Divided Interests (Southern Bride 3)

“If you walk out that door, Lucas, don’t ever come back to me.”

I grabbed my two bags and headed to the door.

“I’m being serious. I don’t need you. You were the one who needed me to get over that little whore.”

I glanced back at her and smiled. “Paige is ten times the woman you could ever dream of being.”

I walked out the door and headed down to Betty’s private residence. After knocking on the door once, it opened.

“Hey, is there any way John can give me a ride? Bianca is taking the rental car.”

Betty looked at my bags and smiled. “Please tell me you finally left her.”

“I left her.”

Her eyes went up and she said, “Thank you, Heavenly Father.”

Paige

“IF YOU EAT any more ice cream, you’re going to be upset that I didn’t plan an intervention.”

With a sigh, I let the spoon fall back into the tub and pushed it away from me.

“Thanks, Jen. I needed that.”

Jen and I were celebrating my big move. I think she was even more excited than my father when I told him I was moving back to Johnson City.

“Do you feel any better?” Jen asked.

“No. Only bloated.”

She chuckled. “That boy always did get you fired up.”

I dropped back into the chair. “That boy is not a boy. It’s so unfair. He’s better looking now.”

“Oh, I know. I saw him next to his Barbie doll in some magazine article. Honestly, I think this chick keeps him by her side because he’s so pretty.”

I laughed and then groaned. “He’s a Class-A jerk. I mean, how long is he going to punish me for following my own dream? I didn’t want to break up. He was the one who broke up with me. If anyone should be pissed off, it should be me because I loved him, and it took me forever to get over him. A part of me will never get over him.”

“You two were always good together, the perfect couple,” she said with a sigh, adding, “Men are idiots.”

“But you found a good one.”

She smiled. “I did. There are a few exceptions to the rule, but even Gene can be an idiot at times. It’s in their DNA.”

“I think you may be right. I’d better get back. I need to measure the windows. I might have time to drive into Dripping Springs and get some blinds. It’s kind of creepy being in the house without blinds. This being my first night sleeping there, I need some sense of privacy.”

Jen reached for my hand. “Paige, what if he won’t sell you his half? I hate seeing you put all your hard-earned money into that house.”

I gave her a warm smile. “I’m not wasting it. Part of it is still my house.” I looked down at the floor and then back at her. “He offered me over a million dollars for it today.”

Her eyes went wide. “What?”

With a nod, I replied, “I turned him down. He now knows I’m serious. I’m not leaving. I think it’s a pride thing now. He’ll go back to Austin, wait a few days, then make a deal with me to buy him out. I’m sure of it.”

Jen nodded. “I think you’re right. He was probably butthurt his granddaddy left you half the house. Once he gets back to Austin, and it’s out of his mind, he’ll sell you his half.”

I had to admit, I was feeling confident about the situation.

“If you need anything, let me know.”

I hugged her. “I will. Thanks so much.”

“Of course. I’m just tickled pink you’re back in JC!”

“Me, too.” I waved goodbye and headed back to the ranch house to measure the windows. In my mind, I went over everything that needed to be done. The costliest project would be the kitchen. I wanted the rest of the house to be exactly as it was when William and his wife May had lived there. But the kitchen was going to be state-of-the-art fabulous. My dream kitchen. If I budgeted right, I could make it happen. Especially if Milo gave me a break on the painting.

As I drove down the old gravel driveway, I couldn’t help but think back to earlier. It had hurt so much when Lucas tossed out a number, expecting me to bite. He was used to dealing with his precious Bianca. Well, no amount of money was going to make me leave. As a matter of fact, nothing would make me leave this house. Ever.

As I got closer to the house, I saw someone on the front porch sitting in one of the rocking chairs. I parked and sat there, staring at him. What in the hell was Lucas doing, sitting on the front porch? He was dressed in a green T-shirt that would undoubtedly showcase his eyes; they’d be almost mesmerizing up close.