Page 119

“We can’t. Someone will see and surely call the cops on a couple of peeping Toms.” She looks around for the neighbors.

“They can try, but we can stay as long as we’d like.”

“Why?” she presses.

I grab her hand and pull her attention to me. “Because, my dear Proprietress.” I bend over and place a gentle kiss on her hand. “I bought the place.”

PHOENIX

“You bought this place?” I splutter out. “How … Why?”

Jackson’s thumb grazes the top of my hand. “How? With the years of savings and investments I’ve been stowing away, hoping to do something worthwhile with it one day. Putting it aside for a future I never knew I could have. That is, until someone tried to ruin my fries with sugar instead of salt.”

I smile. “Hey, don’t knock it until you try it. Could have been delicious.”

Jackson takes a step closer, brushing my hair behind my ears, smiling down. “Maybe. I’d try anything for you. But to continue answering your questions, why? Because this is where I want to be. In a house you love, with a river view that relaxes that furrow in your brow the second you see it. I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend money.”

I look away from him, still holding his hand, taking a steadying breath. I hate the idea of him moving out, no longer being on the other side of the wall. “Well, I guess I could let you out of your lease early …”

He chuckles. “Whatever you want, Proprietress, but this place needs some work still. Come on, I’ll show you my ideas.”

He grabs my hand and practically drags me around to the front of the property, where a detached garage matching the exterior sits with broken red doors, crookedly hanging to the sides. Inside, an old, beat-up truck is parked.

“Is that⁠—”

“Yup, the Foundation’s old Ford pickup we borrowed. I paid over market value, but it went to a worthy cause.” He beams at the hunk of rust.

“Why did you get this old thing?” I gently nudge the tires with my foot, afraid it might fall apart.

“Shh, she might hear you.” Jackson pats her tailgate gently. “This old bird got us to the next chapter of our relationship. I want to see many more. Besides, I’ll need a project to work on while you are busy working on yours.”

My insides squirm at the notion. “Yeah … you’re right, I guess. I do have a lot of projects at the duplex to work on.”

“Sure there, but I meant here. With me, at our cottage.” I blink, stunned at what he is saying. He continues on, “We probably need to hire Sam for the first one I have in mind. I need a bigger garage. Well, a shop really. One where I can have a bay to work on a car, and on the other side a work area for all your tools, so you’re never that far away from me. Even if I shouldn’t be trusted to work on the house, I still want to be as close to you as I can.”

I open my mouth, but no words come out. He rushes on.

“If the answer is no … I understand. I’ll still finish restoring the place, still be here.” He looks down at our joined hands, and I see the tension in his jaw at the thought of my rejection.

“Wait a minute, you want me to move in here with you? Now?”

Jackson opens the bed of the tailgate, grabs me by my waist, and lifts me to sit so we are eye-to-eye. Hands resting on either side of me, he starts, “Phoenix, I want my bathroom to permanently smell like cherry blossoms. I want stacks of three books in every room. I want to know every small detail of your day that you are willing to give me.”

“I want to stop being a wall away.” I go to speak but he rushes on. “I messed up, royally. I should have never kept anything hidden from you. I wish I could go back in time and do it all over again. But I promise you this: I will never keep anything bigger than a birthday present a secret from you again.”

My breath hitches, unable to respond to his words as he gently places his palm on my cheek.

“Sugar, I want everything with you. Would you please do me the honor of becoming the Proprietress of this estate?”

My vision blurs as he gently wipes the moisture from my eyes. The fear that has lived in my chest for months isn’t gone. Maybe it never will be completely. But for the first time, it isn’t louder than hope.

I look at the river, as it gently keeps moving, no matter the resistance it runs into, finding its own new path. I’ve had to forge new paths too, and it’s been hard, the ways I’ve had to maneuver and grow. It’s time I give that final piece of my heart I’ve been holding back.

Finding my voice, I meet his eyes. “Jackson, I love you.”

He cradles my face in his hands, planting the gentlest kiss on my lips.

“Oh, Sugar, I know. I knew it the second you photoshopped my head on that donkey.”