Chapter 26
Lakin stepped back and stared at the two-story building.
Pride and gratitude overwhelmed her. Gone was the weathered wood siding that had been rotted in places.
In just the few weeks since she’d been kidnapped, she and Troy had replaced it with warm, cream-colored siding and rich burgundy trim.
Troy had even handcrafted a new sign for out front: Suite Home.
He’d made another for the two suites inside that they would eventually combine into their private residence: Sweet Home.
He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and hugged her to his side. “Do you like it?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. I love it.” Then she slid her arm around his waist and stretched up on tiptoe to kiss his jaw. “I love you.”
He’d worked so hard on the renovations that she’d been worried he was going to reinjure his back, but while he limped from time to time, he was doing well.
Even though his health wasn’t as big a concern as it had been, she knew he was still worried about money.
Her business loan had been approved, and she’d paid her father back.
But until the hotel was completely up and running again, they would struggle to make ends meet.
But just like the bank that granted them the loan, she had faith in their business plan and in their future. There was nothing the two of them couldn’t do together, especially after they’d individually survived what could have been fatal falls.
Troy turned his head and lowered his mouth to hers, kissing her deeply, passionately. He pulled back a bit, panting for breath, and whispered, “I love you, too, partner.” He lowered his head and kissed her again.
“Get a room!” a deep voice scoffed.
Laughing, Lakin stepped back from Troy and turned to find her brother Mitch standing behind them.
“We already have a few ready for guests,” she said.
They were counting on the money from those for the loan payments and the renovations necessary to get more rooms ready. “We’ll have twenty-four in total.”
“It looks great, guys,” Mitch praised them.
Pride suffused Lakin again. Her brothers were all so successful that praise from one of them meant a lot to her. “Thanks.” She pulled away from Troy to hug him.
“You have more to thank me for than a compliment,” Mitch said. He turned to Troy. “Your former employer settled the suit.”
Troy released a shaky breath. “Really?”
Mitch nodded. “For even more than we were asking.”
Troy’s green eyes widened with surprise. “Really?” he repeated.
“And they didn’t just give you a settlement,” Mitch said. “Your mom will get one, too.”
Troy’s long body shook slightly, and tears glistened in his green eyes. “Oh my God, that’s great. Thank you.” He hugged her brother.
Mitch patted his back. “More important, they’re going to up their safety protocols. The suggestions you made are already being put into practice.”
Troy trembled again. “That’s good.”
But Lakin saw the sadness cross his handsome face, and she knew what he was thinking. It was too late for his dad, even for himself, to not suffer an injury. “That will help others,” Lakin said. “That’s so good, Troy.”
He smiled at her and nodded. “Yeah, it is. Hopefully nobody else will lose someone they love.”
Not on the oil rigs. But Lakin was still worried that with a serial killer on the loose, more lives would be lost. Eli and Kansas were working hard to find that person, though. And she had faith in her family, just as she had faith in her and Troy’s future. Even more so now.
“Come on, take a look at the place,” Lakin urged Mitch.
As they were showing him around inside, someone knocked on the front door and opened it.
“Hello there? Are you open for business yet?” Eric Seller called out.
Troy tensed.
“Remember that Eli and Kansas ruled him out,” Lakin whispered to her fiancé. She turned to greet the man. “We have a few suites ready.”
The man glanced at her hand and pointed at the ring. Then he clasped Troy’s shoulder. “Good job,” he said. “Congratulations on the hotel and the engagement.”
Troy must have heard the sincerity that Lakin heard because he relaxed and grinned at Eric. “Thank you.”
“You two inspired me to look up my old high school sweetheart,” he said.
“I spent all the years since graduation kicking myself for not trying long distance when we went away for college. I reached out to her and found out that she’s never married, either.
We’ve been talking online and on the phone and have been looking for a place to meet in person.
I’d like to book a couple of your suites for that meeting. ”
“Congratulations to you,” Lakin said. “I’m so happy that you reached out to her.”
He nodded. “Like I said, you two inspired me. I think that’s why I was so invested in you getting engaged.”
“We’ll be getting married soon, too,” Troy said. “Just want to get our hotel ready so guests will have a place to stay.”
“Brilliant,” Eric said. “I think you’ll do well here. If you need any investors, let me know.”
Troy and Mitch exchanged a grin, and Troy replied, “No, we’re going to be just fine.”
Lakin grinned, too. “We’re going to be better than fine.” They were going to be happy because all their dreams were going to come true.
* * *
Troy could have kicked himself for all the years he’d worried about money, about making it, about not having enough of it. Finally, when he’d stopped worrying about it, he had it. The irony was not lost on him. After Mitch and Seller left the hotel, he laughed and shook his head.
“What’s funny?” Lakin asked.
“Not funny really,” Troy admitted. “Just sad that I’ve been such an idiot, worrying about all the wrong things.”
She smiled. “Money?”
He nodded. “I’m very sorry for what I’ve put you through. And my mother…”
“She got a settlement, too,” Lakin said. “You won’t have to worry about her, either.”
“According to her, I didn’t ever have to worry about her,” Troy admitted. “She’s already tried to give me back the money I’ve given her. I have a feeling we’re going to get a pretty big wedding gift from her.”
“Wedding,” Lakin said, and her face lit up with a beautiful smile. “I can’t wait.”
“Me, neither,” Troy said. “I can’t wait to be your husband. To start our family.” Emotion overwhelmed him just thinking about their future and how wonderful it was going to be.
Lakin grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the hall with the finished suites. “Maybe we can put in some practice for starting that family,” she said, turning back to wink at him.
His pulse quickened with desire. He loved her so much, and yet he would never be able to make love with her enough, to express all his love for her. But he intended to try.
He swung her up in his arms and carried her over the threshold into the suite they’d had so much fun renovating together. Then he laid her on the bed and followed her down.
They both wriggled out of their clothes until skin slid over skin.
He made love to her slowly, with his hands and with his mouth, caressing and kissing every inch of her.
Finally he slid inside her, joining their bodies like their souls were already joined.
And he thrust in and out, in and out, until she clutched him with her arms and legs and her inner muscles.
Then her body shuddered, and she screamed his name as she found her release.
And he found his, the pleasure so intense it was almost painful.
Panting for breath, he levered himself up so he wouldn’t crush her and leaned his forehead against hers. “You know what they say, practice makes perfect.”
“You’re already perfect,” she told him.
“You are.”
“We’re perfect for each other.”
And they were; they had always been and always would be.
* * *
Parker had texted Lakin a while ago about something he needed to find in the RTA office, but she must have been busy at the hotel. It took a while before she texted him back.
When she did text him again, she added, Call Genna McDougal and offer her my old job.
Her old job. Parker felt a pang of loss. He missed Lakin, and not just because she knew where everything was and how to do everything. He missed seeing his sister every day.
And then he felt another pang at her proposed replacement, aka the bane of his existence. But he couldn’t tell Lakin that or he would have to tell her what had happened between them…
* * * * *
Keep reading for an excerpt from Colorado K-9 Rescue by Kathleen Donnelly.