He laughed again, and the sound made my belly flip over. It was so full of life and carefree. When was the last time I’d laughed like that? Maybe being rich made you laugh like that.
“Notthatbig,” he said. “It’s a little game app called Candy Smash.”
My hand fell to the table. “Shutup! You invented Candy Smash?”
He nodded. “Heard of it?”
Had I heard of it!?
I yanked my phone out and pulled open the app. “I’m on level two hundred and fifty-three.”
More laughter. “I don’t advocate playing that much, Hannah. Your brain will rot.”
“Hey! My mom has five-hour chemo appointments. I play there,” I told him.
He nodded solemnly. “Is she going to be okay?”
The question of the year.
“Her numbers were bad this week, but she better be,” I croaked.
“I wish my money could cure cancer. I’d give it all away.” He looked wistfully at the wall, and I heard the truth in his voice.
“So, what’s it’s like being rich?” I changed the subject jokingly. “Do you just add extra guacamole without a second thought?”
He grinned. “You’re funny, Hannah Phillips.”
I smiled back at him because he was charming, and I couldn’t believe this was real life right now. But then his face fell slightly as he seemed to consider my question seriously.
“Being rich is…lonely,” he finished.
My heart sank a little. Lonely?Hewas lonely?
The bell over the door chimed, and Chloe walked in on the phone. She pulled it away from her mouth and looked at Jack. “Are we done here? We need to be back in Seattle for the fundraiser tonight.”
Jack slapped the table lightly. “Yep.” He stood and took the contract from in front of me. “I’ll have this recorded with the county and mail a copy to you.”
I stood as well, suddenly thrown that he was leaving so soon. “Will…I see you again?”
This man just bought me a restaurant, and now he was leaving?
He nodded. “Next Christmas. I never miss a Willow Harbor Christmas parade.”
That made me smile. We did have a good parade, but that was a year away since we’d just had ours. And how come I’d never seen him? Even though the parade did attract hundreds of out-of-towners, I didn’t think a man this handsome could easily be lost in a crowd.
“I…don’t know how to thank you,” I said sheepishly.
He grasped my shoulder. “Be happy,” he said as he squeezed, and then he left.
Be happy.That’s how I could repay him? My happiness was his payment for buying me an entire restaurant?
Sydney ran over then and held her phone up to my face.
Jack Marrow. Candy Smash founder net worth: 7 billion.
“Oh wow,” I breathed.
“He’s an angel,” she said.
