Page 79 of Rough

Garret nodded in acknowledgment as if my coaxing was helping him open up his mind and imagination to the endless possibilities.

“You’re right.” He cast me a dreamy look. “I can see it. I can envision the club right here, smack dab in the middle of this field, cropped in perfectly.”

I grinned and patted his back affectionately. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”

Garret chuckled. “Well…”

“Don’t answer that,” I teased.

Garret rolled his eyes. “It seems like a lot of expense…”

“You’ll have the money from Nelson plus the insurance money from the fire, and besides, I’m going to help you,” I said.

Garret gave me a cautious look. “I can’t expect you to just give me your land without any strings attached.”

“That’s not what’s happening at all,” I countered. “People who are in love don’t have to expect something in return, other than love, that is.”

Garret frowned as if the idea of taking my offer for the plot of land was still a foreign concept in his mind.

“Garret,” I said gently, cupping my hand over his. I stared at him until he had no choice but to look me in the eye. “My uncle left me well-off, even more than you were aware of.”

Garret’s eyes widened and he swallowed hard. “Exactly how well-off did he leave you?”

“Well-off enough that you wouldn’t need to take on any other investors besides me,” I said. “You won’t have to worry about any of that.”

“What about Nelson?” Garret asked in a sour tone. “He’s still a bully who is getting away with his crimes. We have to do something about that, you know. We can’t simply pretend that he didn’t burn down the Tiger’s Eye or Saul’s restaurant.”

“We will deal with that,” I promised. “But for now, you have to accept that you are making the right choice to sell the land that the burnt club stood on. You would have to rebuild anyway, so why not do it in a location that you know Nelson won’t try to tamper with or sabotage? You would open a whole new pandora’s box of uncertainty if you rebuilt on the same land. As long as nobody is stopping him, Nelson is going to try and continue his schemes against you. Your construction site would never be safe from his meddling.”

Garret’s expression was accepting, and I knew that I had gotten through to him. He was quiet for a moment.

“I’m just worried about you covering all the costs. I feel like I’ll never be able to repay you,” Garret said with an anxious frown.

“You don’t need to stress about repaying me,” I explained. “We’re doing this together, building something together. This club is going to be for both of us, plus all the people in the community who need a private place to go for a secure and discretionary outlet.”

“You really thought this through, huh?” Garret gave me a sideways grin. His eyes sparkled, the way they always did when he was turned on.

“Yes,” I said with a humble chuckle. “There isn’t even a single sliver of a doubt in my mind about sharing my inheritance. I just want to make one thing clear to you, Garret.” I paused for effect and gazed deeply into his eyes.

“What?” he asked, glancing my direction.

“I know you aren’t using me for my money, because up until recently, you didn’t even know how much I had.”

Garret lightheartedly chuckled. “I still don’t. Well, I know you have a lot more than I originally thought.”

I smiled. “That’s why everything feels right in my gut. I know this is the perfect investment opportunity for both of us. I want our creative ideas to take flight, and we have so many supporters who are willing to help us in the process.”

Garret nodded. His mood seemed uplifted by my convincing. He looked at me with complete and unconditional adoration. “I love you so much. None of this would have ever been possible without you.”

“I love you too.” I reached out and cradled his chin in my hands. I pressed my lips to his and delighted in the warming sensation his touch brought to my senses. “We’re in this together, forever. I never want you to forget that.”

Garret smiled, and for the first time, I saw the truth of complete acceptance and optimism shining from his spirit. “Together forever, through the storms, we will find our channel to happiness.”

22

Garret

Several Months Later