Page 17 of Let Me Love You

I nod. Then I reach the amount he’ll pay me, and my jaw literally drops. Like unhinges itself and drops to the floor.

I glare up at Victor. “I thought you said five hundred thousand dollars, not a whole million!”

His eyebrows inch up his forehead, and his mouth parts slightly before he forces a neutral look back onto his face. “Are you saying you don’t want the extra money? I thought you could use it for private school for Summer, or you can save it for when she goes to college.”

Stop jumping, you stupid heart. This kind of money means nothing to a billionaire.

I glance down at Summer. She blinks up at me, still saying nothing. Her big green eyes are uncertain. She’s always shy in strange places or in front of people she doesn’t know. But her future can be secure and bright. It’s almost as if all my wishes are coming true.

“Is there anything you want to add to the contract?” Mr. Linderman asks.

I came in with a list of things, but he already took care of some of them. “I want us to spend at least one week a month in Granite Falls for the entire duration of our contract.” I take a deep breath so I can spit out the rest of it. “And when I’m not needed, I don’t want to be locked up. I’d like for Summer and me to be able to go visit Harmony whenever we like.” I glance over at Mr. Linderman, who is typing furiously on his keyboard. “I need one hundred and fifty thousand up front so I can pay off the loan. After that, I’ll need another thirty thousand for my property taxes.”

“Done,” Victor says immediately. “Mr. Linderman, can you have all of that added in and sent to Serenity by the end of today?”

Done? Just like that?

“Absolutely, sir.”

“One last thing,” I say, and both men glance over at me. “No touching. I want it in the contract.”

Victor gives me a lopsided grin before he leans over so close my heart does a flip and a layout as if it’s competing at the Olympics, and he whispers, “How about we just verbally agree to no s-e-x? Some light touching is necessary. If we don’t at all, no one will believe we’re in love.”

Ugh, I hate when he’s right. But fuck, I love how he spelled out sex to be appropriate in front of Summer. “Fine, I’ll accept that.”

I don’t listen to the men’s small talk. Because no, I don’t care about Mr. Linderman’s new dog peeing around his house while my entire life is changing. Squirming in my seat, Summer looks up at me with questions swimming in her eyes. I can only hope that she doesn’t get too attached. Hopefully, Victor’s house is big enough that we won’t have to see him daily. Or if we’re really lucky, he’ll stay in the city for an easier commute to work.

Victor glances at me and winks. My cheeks heat.

Oh, fuck. I never blush. I’m in so much trouble.

***

After receiving the marriage certificate, Summer and I travel back to Granite Falls. Getting as far away as possible is my number one priority.

Pounding on Sully’s front door throws my heart into overdrive. The horror movie I’m watching is forgotten, and my eyes instinctively shoot to my living room window behind the television. Every muscle in my body tenses as I brace myself. Will they shatter the windows this time?

Calm down, Serenity. You invited Lana over.

Okay, invited is a nicer way of saying that my best friend of over twenty years demanded to come to my house after I called her, informing her about my plan with Victor. He agreed I could tell her the sensitive information after I said she’d never believe I randomly fell in love with him after I bashed him for months while watching Everlasting Love. Oops. This big mouth of mine always gets me into trouble.

And she signed the NDA so fast I couldn’t stop the laugh that bubbled out.

“Open up!”

Shit. If I don’t let her in, she’s going to wake up Summer, and this isn’t a conversation I want to have with my kid around. Luckily, Sully scampered off the moment I told him why Lana was coming.

I push to my feet and hurry to the front door.

Lana stands on my tiny porch with both of her hands on her hips. My pathetic light barely illuminates her, but the daggers she’s shooting at me are clear as day. Her dark hair is pulled into a messy bun, and she has bright pink pajamas on as if she ran right over here without bothering to change.

“I guess we spoke after you got ready for bed?” I quip, hoping to lessen her anger.

“Actually, I was lying in bed, scrolling through TikTok when you called. So, yes.” Flames are practically shooting out of her nostrils. “Do you really think, ‘Oh, by the way, I’m marrying the billionaire and moving away, so have a great life’ is a good enough explanation?”

I motion for her to come inside in case any of the loan shark’s lackeys are watching Sully’s house. She complies and throws herself onto the couch. She should’ve become an actress who starred in TV dramas. She kicks off her fuzzy slippers and hugs her knees to her chest.

“It was all very sudden.”