Chapter 28
J.T
“Mr. Lawrence, these projects need your attention.”
Roger Conroy appears in my office doorway holding a stack of folders thick enough to choke a horse. He steps inside and drops them on my desk with a heavy thump.
I grunt and drag the files closer.
“I’ll look them over before I leave,” I tell him.
He raises a brow. Roger’s been with the company fifteen years. He knows when I’m half-present.
“And the South Ridge permits?” he asks.
“Approved this morning,” I say, flipping open the first file. “But the county wants the stormwater mitigation plan revised. Tell engineering to adjust the drainage grid on the east side. I’m not paying for another inspection delay.”
Roger nods. “Got it.”
“And the Stone Valley subdivision?” I ask.
“Contractors are waiting on your sign-off for phase two.”
I skim the numbers quickly, my brain shifting into the gear it’s been trained for since my twenties.
“Tell them to move forward,” I say. “But cut the landscaping budget by ten percent. Replace those imported trees with native pine. Cheaper and they survive winters better.”
Roger scribbles a note.
“You sure you’re leaving early today?” he asks.
“Yeah.”
He smirks like he already knows why.
“Wedding week,” he says.
“Four days,” I correct.
Roger whistles low. “Didn’t think I’d see the day.”
I shoot him a look. Typically, I refrain from being overly friendly with employees.
“Uh, I mean congrats, sir.”
“Thanks, Roger. I’m inviting all my employees to the reception and giving the whole office Saturday off to celebrate.”
“Wow! I guess love really moves mountains,” he says with a grin.
“Don’t get used to it,” I grumble.
He chuckles and gathers a few papers.
“Seriously, though, everything else can wait until Monday,” I add. “If it’s not on fire, it’s not urgent.”
“Understood.”
He pauses at the door.
“And really, congratulations, boss. Ms. McCrae is a fine woman.”
I dip my chin and grunt, but this time there’s no bite to it.
When he leaves, the office goes quiet.
I lean back in my chair and stare at the stack of paperwork in front of me.
Truth is, I’m not nearly as focused as I should be.
Who could blame me?
I’ve got a woman waiting for me who sets my soul on fire.
And in four days she’s going to be my wife.
You’d think that would make this the best damn stretch of my life.
Hell, most of it is.
But something feels off.
Like there’s a wolf waiting in the woods.
Nothing is wrong with me.
If anything, I’m more locked in than ever.
And it’s not Kelly.
She’s been happy.
Lighter.
Like someone had finally lifted a weight off her chest.
I know her moods now. Know when she’s thinking too much or when she’s tired from working at the mill all day.
But lately she’s been smiling more.
Laughing easier.
Like she can finally breathe again.
And yeah, I like to think I’ve got something to do with that.
Still, there’s this little itch in the back of my mind that I can’t quite shake.
Probably just nerves.
Four days until the wedding will do that to a man.
I close the last file and shove the stack aside.
Kelly and I are meeting after work to go over some final paperwork.
Her idea.
She insisted on a prenup. Stubborn woman.
No amount of arguing—or very creative oral persuasion—managed to change her mind.
But I found a workaround.
Everything she has stays hers. The mill shares. Her accounts. Every damn thing.
Untouchable.
But I’ve set up a trust for her and Evan.
Evan’s portion releases in two stages.
First, when he turns eighteen—for college, housing, whatever the kid needs to get started.
Then, the rest when he hits twenty-five.
Enough to make sure he never has to claw his way up the hard way unless he chooses to.
Kelly will have access to anything she wants.
Accounts.
Cards.
Funds.
Security.
Meanwhile Maddox keeps exactly what he’s always had.
We talked about it already.
Little shit didn’t blink.
Said he’d always wanted a little brother, anyway.
I grin and push back from the desk and grab my jacket.
Work can wait.
Right now there’s only one place I want to be.
With Kelly.