Pure Gold

To top all that off, Jason and I are the ones that want her land. So that complicates a lot of things. We’re already pressing in hard on the bank. We’ve been trying to buy her grandfather's land for over five years now. Ever since we all but struck gold on Jason’s property that backs up to it.

A few counties over, the Bronce family had found a chunk of gold on their land. It was around the same time that Jason had taken over for his father. I’d gotten the idea that I wanted to poke around on his land to see what we could find. I pulled in a few professionals to test the ground since I had the money.

I’ll be damned if Jason’s land didn’t hit it big. The ground was rich with gold. It was one of the biggest finds in over a decade. We had other gold mining companies all over us trying to buy out the land from us. I’d gone all in with Jason. We didn’t need someone else’s capital to help us. I used my trust. We were getting every drop of that gold. That said, I know there is gold on McGuire’s land.

He himself had called people out to try to find some. They’ve all come back empty-handed. We’d pushed and pushed to buy him out, but he’d never budge. The crazy old bat wasn’t letting his sacred land go, as he called it. He was too busy preparing for the end of the world to worry about much else. Jason and I weren’t pursuing the land so hard because we had a hunch. We already know there’s gold out there. We already found it.

“You do have somewhere to go, and it’s with me.” She shakes her head.

“Arch, we can’t.” She keeps saying that, but to be honest, it goes in one ear and out the other. My brain refuses to accept any answer that doesn’t include her staying exactly where she belongs—with me.

“You haven't given me one good reason why not.” She chews on her bottom lip. I reach out and pull it out of her mouth. The only one biting her is going to be me.

“You know why.” She turns her head to look away from me. “We’re from two different worlds.”

We are. I’ve got more money than I even know what to do with. That was before I’d even struck gold with Jason. Not to mention, I know what I look like. When I was younger I enjoyed the hell out of that shit. Things change. I changed.

I just have to show my girl I’m building a world for the two of us. Because at the end of the day, she’s all that matters.

“You’re wrong, sweet girl.” She turns her head back my way, giving me those big round eyes of hers. “You’re my world now,” I say before I shut the door to take her home.

4

Savannah

“Thor!” I chase after my dog as he bolts off the elevator into Archer’s penthouse. He’s probably getting mud all over the expensive floors. Good boy.

Of course he lives in some fancy building with a doorman and valet. I didn’t even know such fancy places existed around here. Thor jumps up on some white sofa, making himself right at home. Not only is Thor giant, but he’s got crazy hair too. He’s going to cover this fancy place in fur.

“He’s fine.” Archer drops my bag down on one of the other sofas in the expansive living room. It looks so out of place.

I’m scared to even touch anything. I still have dirt under my nails from gardening today. I glance around his spotless home. Is this what a bachelor pad looks like? I’m not sure what I was expecting, but it definitely wasn’t this. Sometimes I forget Archer is loaded and that his father was actually the mayor.

The first time I met him was at the Ravens’ clubhouse, or whatever you call the giant warehouse they all hang out in. It’s not far from my place, actually. Archer lives two really different lives based on the look of these digs.

“Archer.” I chew on my lip, feeling really out of place.

“It’s just shit, babe. My mom decorated, and her taste can be a bit…”

“Rich?” I supply. At least he understands how I’m feeling without me having to voice it. The bark of laughter that comes from him makes me relax some.

“Better than all that black leather most men my age have, no?”

“I don’t know what other men your age have in their homes,” I admit. I don't think I’ve ever been to either of Ollie’s brothers' homes, now that I think of it. They are all I have to compare anything to really.

“Right answer.” He smirks at me. He’s so charming when he smiles.

“Why am I here?”