Page 45 of Harmony Island Gazette
“I’ll tell you this, you’re wasting your time with that house. I’m not even sure her son can be reached and he’s the one that inherited it.” He pointed his finger at the house. “It’ll be going up for auction soon. Apparently, Hannah’s son hasn’t been paying the property taxes on it.”
I hated how he made me sound irresponsible. I wanted to defend myself to this man, but I also wanted to keep my anonymity. Besides, he did have a point. Ihadn’tbeen paying the property taxes. But I’d been busy, and back then, coming home was the last thing I wanted to do.
The man tsked as he brought his gaze from the house to me. “It’s sad though. Hannah always waited for her son to come home. I know she’d be brokenhearted if she knew that he never came back before it was sold off.” He shrugged. “That woman didn’t have a lot, but what she did have, she was proud to leave to her son.”
The vice around my chest tightened. Emotion coated my throat, and I feared that if I didn’t get out of here right now, I was going to break down in front of this stranger.
I needed to get the hell out of here.
I dipped my head, thanked the man for his time, and jogged back down the street. It had been a mistake to come here. I should have stayed away.
Anxiety and regret filled my body, and I ran faster and faster to get them to leave. But no matter how fast I ran, I couldn’t outrun what that man had said.
My mom waited for me to come home…and I never did.
My throat crackled with each swallow. I cleared my throat in an effort to remove the emotions that were built up inside, but nothing I did could appease my guilt.
I was sweating when I finally got to the Godwin’s street. I didn’t stop running until I was at the end of the driveway. I was panting as I leaned forward to catch my breath. I stared at the pavement, sweat dripping down my face.
My shirt felt like it was strangling me, so I straightened and, in one swift movement, pulled it off. I gripped the fabric as I turned my attention back to the house and, for the first time, noticed a black SUV.
I frowned as I approached it. Was Kevin here?
The driver’s door opened, and a man stepped out. He was wearing a suit, and his hair was slicked back against his head. “Boone Lewis?” he asked as he stepped forward and extended his hand.
I glanced down at it but didn’t take it. “Yeah.”
He held his hand out for a few more seconds before he curled his fingers into his palm and dropped his hand. “Collin Baker. You’re a hard man to get a hold of.”
I snapped my gaze up to the Godwin’s house. Had he knocked? Did Juniper know that a Proctor lackey was currently parked in her parents’ driveway?
“What do you want?” I asked, praying that she was still asleep. I needed to get this man away from me. “I’m not selling.”
Collin was in the middle of pulling something from the inner pocket of his jacket, but my words made him pause. He glanced up at me with his eyes wide. “You haven’t even heard my offer.”
I shook my head. “Doesn’t matter. I’m not selling.” I stepped to the side. “So, you can get out of here.” I was done with him stalking me. This kind of behavior may work on other people in this town, but it wasn’t going to work on me.
“Mr. Lewis. I suggest that you listen to this offer. I’m not sure you’re going to hear it again. Besides, I’ve been to the courthouse. I know that the taxes haven’t been paid.” He leaned closer to me. “Very soon, you’re going to lose the negotiating power you seem to think you have.”
I didn’t like this man, and I didn’t like what he was implying. This was my mother’s house, and there was no way I would sell it to a man who was most likely going to bulldoze it.
I held his gaze as I leaned into him. “I’m not selling,” I said before I sidestepped him, crossed the yard, and went up the front porch steps.
My mind was racing and my ears ringing as I pulled open the front door and stepped inside. I pulled the door closed behind me and glanced up only to stop in my tracks.
Juniper was standing in the doorway to the kitchen. Her satin robe was open, exposing the short satin pajama set she was wearing. Her long, creamy legs had me swallowing. Her hair billowed around her shoulders, and she was carrying a mug in her hands.
Her eyebrows were drawn together. “Where were you?” she asked softly before she tipped her focus to the front window, which currently showed Collin pulling out of the driveway. “Who was that?”
I shook my head, not wanting to talk. My emotions were a wreck, and I needed a shower to clear my head. “Wrong house,” I said as I made my way across the living room.
I could feel Juniper’s gaze on me as I walked past her to the hallway. I felt horrible for brushing her off like this, but I wasn’t ready to talk to anyone about what had happened at my mother’s or the fact that the Proctor family seemed to think they could get what they wanted by harassing me.
They were pushing me, and I was a man who would not be pushed.
Juniper didn’t respond, but I really didn’t give her a chance to. I shut the door on her surprised expression, pulled open the shower curtain, and flipped the water on. I planted my fists down on the vanity and tipped my head forward as I let steam fill the air around me.
I closed my eyes, hating that I’d started this morning out trying to clear my head, and I only managed to muck it up that much more.
