32. Beckett #2
I hadn’t thought that far, but he had a point. Who knew what Grams would think about Sawyer moving out? It was something we’d need to make sure they were both comfortable with.
Lukas put his hands in his pockets, spinning around to face me. “So, what do you think?”
I shook my head in disbelief. “You’re right. There are a few things we’ll need to update, but it’s better than I could’ve imagined. Thank you, Lukas. How do I put in an offer?” There was no way I’d let this place go by. I didn’t give a shit if I had to dip into my trust to get it.
Lukas smirked, pulling something free from one of his pockets and dangled it in front of my face. It took me a second to see that it was a set of keys. I looked at him in confusion. “What’s this?” I asked.
“The keys to your new house.”
My brain was struggling to keep up. “But why do you have them?”
“Because I own the place. Duh. Why else would I have them?” he said, giving me a strange look as though I was the one being cryptic. He was the one who held the keys to a house I was dead set on buying. I figured that should come with an explanation.
When I didn’t say anything or make a move for the keys, he sighed and placed his hands on his hips.
“Listen, I buy properties all over this county as passion projects, but I didn’t need to buy this one because I already owned it.
” I was about to ask how or why, when he corrected himself. “Or, rather, my uncle’s estate did.”
“Your uncle’s estate?” Surely, that was a joke. “As in the property my father’s been trying to pry out of your sister’s hands for over a year?”
Lukas’ shit-eating grin grew even bigger.
“One of’em. Yup. This has been in our family for generations.
Originally belonged to some distant relative before my great-grandparents took it over.
The original log house here burned down from a lightning strike, and they rebuilt.
Eventually, when my grandfather started Hartstrings Records and gained his fortune, he spent the rest of his life buying all the land surrounding this property, and more throughout the area.
In fact, most of Pinecrest belonged to him at one point. ”
I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. “But why would he do that?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know his exact reasoning, but I can tell you that it’s why this town has stayed the way it is.
Big names aren’t able to come in and purchase empty lots out from under real people with real dreams, and those same people don’t have to worry about the banks hiking up prices just because they can. ”
“So, your family’s trust almost acts like a holding company,” I said in disbelief. Everything was clicking into place now. “That’s why my father wants it so badly. You have a monopoly here.”
Lukas nodded, pride evident in every word he spoke.
“Sure do. Though we don’t gatekeep from our community.
Other folks probably think it’s unfair or cruel, but those who have lived here their whole lives understand.
The unfortunate part is how companies like your father’s have been able to swoop in under us and offer more money than reason would allow.
I don’t fault those folks for taking the money in order to better themselves.
I just wish we could’ve done more. A lot fell through the cracks after my uncle John died. ”
If my father got his hands on this portfolio, it would ruin Pinecrest as it was.
He’d strip all the charm away, making it just as soulless as the cookie-cutter properties he slapped up across the country.
People didn’t need another corporation scooping in to take their business; they needed a community, and that was what the Hart family was determined to protect.
Lukas held out the keys, dangling them in my face once more. “I can’t just take this,” I said, shaking my head. “I said I wanted to make a purchase, and intend on doing so.”
He grabbed my hand, flipping it over before depositing the keys into my palm.
Then he curled my fingers around them and stepped away.
“Liv will sort out the contract with you later, but she didn’t want to wait for you to have access.
Especially with the baby coming so soon.
It’s ready to move in, but I’ve already got a crew on standby for the renovations we’ll need to make.
Whenever you’re ready, we’ll go over the details and hit the ground running. ”
I glanced down at the keys in my hand, running my thumb over the worn brass.
People usually weren’t this kind in the world I grew up in.
It was much more common to be met with greed and an eternally open fist begging for more.
Yet, there were people in my life now who’d shown me more kindness than I’d ever experienced.
“Let’s set up a meeting next week,” I said, depositing the keys in my pocket. “I’ve got to surprise my girl first.”
Lukas swung his arm around my shoulder as we walked out into the sunshine. “You know, you’re making the rest of us look bad. We can’t all buy houses for the women in our lives.”
“I’m sure you’ll find a way to reel someone in eventually,” I joked.
“Yeah, yeah.” He waved me off. “Can’t wait to make this thing y’all’s dream home. Whatever you need, it’s yours.” He let his arm drop, nudging me with his elbow. “After all, you’re family now.”