Hudson buried his face in my hair and kissed me. “Try to get some sleep, Greer. We’ll figure it all out. I promise you.”
As I lay in the darkness, I focused on Hudson’s rhythmic breathing. The feel of his heartbeat against my back relaxed my own. My eyes grew heavy, and I soon found myself drifting off into a dreamless night.
Greer
I stood in the middle of my parents’ kitchen and watched my father pace around the island while my mother sat at the table, her coffee in her hand. I had woken up this morning to Hudson’s soft kisses all over my body, which led to us making love. I practically begged the day to pause in that moment, so I wouldn’t ever have to get out of bed.
But it continued, and we both had to get up and get on with the day. That meant heading to the bookstore while Hudson went back out to the cabin to work. I had gone to my parents’ house for lunch to get their advice on what I should do, even though I knew it was hopeless. I wouldn’t be able to come up with that kind of money in such a short amount of time.
My father cursed, and I snapped out of my thoughts.
“I would love to march up to Tom’s house and ask him what in the hell is the matter with him. When did the folks around here start letting money control their judgment? First Mayor Apthorp sells the gristmill, now Brooks is thinking of selling as well!”
“He’s not thinking, Dad. He is.”
The front door opened and closed. Kyle walked in with Aiden O’Hara.
I didn’t know why Aiden was here, but from the look on his face, it wasn’t to deliver good news.
“Aiden, what are you doing here?” I asked, twisting my hands together as I tried to tamp down the fresh wave of anxiety that hit me.
Kyle cleared his throat. “Aiden stopped by the station to talk to me.”
I looked between the two of them. “What about?”
Turning to his friend, Kyle motioned for him to talk.
“I was in The Coffee Pot having lunch. There were two gentlemen in there talking—and they weren’t happy at all. Apparently, one was the guy who put the offer down on your building. He said Tom called this morning and told him another party offered more, and he was going with that buyer. The building’s no longer available for sale.”
I frowned. “Wait, what? There’s another buyer? Maybe he had second thoughts and just told the first guy that?” Reaching for my phone, I looked to see if Tom had called. He hadn’t, and I shook my head in confusion.
“Do you think Tom changed his mind?” my mother asked.
Aiden and Kyle looked at each other—though neither would look at me.
I nearly screamed in frustration. “What are you not telling me, Kyle? Aiden!”
Kyle cleared his throat. “Aiden and I went and talked to Tom. He sold the building this morning to someone from New York. They met at the title company, and the buyer wired the entire amount right there on the spot.”
It felt like someone had kicked me in the stomach. “What? But he gave me until Friday!”
Aiden sighed. “Greer, there was no way you were going to be able to come up with that kind of extra cash, and Tom knew it. All he told us was that this was going to work out for you. He wouldn’t say anything else.”
“I’m going to go kick that asshole’s ass!” my father ranted as he started toward the door.
“Wait! Hold on a second,” I said. “How can it be that easy? Doesn’t the title company have to do things…can this person really just swoop in and buy the building so quickly? And what does that mean, it’s going to work out for me?”
“If they had that kind of cash simply laying around, it is that easy. All Tom had to do was fill out the paperwork to get the title transferred over. According to LouAnne at the title company, the money’s in an escrow account. Once they have the paperwork finished, both parties will sign and it’s a done deal,” Kyle said.
“Who’s the buyer?” I asked.
Aiden frowned. “I don’t know. LouAnne couldn’t tell us.”
I brought my hand to my stomach, trying to keep from getting sick. “Then, that’s it. I’ve lost the building!”
Aiden shook his head. “I don’t think so, Greer. Even LouAnne mentioned that this new buyer wasn’t looking to change a thing.”
My head spun in confusion. “What does that even mean?”
Suddenly, Kyle’s expression changed, as if he had just thought of something. “Greer…I think I know who the buyer is.”
I jumped when my phone vibrated in my hand. It was a text from Hudson.
Hudson: I need to talk to you right away. I’m at the bookstore, but Candace said you left for your folks’. Are you still there? It’s urgent.