I did it because I’m madly in love with her, and I’d do anything she ever asked of me.
A hand claps my shoulder. Dean steps in front of me, a cocky smile on his lips. “Ten million? I thought we decided on five.”
“I wanted to end it. There was no way he’d ever be able to compete with that number.”
Dean whistles, shaking his head with humor. “You’re something else. I was worried for a moment there that I’d be the one shelling out the money for the properties.”
“You know I wouldn’t have let you. Pippa won’t be paying anyone for her space. It’s hers.”
“And everyone else?”
“It’s theirs.”
He stares at me, silently assessing what I said. He must know at this point I’m a man of my word. After a few seconds, he reaches his hand out. I shake it, grabbing his forearm.
“I look forward to seeing you around, Hunter.”
“Thanks for helping.” He nods, walking away to join a group of locals chatting in a circle.
With his body gone, I’m able to see Pippa walking to me, her arm looped through her father’s.
They stop in front of me, and I worry for a second that they might be able to hear my racing heartbeat. I’m so anxious. She’s so close I could reach out and touch her. Would she let me? I don’t try. It can’t be a good sign she brought her dad with her. If she wasn’t still upset, she’d come here alone and give me the time to tell her how I’ve fallen in love with this small town because I’ve fallen in love with her.
“Camden,” Pippa begins. My heart skips a beat at hearing my name come from her lips.
“Hi,” I croak. Hi? There’s a million and one things I want to say to her, and the only thing that comes from my mouth is fucking hi.
I wince, looking over to her dad to see if he’s privy to how anxious I am right now.
“I’d like for you to meet my dad, Jasper Jennings.”
He reaches his hand out. I take it, not sure where this is going.
“Dad, this is my boyfriend, Camden Hunter.”
“Nice to meet—” My words fall off when my mind registers what exactly she just said.
Boyfriend?
I must look hilarious, my eyes wide and mouth agape as I tear my eyes from her dad and look to Pippa.
Her dad clapping his hand over mine is the only thing that brings me back to the fact that he and I are still shaking hands. His eyebrows are raised as he looks between Pippa and me. If he has any questions, he doesn’t ask them. I almost wish he would; that way, I could also get clarity on what’s happening.
Something that feels a lot like hope develops in my chest. It’s a dangerous feeling, knowing at any moment, she could crush me with one sentence.
“Nice to meet you, son,” Jasper says, pulling his hand from mine.
I shake my head, trying to get my shit together. Pippa’s introducing me to her dad, and here I am fumbling with my thoughts. “Pleasure, sir,” I rasp, shoving my hands back in my pockets because I don’t know what else to do with them.
“Thanks for what you did back there. I hope your intentions are pure for what you’re going to do with those properties.”
“They are.” I clear my throat. “I’m not trying to do anything shady.”
He assesses me for a few moments before he turns to Pippa. He pulls her in for another hug, whispering something against her hair that I can’t quite hear. Once they’re done, he turns to me once again. “We’ll talk more.”
And then he walks away, leaving me standing at the back of the room alone with Pippa.
She’s the most stunning thing I’ve ever laid eyes on. I know without a shadow of a doubt that I’d do anything in my power to make it work with her. I need her more than I need money, art, anything. She’s become my everything, and as my heart hammers against my chest, I make a silent plea she feels the same way.
“Boyfriend?” I ask, my voice coming out far more unsure than I envisioned.
She stands in front of me in a white skirt with ruffles, a tan shirt, and a pair of cowboy boots. She’s breathtaking, her sun-kissed strands of hair falling down her shoulders. I know even if she tells me things could never work between us, I’d never get over her. I try not to think about it, focusing on her introducing me to her father as her boyfriend instead.
“Can we talk outside?” she asks, a blush creeping on her cheeks as she looks down at her boots.
“Yes,” I answer, reaching out my hand to take hers. There’s probably paperwork I have to sign and things to do now that I’ve won the auction, but they can wait.