncing off the walls looking at these numbers.
Would’ve been re-negging on my whole ‘this is the last town story’ even to myself.
But Cherry is different. Because it’s where I met Jacinta.
It’s where the mother of my future kids is from, and to me… Well to me that’s pretty fucking special.
And I’d like to keep it that way.
“I just mean Rick that I want to see Cherry stay as a small country town. Like our great country used to be dotted with?” I tell him, knowing his own roots as a farm boy.
He glances at me sidelong, then smiles and shakes his head.
Figuring his boss has just got a new angle on the old formula running through his brain, but I mean it.
I wanna see Cherry restored to what it once was and then some.
No high-rise condos over the lake, but real homesteads with real families.
Hell, maybe we could draw back some of those people who left.
“Well, nothing is finalized yet,” Rick says, eying the folder of figures.
“But if you wanna add a new angle, put some new shine on the old ball. We’re all keen to move forward on this one,” he says, remembering the real reason he’s here, handing me the sacks of food while my attention turns to the growing number of voices I can hear.
“What’s going on out there?” I ask, mindful of Jacinta getting her rest.
“Where else did you think we’d all stay?” Rick asks. “This is a Lundstrom town, hotel now anyway,” he adds and turns to go but opens his mouth to ask me something then thinks better of it.
I watch him disappear at the end of the hall before going back inside our suite.
Jacinta’s deep and heavy breaths tell me she’s well and truly out.
I guess we can have takeout for breakfast instead.
Lifting her up gently, holding her like the most precious thing on earth, Jacinta mews in her sleep as I settle her into our bed.
And sliding in right next to her it isn’t long before I drift off too.
The deepest sleep ever, with the woman I know I’m not just crazy about.
But the one I’ve fallen madly in love with.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Jacinta
Waking up in Kyle’s arms feels like the most natural thing ever.
Like I’ve been sleeping wrong my whole life up until now.
His hard body flush against mine, I don’t even feel as self-conscious as I did…
Yesterday.
Before I even open my eyes I feel myself smiling at the memory, then at the stiff heat that I can feel riding up my back.
His grip on me is firm, and I wonder if he’s let go of me all night.
I squeeze his arms, but it looks like he needs more sleep than I do this morning.
Hey. How’d I even get into bed?
The last thing I remember was waiting for the tub to fill… Then I laid down on the couch…
Oh. That was it. I guess I needed the rest after yesterday. And boy, what a day it was.
Sighing, I nuzzle back into Kyle’s massive frame, the best pillow a girl could ever ask for.
Pillow with benefits.
Even the flashing thought of my mom isn’t enough to ruffle me, the memory of her little ambush last night.
I am kinda surprised that she hasn’t come back, or at least called.
Uh… You muted your phone Einstein, remember?
That thought has me fully awakes
And sensing the instant tension in my body, Kyle wakes up too, murmuring good morning and wanting to kiss and squeeze me, but I’m struggling to free myself from him, needing to find my phone.
I wonder just how long we’ve got before she comes back.
“Jacinta?” Kyle calls over to me, yawning and propping himself up to look at the time.