“Ms. Goldthwait,” I say breathlessly, stepping forward and holding out my hand. “My apologies for being late, I got caught up in traffic.”
She’s an older woman, austere and elegant, with graying hair styled into a fashionable bob. Her arms are crossed over her chest when I enter the room, a disapproving frown on her face, but the chill in her posture thaws a bit when I smile brightly at her. Her eyes warm as she shakes my hand, the slightest curl of a smile on her lips. I pull my portfolio from my bag as soon as she releases my hand and search for the proposal. I had everything prepared this morning before I left, and there’s no way Everett and Jenny can pull this off without the paperwork.
“Ms. Bryce,” she says. “I was worried you wouldn’t be joining us.”
My smile freezes, and a little laugh slips from between my lips, but I manage to gather myself when she invites the three of us to sit. She takes the folder and starts leafing through it as Jenny and Everett sit on either side of me. It feels like they’re offering support, even as confused by the turn of events as they are.
The quiet in the room is broken only by the turning of pages and the occasional note Ms. Goldthwait takes in the margins, and I know better than to open my mouth right now. It’s rarethat a client actually reads a proposal instead of just expecting me to know it all by heart, and I’m not going to break her concentration.
“Under normal circumstances, I might be inclined to draw this out into further negotiations,” she says, folding her hands on the table in front of her. “But I’ll be frank with you—we’re happy to accept your proposal in full. Black Spruce Ranch is exactly the supplier we’ve been looking for.”
Jenny stiffens in shock beside me, and Everett’s hand finds its way to my knee, squeezing tightly. I do my best not to let my own excitement show, but I feel like I’m flying. Is it really going to be this easy?
“Well, I certainly won’t argue with that,” I say with a chuckle. “Are you amenable to the monetary contributions expected?”
She glances down to the contract in front of her, flipping through the pages again before humming.
“Twenty million in total, yes?”
I nod.
“We’re looking for an investment of half a million up front to handle transport and logistical fees as well,” I add.
We only need about half that, but the ranch is in desperate need of repairs and upgrades, and it’ll be better to get those done as soon as we can. I expect pushback from her on that demand—in fact, I specifically made it high, just to leave myself a little wiggle room for negotiation—but to my surprise, she nods in agreement.
“That’s doable.” She looks up at me, her smile widening ever so slightly, and holds her hand out to shake mine again. “I look forward to doing business with you, Ms. Bryce. Your clients are lucky to have you.”
My breathing is a little uneven as I shake her hand, and I don’t bother trying to stifle my smile into something moreprofessional. I’m the lucky one here, but I’ll keep those thoughts to myself. “Thank you, Ms. Goldthwait.”
“I’ll have my secretary stop in with the updated paperwork,” she says, releasing my hand and standing from her seat. “The money will be wired before the end of the day today.”
The whole world feels like it’s spinning as we say our goodbyes and watch her leave. I try to focus on the navy carpet or the bland abstract art on the walls, but I can hear the rush of blood in my ears too loudly to center myself. Jenny pushes up from her seat and laughs, and the sound manages to cut through the whirlwind of thoughts.
I find myself laughing along with her, so thrilled that it’s all I can do.
“Holy shit!” Jenny says.
She pulls me up into a hug, and I squeak in surprise. She just laughs and squeezes me tighter, and I wrap my arms around her and hug back. Both of us are shaking a bit, and when she steps back, there are tears in her eyes.
“You came,” Everett whispers.
I whirl around at the sound of his voice and wind up stumbling right into his arms. He’s closer than I thought he was, my hands flying up to his chest to catch my balance. He holds my hips, the look in his eyes a conflicted mess of hope and confusion. I’m so overwhelmed with relief and joy that I collapse against his chest and listen to the soothing drum of his heartbeat.
“I wanted to be here,” I say.
He tentatively winds his arms around my waist and pulls me closer.
“I thought you didn’t know what you wanted.”
I laugh through joyous tears. I have no idea how to explain the revelations I’ve had in the past few hours, but maybe one day I’ll find the right words.
“I didn’t. And then, suddenly, I did.” I probably sound hysterical when I laugh again, but when I lean back and lift my hands to hold the scruffy sides of his face, he looks at me with so much joy that it hurts. “I know what I want, Everett. I want this. I wantyou. We’ll figure out the rest together.”
It’s not a surprise when Everett kisses me, but the tenderness in the movement steals my breath. His hands slide up my back so he can hold me like I’m the most precious thing in the entire world, and my heart is so full it feels like I might burst.
“I love you,” I whisper.
My lips are still against his when I say it, and I can feel his mouth curve instantly into a smile. I’m almost sad that I don’t get to see it, but the hunger in his kiss drives all thoughts from my mind.
