“I thought you could use it,” he said.
Instantly, my blood ran cold. So that was it? Was he giving me a goodbye house and sending me on my way? After all we’d been through together, that was the way he wanted to end things between us? Almost instantly, he seemed to realize what he’d said, because he grabbed my shoulders.
“Not like that,” he said. “It’s not for you to live in, Paige. I want you with me, Paige: forever and always.”
Instantly, I calmed. Relaxed. I took a deep breath and looked at the house again. He’d even had flowers planted, and the entire thing looked about a million times better.
“Then what is it for?” I asked.
“I want you to have your very first rental property,” he said. “It’s all yours. You can find your own tenants, and you can rent it out. Maybe you want to find a couple of college kids to live there or maybe some young professionals...it doesn’t matter. It’s yours, though, and you can start bringing in some rental income. This is hands-off from me. It’s yours to do what you want with. You’ll maintain it, you’ll take care of it, and you’ll keep all of the money from it.”
“Really?” I looked at him, completely shocked. I wanted to be a teacher still. I planned on finishing my degree and then teaching, but it wasn’t exactly a secret that teachers were wildly underpaid.
“Really,” he said. “It’ll be a great way for you to bring in extra income, and, well, I couldn’t bear to sell it,” he shrugged.
“Thank you,” I whispered. I looked back at the house. It was where everything had started. I didn’t think I ever wanted him to sell it, either. I’d lived in that ugly old house with Fawn for what seemed like forever, and I’d fallen in love with Locke while I’d lived in it. It wasn’t ugly anymore. It was pretty now, beautiful, and everything about it seemed to sparkle.
“Come on,” he said, planting a kiss on my lips. “Let me show you inside.”
Locke hopped out of the car, ran around, and opened my door. He helped me out and guided me to the front steps, and then he took my hand as we walked up to the door together. He handed me the keys to the house, and he smiled at me. I took them, staring at them.
How the hell had this happened?
Not only had I finally gotten the answers I’d been searching an eternity for, but I’d managed to find someone who truly cared about me. Not only had he given me the answers I needed about my father, but he’d given me a damn house.
“Thank you, Locke,” I said. I looked up at him and shook my head. “I don’t know what to say. This is incredible.” I unlocked the door and pushed it open.
“Manners, little girl,” he growled at me, but he was smiling. There was no menace in his voice, and I grinned.
“Or what?” I winked. “Are you going to spank me?”
I walked into the house without looking back. I heard him follow behind me, laughing. Locke and I were having a wonderful adventure, but the real fun was only beginning.
THE END
Author
Sophie Stern loves cowboys, soldiers, and shifters. When she’s not busy writing, she’s got her nose buried in a book. Sophie lives with her husband and two little boys who are always keeping her on her toes.
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Books
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