Nero nods slowly. “Sounds like my neighbor’s place.”
“They selling?” I joke.
“I’m sure I can convince them to.”
“What? No. Nero, that’s—” I was going to say crazy, but crazy is kind of his brand.
He leans back against the seat and closes his eyes. “Tomorrow.”
CHAPTER 129
Hans
THREE DAYS LATER
“Baby, you need to calm down.” Cassandra pats my chest, and I trap her hand against my body. “They’re going to love this place.”
I blow out a breath and look around the grand entryway with the double staircase and multicolored blown glass chandelier.
“I don’t doubt that they’ll think it’s fine—”
“Fine?” Cassandra scoffs. “This is a ten-thousand-square-foot mansion with a pool, a seven-burner stove, and a greenhouse. It’s more than fine. We’re gonna have to kick them out when we want them to leave.”
I tug her against my body with my free hand. “Yeah, but the reason you don’t have your old house anymore is probably going to bother them.”
My girl knows her touch helps my nerves, so she slides her hand up the front of my T-shirt, resting her palm against my skin and giving me her warmth.
True to his word, the day after we landed, Nero walked over to his neighbor’s house—neighbor being a relative term since the lots are several acres—and told them I’d pay double the market value for them to leave the furniture—minus any heirlooms or things of sentimental value—and be out in twenty-four hours.
They did. I paid. And now this home belongs to us. Which is great. But her parents are on their way over for dinner, and I feel like I’m going to throw up.
Cassandra’s phone rings.
She pulls it out of her pocket and puts it on speaker, her mom’s name on the screen.
“You lost?” Cassandra asks.
“I think we must be.” She says something to Mr. Cantrell. “That address you sent, was it correct?”
“Yes, Mom.”
“This is Hans’s new house?” Mrs. Cantrell’s tone is understandably skeptical.
“Just tell Dad to pull up to the gate. They’ll let you in.”
In order to get them here, we told them it was just my house.
Plus, I have an important question I need to ask her dad before we tell them Cassandra lives here too.
Cassandra knows I’m asking. And she’s already told me she’ll say yes. But I’ve never had a chance to do any of the traditional dating things, so I want to do this.
When we can hear them talking to the property guards, Cassandra hangs up.
Sliding her phone back in her pocket, she lifts her hands to hold my face. “I love you, Hans. They will too.” She pulls me down and presses her lips to mine. “And they’ll forgive the rest.”
I swallow and kiss her once more, then pull the front door open.
Mr. Cantrell drives his Buick up the driveway and around the fountain in front of the house. He slows on the far side, near the garages, but I can see Mrs. Cantrell waving her hands around inside the car, and eventually, Mr. Cantrell circles the fountain again, stopping directly at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the gigantic house.
I keep my hand on Cassandra’s lower back as we walk down the steps to meet them.
Mrs. Cantrell climbs out of the car first and holds her hands up toward the house. “Holy shit!”
Cassandra cracks up next to me. “Mom!”
“Well, seriously, Cassandra.” She drops her hands to her hips. “You cannot just go from that cute little cul-de-sac to this and expect me to pretend that’s normal.”
I wince a little when she calls our old street cute.
Casandra has been taking their calls and texts the last few days like nothing was amiss. Her mom was extra attentive, making sure Cassandra was still okay after everything that happened in Mexico, so I’m sure she’ll insist on moving in for the next month when she finds out what else has happened.
We talked about it and agreed to tell them everything. Or at least the broad strokes. And if they ask us a question, we won’t lie. Cassandra is certain they won’t try to turn me in to the authorities, and I trust my Butterfly, so I’ll trust them.
Mrs. Cantrell turns to me after she hugs Cassandra. “The house is beautiful. And absurd.”
“Mom!”
Some of my anxiousness fades. “It is both of those things.” I start to hold out my hand to Cassandra’s mom, but she just pushes it away and grabs me for a hug.