Page 67 of Kissing Her Rescuer

Hugh crossed his arms. “We're not here for a friendly chat, Frank.”

Frank cleared his throat. “Not sure you've ever participated in anything friendly, but I'm sure I can still help. How much did you want to withdraw?” He led them to a small office in the back of the bank. “And do you want it transferred directly into your account, Hugh?”

“Half in my account and half in my account for Carrie.”

Dewey snapped his head toward Hugh. “Why do you have an account for Carrie?”

“Someone has to save for that child to go to college.”

Resisting pointing out to Hugh that he would provide for Carrie's college, Dewey took a deep breath. “How much do you want as a down payment?”

“I assumed twenty percent.” For a moment, Hugh looked a little uncertain. “Unless $45,000 is too much—”

“No.” Dewey took the calculator off the desk. “If we do that and the loan is over fifteen years, then that would be a thousand a month. Without interest.” He waited for a moment. “Do you want to charge interest?”

“No. I'm not a greedy man. Only banks do things like that.” His eyes shot to Frank. No one could miss the accusation, as if Frank alone was responsible for every banking term and condition ever written.

Frank rolled his eyes. “I'm not getting into this with you again. I'll transfer $22,500 into your account—”

“No. Put it in the new joint account I set up with Iris.”

Typing for a moment, Frank began again. “Alright. So, I'll transfer $22,500 into the joint account and then $22,500 into the account for your granddaughter. Mr. Mitchell, which account do you want me to take the funds from?”

With Hugh watching him closely, Dewey tried to act as nonchalant as possible. “My money market account.”

“Which one?”

“You've been on to me about investing my cash in that one account, so pull it from there. This is a good investment.”

Frank leaned back and clasped his hands over his stomach. “You still need to do something with the rest of it.”

“Rest of it?” Hugh's eyebrows shot up. “How much money are you sitting on, son?”

Dewey shrugged. “Enough.”

Frank chuckled but didn't mention an amount. “Okay. Sign here, and the transfer will be complete. Once you fill out the purchase document, I'll notarize it for you.”

Thirty minutes later, Hugh managed to shake Frank's hand, neither man happy about it, and he and Dewey walked out of the bank.

Dewey owned the house. Or really, Carrie owned the house through a trust fund once their lawyer set one up.

“When are you going to tell her?” Hugh pulled out his pack of cigarettes that he kept hidden from Ms. Iris and Juliana. “You know she's talking about saving up money to buy it from me herself.”

“I know that, but I don't know when I'll tell her.”

“I suppose it should be before you move in, don't you.”? He gave a small, rare smile. “Might give her a little fright to wake up with your toothbrush in the bathroom and your socks in the hamper.”

He hadn't considered moving in until Nash had mentioned it, but maybe it would give her the confidence in him that he wouldn't leave her.

She sure as hell better know he'd never treat her the way Zach had.

“Look.” Hugh pointed down the street at the bed and breakfast. “There she is now.”

“I'm not going to tell her while she's taking Cameron's picture. He’s about as happy about the engagement pictures as I heard you were.”

Hugh took one final drag off his cigarette before snuffing it out on the ground. “Your call. I'll keep it between us for the time being, but I won't lie to her if she flat out asks me.”

“I wouldn't expect you to. I'll tell her. Soon.”

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