Page 110 of Untroubled Heart

“I just don’t want you to regret it. That’s a lot of money.”

“Not to me.” I shake my head. “I have a billion-dollar trust fund. My company makes millions, and I have investments. I’m not trying to be arrogant, but two mil means nothing if it gets your ex out of the picture. I’d hand over every dollar to my name if it meant calling you and Navie my family.”

“But you didn’t have to give him anything. We were already yours.”

I smile, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear. “I should have spoken to you beforehand, but I panicked. I couldn’t stop imagining a day in the future where he showed up and wanted to be involved somehow with Navie. I want to be her dad.” A tear slips down Callie’s cheek. “Why are you crying?” I wipe it away with my thumb. “Are you mad at me?”

She shakes her head, turning to kiss the palm of my hand. “I grew up with a dad who didn’t care about me, who never put my mum first, but everything you’ve done to be a part of our lives…” She swallows, drawing in a breath. “You’re everything I’ve ever wanted, Mason Heart.”

Chapter forty-one

I step back from the ladder, admiring my new tyre swing.

“It’s perfect,” Callie calls from the front porch. She’s got Navie on her hip, and her mum beside her watching with a smile.

“Hey, Trouble.” I join them, taking the steps two at a time, before stealing Navie from her. “What did you think, Elena?”

“It’s beautiful, Mason.” Elena looks between Callie and me.

Everything has come together better than I could’ve imagined. Callie was right when she said that many happy memories could be made here, and they all started when she walked through this house with me.

“It’s all thanks to Callie,” I say, smiling as I lean in for a kiss.

Navie squeals in protest, her new favourite thing to do whenever I kiss Callie. My little girl gets jealous, and I love it. I lean down, pressing kisses to Navie’s soft cheek, and she laughs.

Callie sinks into her shoulders, brushing away the compliment. “I just did my best to help.”

“But you love it?” I ask, just to be sure.

“I do.” She smiles.

“Are you sleeping here yet?” Elena asks, wandering over to the windows that peer into the backyard.

“Tomorrow should be our first night. The new bed will be delivered sometime today, and then it’s just a matter of getting the rest of my clothes over and all of Callie and Navie’s things,” I say.

“Our things?” Callie sputters. “You want me to move in with you?”

“Have I not actually asked you that out loud?” I tip my head in thought. “Huh. Guess I just always pictured you here.”

“Ask now,” Elena coughs under her breath as she passes behind me.

I chuckle, wrapping an arm around Callie’s lower back. “Callie baby, will you please move in with me?”

“Are you sure it’s not too soon?” she whispers. “It’s me and Navie, and we’ve not been together that long.”

“It’s not too soon for me. I want you both with me all the time, but I can wait if it’s too soon for you.”

Callie chews her lip, staring at my chest as she thinks. Her fingers play with the button on my shirt until she looks up at me with her stunning blue eyes. “I’m ready.”

It feels like too many things are happening in my body at once. My stomach drops and simultaneously leaps, my toes tingle, my heart feels as though it could burst through the skin. “Really?”

Callie nods, and I lean down to kiss her, mindful that her mum is still here, so I keep it short… I’ll show her how happy I am later.

“You two have certainly inspired me to look for my own place when I get back home. I’d love to find something to make all my own.”

“That sounds like a great idea, Mum.” Callie places her hand on top of her mum’s, giving her a reassuring squeeze.

My phone chimes in my back pocket. An email notification fills the screen from the private investigator with the subject line: Case Complete.