Page 159 of Sing with Me

“You’re a curious one, aren’t you?”

Diehl didn’t reply.

“She started out with an inheritance from her aunt and uncle. Then she invested wisely, including in cryptocurrency.”

“Good for her.” Diehl felt proud of Skye that she had multiplied her income.

“She used to own a million-dollar oceanfront beach house, but she sold it to buy out her brother’s shares. For whatever reason, she rents a condo now, but get this.” Mom waited. “She has a piece of land on Seaside Island that has doubled in value in five years, but she hasn’t built anything on it. Empty except for grass and trees. Why hasn’t she done anything with it?”

“Seaside Island?”

“Half an acre of prime oceanfront, can you believe it?”

No, he could not.

“She doesn’t look rich. She looks rather ordinary,” Mom said. “Her brother is worth four million more than she does, and he looks like a regular guy.”

“Not everyone flaunts their wealth like you do.” Diehl frowned. “Did Malik dig all that up for you?”

Mom seemed pleased with herself. “The last part, I got out of Marguerite. She thinks if a cottage is built on the land, the value could be at least fifteen million and up.”

Marguerite Urquhart, the matriarch of Urquhart Enterprises.

Jared’s mom.

Which meant that Loose Lips Marguerite would eventually tell Jared that Mom had asked about Skye… It could start a bidding war between Jared and Diehl for Skye’s attention.

No, he could not lose Skye to Jared—not because Diehl had always been competitive against his childhood friend, but because he knew now that he loved her.

Then again, how could it possibly work out?

Your office is in Atlanta. And mine is on St. Simon’s Island.

Skye’s words from Monday night rang in Diehl’s ears.

Both of Skye’s businesses were ensconced on the Georgia coast. On the other hand, all three branches of Brooks Investments were headquartered in midtown Atlanta.

It would be too much to ask Skye to move to Atlanta. If he asked, Skye might think he didn’t consider her businesses as important as his.

It was impossible for him to move Brooks Investments to St. Simon’s Island unless…

Nah. It won’t work.

Somehow there must be a way.

Is there a way, God?

Chapter Forty-Three

Private Investigator Earl Young greeted Diehl and his family at the disembarkation hall of the Peachtree DeKalb Airport after the Gulfstream jet landed, at the same time as Dad’s chauffeur, Murray, who had brought a vehicle to transport Mom and Ethan to Diehl’s house.

Murray wasn’t alone. Two of Malik’s security personnel accompanied him. Trevor and Miranda had been with Brooks Security for several years. They were both young and single.

“Trevor is going to be with Ethan at all times,” Malik said quietly. “Miranda is coming with us to get Elisa.”

In times like this, Diehl appreciated Malik more than ever. The chief of security had done what Diehl asked him to do on Sunday. He hoped these two people worked out to keep Elisa and Ethan trouble-free henceforth.

“Dad, I want to go with you.” Ethan stepped toward Diehl, who was telling Murray to take their luggage to the house.

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