Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
KADE
“We’ve only got three guest rooms left,” Reenie says. “Seventeen, twenty, and twenty-two.”
Leaning against the doorjamb in seventeen, I take in the gutted room. It pains me that we’re taking it down to the studs, but it needs to be done.
Presley and I can’t keep it for our own secret sex den.
“Things have really turned around here.”
The hallway smells of fresh paint and is now well-lit. The windows at each end of the hall let in the bright sunshine.
“I barely recognize the place,” Reenie says. “You’re done a great job here, Kade.”
“I couldn’t have done it without you.”
She pins me with a fierce look. I have a feeling I know what is going to follow.
“Have you made any decision on if you’re staying?”
“That’s the million-dollar question.”
It’s all I’ve been thinking about. With things picking up at the ranch, we’re getting closer and closer to finishing things here. It means I haven’t been able to spend as much time with Presley and Poppy.
I miss them. More than I ever thought possible.
“Kade, you have guests,” Joey’s voice echoes over the radio.
“I’ll get the linens ready for our next guests coming in and talk to Rex about the tasting menu for them tonight.”
“Thanks, Reenie. I owe you a raise.”
“I’ll take it.” She beams at me.
Jogging down the stairs, I hear the happy voices that help soothe the tension in my aching body.
“Is Max here today?” Poppy asks.
“Sorry, sweetheart. He’s with my parents. But maybe you can come over and play with him this weekend. I miss your mom.”
“Can we, Mom?” Poppy asks. She’s bouncing up and down, in a bright orange coat, jeans, and her ever-present cowboy hat.
“I think we can. I need a wine night.”
Presley sounds tired.
Shit. That can’t be good. What if it’s because of me? She wasn’t happy when I told her what I did to Paul, but I apologized. I thought we were okay, but maybe we aren’t.
Fuck.
“Hey.” I take the last of the stairs down and lean against the front desk. “What are you guys doing here today?”
“Poppy wanted to go for a ride today,” Presley says. “I hope it’s okay I brought her over.”
“Of course is it.”
Yeah, something is definitely off. I don’t think I’ve ever seen Presley look so tired.
“I miss Lollipop.” Poppy wraps her arms around my leg, peering up at me with sweet blue eyes. “And you.”
I smile at her before taking her hand. “Then let’s go.”
“Yay.”
“You guys have fun,” Joey calls out after us.
“Is everything okay?” I ask so only Presley can hear.
“I’ll tell you later.”
She doesn’t look at me.
Fuck. That does nothing to soothe the anxiety growing inside of me. It’s only because I can tack the horses in my sleep that I’m able to get us ready to go riding.
Poppy is the only one that is chatting away as we follow the trail up to our favorite spot in the mountains. A cold breeze blows through, whipping Presley’s hair around her.
I love her so damn much, it’s a physical presence inside of me. Why haven’t I told her before now? Could that be why she’s so off? I don’t know, but I’ll make a point to tell her when we get to the lake.
The trees are almost barren with winter coming. A few last wildflowers hang on to their roots, trying to suck out the last of their days.
It seems to mimic my mood as we stop and hop off the horses.
“Can I go pick some flowers so we can take them home?”
“Why don’t you pick a few extras and we can put them in the lobby?”
Her eyes light up. “Okay!”
I don’t know how I ever thought I could leave her. Leave them.
With so many projects going on back home, it’s going to be hard to leave and tie up loose ends. But I can’t imagine not coming back here now.
“Pres—”
“The meeting is tomorrow,” she cuts me off.
“What?”
My eyes find Poppy, hands overflowing with wild blooms.
“To finalize the estate.” When her gaze turns to me, her eyes are filled with tears. “I have no idea what’s going to happen, but I got the email this morning that I need to be at the lawyer’s office at ten tomorrow.”
“Are you okay?” I take her hand in mine, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles.
“No.” She shakes her head. “Not even close.”
“What can I do to help?” I pull her closer.
“I don’t know.” She picks a fraying thread in her jeans. “I was expecting another update to say they were still finalizing his assets, but not that it was done.”
“Do you know what you’re going to do?”
She turns to face me, a watery grimace on her face. “No. I’ve been worrying all day because I have to do what’s best for Poppy, and I just don’t know, Kade.”
This time, when the tears fall, I pull her into my arms. I find Poppy petting Lollipop, not really paying attention to us.
Good.
I don’t want her to see her mom lose it. All because of people that are supposed to love her and never did. I hate this for her. Hate that I can’t do anything to help, but have to let her make a decision that could affect all of us.
“It’s going to be okay, Pres. I know it.”
“I wish I had your faith.”
Pulling back, I wipe her tears away. “Whatever you decide, I’ll be here.”
“You will?”
“Yeah. Just, do what you think is best and I’ll be here for you. Both of you.”
I hope she doesn’t take the company. Because if Paul tries to take Poppy from her—from us—even if part of the time, I don’t know what we’ll do.
I’ve sunk all my money into the ranch. I don’t know how I could help pay a lawyer to fight Paul and all his money. All because the fucker wants her dad’s company.
And I get Presley’s hesitancy. I can’t imagine working at the diner is bringing in a lot of money, but to get the money from her father’s company? I doubt she’d want to take it over, but I don’t know what the logistics of it would be.
The only thing I know is I want to be here with Presley and Poppy. Be a family together. That need to tell her when we were riding is gone. Telling her now will only add to her stress, and I don’t want to do that to her.
“I wish we could fast forward to tomorrow and this is all in the past.”
“It’ll be okay. I know it will.”
Maybe if I keep telling myself that, it will happen.
Presley could have a good life for herself and Poppy. Not have to worry about money ever again. My money? It’s all tied up in the ranch. If the ranch does well, I’ll do well. But until that time, I’m in the red.
I have nothing to offer Presley.
Just like when I was in high school and her dad promised her to Paul.
Poppy is a ball of happiness as she bounds back over, her arms filled with flowers of all kinds. “A lot of them were dead, but I found the good ones.”
“They’re beautiful, baby,” Presley says, pulling her into her arms. “Everyone is going to love them.”
“Can I give Lollipop her carrot now so we can put them in the bag?”
“Sure.” I pass it over to her and watch as she gives her horse all the attention.
I don’t know what is going to happen tomorrow, but I know one thing.
I am going to fight like hell to keep this. My life is no longer in Seattle. It’s here with these two. And come hell or high water, it will be the three of us together.
Forever.