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“Yeah. Exactly. And I have a plan that may help all of us in both the short and long terms.”
“You are good at plans.” I leaned in to kiss his jaw because I was about to die without further contact.
“Since my parents blew a literal fortune, I’ve been obsessive about saving while in the navy. It’s why I don’t own a car, still live in the barracks, and like checking my savings account balance far more than spending money. However, I think I’ve finally found something worth spending on. I want to invest in Seasons.”
My eyes went so wide my temples ached. “You want to buy Seasons?”
Thirty-Three
ATLAS
“Not buy. Invest.” I licked my lower lip. I’d been parched even before the long plane trip back to the States, and eating pizza plus worrying over Zeb’s reaction had my skin tight and dry. While Zeb stayed wide-eyed and slack-jawed, I paused to take a large swallow of the soda he’d brought me. “A partnership. Gabe needs a cash infusion, and I see Seasons as a part of all of our futures.”
“Yes.” Zeb nodded so hard it was a wonder he didn’t strain something. “That’s brilliant. I don’t have a huge amount of savings, but my channel is doing well. I could invest too. All of us going all in on a future for Seasons.”
“Exactly.” I took his hand again, more for reassurance than to make my point. He was so warm and alive and here, right here, where I hadn’t dared to hope to find him tonight. “Seasons will always be your family’s past, but maybe it can be my future. Those roots you want me to put down.”
“I love this idea so much, but you don’t have to put your savings into Seasons to prove to me that Kringle’s Crossing can be your home.”
“Our home,” I corrected simply to see him glow like a searchlight. “And I want to. You asked what I wanted to do after I retire, and if Gabe is up for it, I can’t think of anything better than helping to run Seasons, making a life with you, and preserving your family legacy.”
“Our family,” Zeb shot back, still beaming. “You’re part of Seasons now.”
“I like that.” I leaned in, intending a kiss, but I ended up resting my heavy head on his shoulder. Simply being close to him felt so good. He smelled familiar: cinnamon, sugar, pizza, Zeb. The tension that had plagued me ever since leaving Kringle’s Crossing melted away. I couldn’t even stifle a big yawn.
Zeb laughed tenderly. “I’d say we should call Gabe right now with your brilliant idea, but you seem exhausted. How many hours have you been awake?”
“A lot.” Another huge yawn escaped before Zeb stood and hauled me to my feet.
“You need rest.” He stuck the rest of the pizza in the nearly empty fridge in the cramped but homey kitchen off the living space. “Shower first, then bed.”
“Not gonna make me sleep on the couch now that you have one?” I teased, only for Zeb to playfully swat me on the ass.
“Don’t make me withhold that shower. You’re going to like the bathroom. It’s a big improvement from my apartment.”
“Aye, aye lieutenant.” Laughing, I followed him down a narrow hallway that led to two bedrooms with a large bathroom between them. One of the bedrooms held much of Zeb’s computer equipment on two folding tables, while the other featured a big, cushy king-size I couldn’t wait to face plant on. “You’re in charge.”
If Zeb wanted to boss me around so I didn’t have to make another damned decision all night, I was all for it. I let him order me out of my clothes as he turned on the hot water in the walk-in tile shower.
Naked, I stretched and made a pleased noise. I was so damn happy. The place could have been a rusty outdoor shower for all I cared, but the surprisingly spacious room heated quickly from the steamy water. The all-white decor further added to the retreat-like feel. After my last week, I almost wanted to weep from how much I needed this taste of home comfort. And Zeb. Mainly Zeb.
“Do I want to know how you got those bruises?” He cast a critical eye over my ribs. I also had a few on my right biceps and a big one on my thigh. I was a mess, but nothing out of the ordinary for my line of work.
“Probably not.” I was nothing if not honest.
“Fair enough.” Zeb tugged me into the shower, arranging us so I got most of the spray and draping himself against my back. “But you know I’m here if you ever do need to talk about what happens out there.”
“I know.” I turned so I could kiss his forehead. “We had a hard helicopter landing.”
