Chapter 29
“Thanks for coming with me.”
“It’s all good. I don’t mind at all. If it wasn’t for you, my house would’ve never been built,” Riley says as we park. I could’ve come on my own but having him here is so much better. “Are they expecting you?”
“Are you fucking kidding?” He laughs with me, and we step from the truck. I know I’m about to shock the whole damn bunch, but I want the best and this is where one comes for that.
“This should be interesting.” He pats me on the shoulder as I open the door.
“Welcome to Woods Construction. Someone will be right with you.” A sweet voice reverberates from the other room.
We stand, stock-still, until we hear footsteps.
I rub the back of my neck, trying to ease the building tension.
She enters the room with her face in her phone but not for long.
The surprised look on her face is apparent by the way her mouth hangs open.
“Walker?” Thayer’s eyes dart to Riley. “Riley, hello.”
“I know I don’t have an appointment. I was hoping to see One, Hardy or Brannon.”
“Hardy and Brannon are on site. Let me see if One is free.” She smiles, still a little nervous. She turns into One’s office.
“So far, so good.” Riley quirks a brow.
“He’s ready for y’all.” Thayer jerks her thumb behind her.
“Please stay. I came for the best in the business, that includes you.”
Her brows furrow. “Okay. What’s up?” We find seats across from One and get to the point.
“I need a house. I’ll understand if you choose not to do it, but I want the best, so I came for you.”
One glances to his sister. “Why wouldn’t you come here?”
“Exactly what I said.” Riley claps me on the back. “You built our home and now, he’s gettin’ hitched and needs a home.”
“Congratulations.” One stands, leaning over the desk to shake my hand. He’s a damn good man.
I take his hand proudly. “Thank you.” I glance at Riley with a smile. “It’s not happening before summer, so I was thinking once the ground thaws, we could start clearing the land.”
“Yes, of course,” he says, opening his computer. “Below Riley’s place?”
“Yeah, on the other end. I want to make sure we have enough space between us.”
“I don’t know what you mean. Mom and Dad have never caught us.” I round on Riley with my brows in my hairline. “What? It’s true.”
“Wow.” I shake my head in dismay, planning to kick his ass later. “I was thinking more along the lines of room to grow but all right.”
One chuckles with Thayer. “Little brothers are assholes, man.”
“Brothers, period,” Thayer says smugly.
“What’s your budget? Do you have an idea of what you’re wanting?” One gets down to business, the way I like to do things.
“We haven’t decided on any plans. I was waiting to surprise her. I wanted to make sure who was building it.” I nod at One.
“Budget?” One glances up at me.
“Hell, four million. Too little?” Riley punches my arm.
“You know, you’re a smartass.” I glare at him, turning back to One. “Three to four… million.”
Riley cackles at my response. “I told you so. He squirrels money away like Lea. No one has no idea how much they’re worth.” Riley flips me off while still laughing.
“Why are you flipping me off? How did I offend you?” I’m gonna kill Riley.
“Hadlea is ridiculous. I offered to do repairs to her home when she first came here. She could buy and sell my ass. She acted as if it was no big deal.” One shakes his head, laughing.
“Reese doesn’t care. I don’t hide it though. I just don’t talk about it. I have bigger plans in the future for us.”
“Good to hear. Now, this house. We can get you scheduled and break ground in a few weeks.” One studies his computer.
“I’m ready to put some money down and grab some plans.” I take my checkbook out, writing as we continue to talk.
“Thayer, would you mind getting some books for Walker?” Thayer nods, standing to gather materials. I hand One the check.
“I’ll draw up a contract and we’ll get to work.” One stands, offering his hand again. I happily take it.
“Sounds good. Thank you again.” I turn to Thayer. “Thank you. I hope you don’t mind doing our landscaping.”
“Not at all. I’m happy for you. I told you that already.” She tiptoes, hugging me as Hardy strolls through the door.
“What the fuck is it about you Pennington men and the women in this damn town?” He rolls his eyes, laughing.
“Hello?” Riley waves his hand up and down his body, then plays game show hostess with me. “I mean, dude. With my good looks and his damn wallet, that shit’s explained.”
“The fuck? I’m not ugly, dickhead.” I punch his arm, and everyone laughs.
“No, but you ain’t me either, motherfucker.” Riley lands a blow to my thigh, charley horsing my leg as he runs away.
“Brothers, they’re all little assholes.” One shoves his hands in his pockets.
“My little asshole has to ride home with me.” I smirk and follow Riley out the door.
I drop the house plans on the coffee table on my way through the house to change. I’ve been waiting for Reese to call. She met her father earlier, and I’m growing concerned. I do a quick change into some jogging pants and head back out to put the books away until I clear it with Reese.
A knock at the door throws me off. I’m not expecting anyone. I hurry to the door to find my girl standing in the cold. I unlock the door, swinging it wide.
“Why have we never gotten you a key?” She plows into me, fusing herself to me. “Come on inside, baby.”
She stands there, folded into my arms. It’s then I realize she’s crying. I pick her up, letting the door slam behind us. I carry her up the stairs, sitting down with her on my lap.
“He doesn’t want me. He never wanted me,” she sobs. This isn’t Reese. She doesn’t cry.
“What happened, sweetheart?”
She whimpers as I try to calm her down. I rub her back, snuggling her closer to me. “He talked about his stepson most of the time. He needs legal help and thinks I should help.”
“He said that to you?”
“No, not exactly.” She leans back, looking me in the eye.
“We talked about things and how he left Mom. He said he did regret it, but his new wife and her son needed him more. That his stepson has always had problems. Like I care. He left me for another kid. We were lucky to have food most days. I went to school without a bath because our electricity or water had been shut off. But far be from me to complain because his stepson was a little fucking asshole.” She wipes her face with the back of her hands.
“Did you say any of this to him? Tell him how hard it was for you growing up that way.” I’m fucking livid. What the fuck kind of father allows their child to go hungry? Not me and not my kid.
“I tried but he’s like Mom. Neither will ever comprehend the life they left me with.” Her body quakes as she fights to control herself.
I take her face in my hands. “Reese, you’ll never be without again. I’ll make damn sure you have everything you need or want.” I catch her tears as they fall.
“I know. I ju-just thought, maybe, he would feel bad for what I went through. I don’t know, show some remorse or feelings of some kind.
” She begins to get angry, trembling as she continues to talk.
“He sits, talking about this fucker that is no relation to either of us. But there I am, his flesh and blood, and he doesn’t even care about me. ”
I run my hand up and down her back, trying to soothe her. “I bet money he’s regretting it right about now.”
She stares at me, shaking her head. “You want to know the worst part? I told him I’d think about helping. Can you believe that shit? Why would I do that?” She buries her face in her hands.
“Do you want me to take care of it?”
“No.” She sighs heavily. “I suppose I was hoping he might act differently if he saw I was willing to help. I’m not even sure I can.”
“Maybe he was hoping it would give you a chance to work together. Time to find out who you are and your plans for the future.” I twist her hand with mine.
I use my hand to move her hair that’s stuck to her face.
“If you decide to do it, I think you both need to have a real talk about your relationship. I think you already knew he needed help but why? Why you and not another attorney? That’s what you need to be asking.
And then, he needs to put everything to the side except you. ”
‘You’re right.” She sits up, wiping her nose on her sleeve, making me laugh. “He can damn well answer those questions. Why me? After all these years, why now?”
“There ya go, Red.” I lean forward, kissing her. “You have every right to know. And from there, it’s up to you if you want to continue a relationship with him or if you even want to help him. You make the call, baby.”
She draws me to her, clutching me in her arms. “I love you. I’m not sure what I thought it was before you, but I know I’ll never look at it the same way again.” Her lips mold to mine in such a way that I will never doubt she’s my other half.
“Are you staying?” She nods. “We should eat and crash early. I’m killed.”
“I couldn’t agree more. Oh, you need to lock the door.” She points to the stairs.
“I’ll run and do that. Check the fridge, see what we can rustle up for dinner. Please.” I smile on my way out the door. I take the stairs hurriedly, locking the door in a flash. I hit the steps two at a time, getting back to her.
“What are these?” She holds up the books of house plans.
“I—I got those… for us.” I shrug, my stomach lurching with nervousness.
“For a house?” Her brows pull low over her eyes.
“Well, yes. Hence the book of plans for homes.” I chuckle.
“Fuck you.” She slaps at me. “I meant, why do we have them? Are we buying a house?”
“Building.” I bite my lip in fear of her reaction.
“We’re building a house? Where? With what?” She quirks a brow.
“I wanted to ask you first, but you beat me to it. I picked these up in hopes of planning our home.”
“How long does it take to build one?” She sits down, scanning the books.
“Six months, maybe longer.” I join her on the couch. “Would you like to start planning?”
“Can we? Like, pick one out and get started?” When she looks at me, her eyes twinkle, sending chills through me.