11. Lyla
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.
We’re already planning our wedding for next month. It’s a good thing too. I don’t want to be showing when I’m wearing my wedding dress.
The way Amos puffed out his chest when he saw that little plus sign on the pregnancy test. He looked like the proudest man that ever lived.
He’s already talking to my stomach. He insists we’re having a daughter to spoil and that afterwards, we’ll have a dozen sons to protect and defend her.
“The place looks perfect,” he says, sliding a hand in mine. “You did a great job.”
I give a soft sigh, wishing I could share this with my father. I wish I could talk to him about Jamie. I wish he could have found it in his heart to accept the boy that wasn’t his. As it is, I’ll never know what truly happened between those two.
“It does look pretty awesome, doesn’t it?” I smile, feeling pride fill me. Jamie may have been the one to put some money behind the shop. But this is all me and I’m determined to make the place a success.
“It could use one more thing,” Amos says, moving to the kitchen. He returns a moment later and places a large rectangular box on the counter.
“It needs a box?” I tease.
“Don’t get sassy with me, woman. You know what happens,” he warns with a wink.
My panties go damp. Sassing Amos usually ends with me tied to the bed and pleading for him to take me harder. “Promises, promises,” I mutter as I reach for the box, opening it.
I stop when I see what’s inside. Tears fill my eyes. “You did this for me?”
He shrugs. “I couldn’t fix the original sign. So I made one as close to it as possible.”
I run my fingers along the carved wood. “You spoil me.”
He comes around the counter to pull me into his arms. “I plan to spoil you every day for the rest of our lives.”
“I like the sound of that,” I say as I lean up on my tiptoes to press a kiss to his lips.