Chapter Twenty-One
Grant walked away, and Blake opened the door for her and then followed her in. Right away, her sister started in.
Hanna ignored her sister as she waited for the deputy to leave.
“What the fuck, sis. They’re blaming me for the vandalism.”
“Because you did it.” She stayed calm.
“I did not!” Shasha screamed.
Blake spoke. “Listen. The three of us know exactly what happened...”
“Why the hell does he have to be here?” Shasha sneered.
Hanna smiled up at Blake before she turned back to Shasha. “We have a proposition for you.”
Shasha sneered. “Did you tell her about our night together?”
Hanna felt the tension in Blake and wanted to end this as quickly as possible.
Hanna laughed. “He can’t remember, and frankly, I don’t give a shit. It’s in the past, and you won’t upset me. Now let’s get back to it. Blake and I will give you a few thousand dollars to leave town and never return.”
“Why the fuck would I do that?”
“If you do that, we won’t charge you with the crime. It’s a hefty fine and time in jail. If you take us up on the offer and leave, you’re free and clear. But if you decide to come back at some point in the future, I’ll press charges,” Hanna said.
“You think you’re so much better than everyone else.”
Hanna snorted. “No, sis. I just know I’m better than you.”
“How much money?” Shasha asked.
Blake reached for the envelope of money she handed to him. “It’s three thousand.”
Shasha laughed. “That’s not nearly enough. You can afford more than that.”
Hanna turned to Blake. “Let’s go.”
She didn’t make it to the door before Shasha was screeching.
“No, stop. I’ll take the fucking deal.”
Hanna turned back to her. “Today. A deputy will watch you pack your stuff, and you drive out of town.”
“How am I going to travel with all my stuff? It won’t all fit in my car.”
Hanna shrugged. “I doubt you have anything worth much, so buy what you need when you get wherever you're going.”
Blake cleared his throat. “By the way, you have to move at least five hundred miles from here.”
Shasha’s eyes widened.
Hanna sighed. That was one thing she hadn’t thought of. “You’ve got today to leave. If a deputy or the sheriff catches you here after midnight, you’ll be put back here.”
“I can’t believe you’d want me to leave forever. I’m your only relative left.”
Hanna shook her head. “You’re no one to me. Blake is my family, and our children will add to it. I don’t care if you fall off the earth. That’s how much you mean to me.”
She saw anger darken her sister’s face. “Are you still taking the deal?”
“Yes,” Shasha hissed.
Blake tossed the envelope of money on the table, grabbed Hanna’s hand, and pulled her from the room. She caught sight of Shasha reaching for the money. That was the last thing she was ever going to get from her.
They stopped off at Grant's office and gave him the news. He promised to send a deputy to escort her out of town.
Blake held her hand as they drove back to the ranch.
“Do you feel relieved?” he asked.
“Tremendously. She’s been poison for me her whole life, and the fact that I never have to see or hear from her again is a huge weight off my shoulders. How about you?”
He snorted. “She brought down everyone who had to deal with her, but the best thing about it is taking the stress from you.”
He lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles.
She smiled. “I love you.”
He smiled at her. “I love you, too. Now, when are we having the wedding?”
She laughed. “Whenever you want. We could fly to Vegas and get it done quickly,” she suggested.
“We could, but Dottie might kill us.”
Hanna grinned. “Not if we tell her we’ll have a reception at the ranch that she can be in charge of.”
He pulled over and unbuckled her and pulled her into his lap. “Have I told you lately how brilliant you are?”
“You haven't today,” she teased.
“Well, you are, and I’m damn lucky to have you.”
She wrapped her arms around him and sighed. “I’m the lucky one.”
They kissed for several minutes before he lifted his head. “We need to take this home, baby. The thought of someone coming along and seeing you look like this infuriates me.”
“Like what?” she asked, lazily.
“The desire in your eyes and the flush on your face is unmistakable.”
She nodded and moved to her seat. “Then we’d better get home, cowboy. Your fiancée is feeling needy.”
He chuckled. “Well, then, we’d better hurry.”
Hanna studied the man next to her and couldn’t get over the depth of love and desire she had for him.
She had loved her late husband, but she now knew it wasn’t even close to the level she felt for Blake and felt a bit sorry.
She was glad he’d never found out her love hadn’t been at the level his had been.
Now, after dealing with her sister and the plans they had for the wedding, they had years and years to enjoy each other, and she’d love every minute of it.
The End