Jonah and Ethan leave and I walk back into Carter’s arms. “Does this mean what I think it does?”
He laughs. “You betcha. You can keep the money, Kenna. It’s incredible.”
I instantly pull back. I was referring to being free of Cyrus. “I don’t want the money, Carter. It’s brought me nothing but bad luck. This doesn’t change anything. I’m still getting rid of it.”
He seems shocked for just a moment. Then he pulls me against him. “It’s your choice, of course, but at least now you have options.”
“But… what about the Cerebral Palsy Foundation?”
He chuckles. “I’m sure they’ll survive without your money. But sweetheart, you could do both. Keep the moneyandbe charitable.”
“I don’t know. Would you be mad if I gave it all away?”
“Kenna…” He kisses the top of my head. “I get to be with you now. Without you always looking over your shoulder or worrying you’ll have to run. How could I be mad? I don’t care how I get to be with you as long as it happens.”
“You swear?”
“Babe, I’ll drop to a knee right now and swear my life to you even knowing you might not have a penny to your name. I don’t give a shit about the money. You can’t miss something you never had. But I’vehadyou, Kenna. And I know damn well what I’d be missing if I were to ever find myself without you.”
My eyes close as I absorb his words. He wants me. He really still wants me. He’s not mad. Not trying to force my hand. Not manipulating me as every man before him has.
Our future flashes before my eyes. Kids—several of them. Vacations to Disney World. Friends for Amelia. Friends forme. Us in the town I’ve come to love dearly.
I shrug. “Maybe I will keep some of it. I mean, Amelia was really looking forward to going to Disney World.”
He laughs and picks me up, swinging me around before he puts me down and kisses me. “I can’t wait to start our lives together. Say you’ll move in with me.”
I smile. “Of course I will.” I hold up a hand when he starts getting excited. “In the basement. At least for now. While we all get used to this.”
He snort-chuckles. “My girlfriend, the millionaire living in my basement.”
I shoot him a look of mock disgust. “You call me a millionaire again and Iwillgive all the money away.”
He holds a hand to his chest. “I wouldn’t dare. Now if it pleases you, why don’t we go next door? I can’t wait to see Amelia’s face when we tell her you’re moving back downstairs.”
“Actually, nothing would please me more.” I take his hand and spring for the door.
Chapter Forty-two
Carter
We’re finally pulling back up to the house, my car completely packed with all their stuff. I didn’t want to wait another second to have Kenna and Amelia under my roof again, but their things were still at the cabin. So, Kenna and I spent the afternoon packing and cleaning while Amelia stayed at Allie’s.
Amelia stayed at Allie’s.Allday. It’s the first sign that Kenna is trusting that things may actually be okay.
Christian is sitting at the kitchen table doing homework when we walk through the door. He pushes his glasses up on his nose, looks at Kenna, then to me. “What’s going on, Dad? Amelia was in the car when Mr. Anderson picked us up from school. And he said it was fine for me to be home by myself, but he didn’t say why. He told me I needed to talk to you.”
“Well, son, we have some good news. The threat no longer exists. That Cyrus character was arrested, and he won’t be bothering anyone for a long, long time.”
He cracks a smile and turns to Kenna. “So you guys are moving back here?”
“We are,” Kenna says, parking one of the suitcases by the basement door.
Christian eyes the basement door with confusion. “To thebasement?”
“For now,” I say, and put an arm around Kenna’s shoulders.
“Your dad told me you know how we feel about each other,” Kenna says, “but for Amelia’s sake, we’re going to take it slow. Make sure this is the best thing for everyone.”
