Tobias (Reynolds Ranch 2)

“So there’s no truth to the ten million dollars stolen.”

“None. On my twenty-second birthday, I inherit ten million from my mother’s trust she set up for me.” He nods as if he’s processing what I’m telling him. I wonder what he has in mind.

“Twenty-second birthday? That’s an odd number.”

“Well in my mom’s mind, people tend to go off the rails at twenty-one with drinking and partying. She wanted to make sure I didn’t blow the money. She died almost fifteen years ago.”

“So if he doesn’t have access to it, why does he want you back?”

“He wanted me to marry a guy I know. I had no interest in it and as far as I know the guy has no interest in marrying me. Either that, or he plans to kill me and inherit the money as my sole living family member.” Tobias’s body tenses as he growls like a sexy, protective beast.

“Do you have a will?”

“No, I don’t. He told me I had no reason to have one without the money.”

“Yeah, well. Bastards like him make it hard for good lawyers. There are plenty of us who work for the purpose of actually serving the people. I’d say you have one drafted right away. Then he can’t have any claim, which means he’s less likely to kill you. Put it in a trust for your kids if you have any or leave it to someone you trust not to kill you. Remember, you can always change your will later. You want to establish a barrier between the funds and him. Also, regardless of what happens, I recommend you go to the police with the matter. The letter, the photos, and your testimony on the previous events will go a long way with protecting yourself.”

“That all sounds grim.”

“I’ll kill that bastard first,” Tobias bites out.

“Well, now that he’s found me, I guess there’s no point in waiting to inform the world about my whereabouts, but I’d like to do it after the will is created.”

“That’s fine. Do you have a lawyer in mind, or would you like my firm to draft one?”

“I don’t know how expensive you are.”

“Don’t worry about cost. I want you protected at all costs,” Tobias says. “Bill, just send me the invoice.”

“I have my laptop with me, so we can get you protected as soon as possible. Can you print the documents I need out?” he asks Tobias.

“Sure.” We draft it up and I leave everything to Marisa in the event I die. Of course that will change later, but it leaves a neutral party in charge of my future estate. “I don’t want to make this public at all.”

“Understood. I need to file these with the courts in the morning, but you should be good to go.”

“Thank you.” Tobias walks him out and I sit in his office, feeling like maybe I should have asked him if he wanted to be my beneficiary.

“What’s on your mind, babe?” I look up at him. “Are you upset that I didn’t add you on there as a beneficiary?”

“Hell, no. I’m wealthy in my own right, but it’s smart of you. I don’t want you to have any doubts in your head that I don’t want forever with you. I love you, Ava. I might have all the money I made playing football along with the endorsements and well, my investments with Landon that put me closer to a hundred million, but none of that matters. I want you to feel safe. If later you want to change it to give it to our children, then so be it.”

“Our children?” I ask, trying to ignore that he said he’s worth so much money.

“I told you I loved you. I’m going to one day, when you’re ready, fill your belly with little versions of us.” He kisses me softly until I’m moaning in his arms.

“So you’re not ready to toss me on my rear in three months?”

“Why would I want to throw away the one person I know I can’t live without?”

“Do you really mean it?” He lifts me off his lap and then walks across the room to a picture and moves it just like in the movies to reveal a safe. After a moment, he comes back and drops to one knee.

“I know it’s soon. I know you’re just getting away from a bad situation, but I love you and I mean it when I say you’re the only one I’ll want for the rest of my days. From the first moment you splattered spaghetti sauce all over me, I knew you were the one I wanted to marry. Please marry me.” He opens the box to reveal a large diamond surrounded with tiny pink stones around the sides of the band.

“I don’t know…how this happened, but I can’t live without you either,” I manage to say without stuttering.