Page 13

“Meaning?”

“He left conditions.”

She finally reaches for the paperwork.

I watch her scan the first page.

Her eyebrows pull together. “You have to be married?”

“Before I’m thirty-six.”

“When’s your birthday?”

“Eleven months.”

She looks up. “And you have to live on the property with your wife.”

“Primary residence for one year.”

“This is insane.”

“Lawyers were more creative seventy years ago.”

“What happens if you don’t?”

“Land transfers to my cousin.”

“So let him have it.”

“No.” The word comes out harder than I intend.

Lila notices. “Why?”

I lean back. “My grandfather taught me to hunt there. Fish. Track. Built a cabin with him when I was thirteen.” Her expression softens. “It’s land, Lila. I want it.”

She studies me for another second, then looks back at the paperwork. “What does your cousin want with it?”

“Sell it.”

“To who?”

“Developers.”

Her mouth tightens. She understands that word.

“They’ve already approached him?”

“Twice.”

“And if he gets it?”

“Condos. Vacation rentals. Maybe a resort.”

She sets the papers down. “So you need a wife.”

“For a year.”

“And instead of asking a normal woman on a normal date, you bid on one at an auction.”