“The trust gives you a layer of protection,” Bruce explains. “I’ve also created an LLC for you. Lucky Irish Holdings now owns the corporation that owns the building. There are forty-seven other apartments in the building. Like yours, seven others are owned. Forty are rented. We’ve set it up so that the rent, lease, tax and maintenance payments are paid directly into your trust’s bank account. After the property taxes, maintenance, upkeep expenses, and the salaries of the personnel, the trust will receive a monthly after-tax income of approximately five hundred thousand dollars.”
“What?”
“All I need is your signature on pages three, seven, and twelve.”
“How did you do all this?” I ask, mostly to Noah, but also to Bruce. “Today?”
Bruce takes this as a compliment. “My team works fast.”
I stare at the stack of papers.
“If you prefer to have it looked over, that’s fine,” Bruce says. “But I can assure you it’s airtight.”
Just say yes.
I pick up the pen and sign on all three dotted lines.What is this life?
“That’s everything, then.” Bruce stands, gathers up the paperwork and starts putting it back into his briefcase.
Bruce shakes my hand, then Noah’s, and heads for the door.
“It was nice meeting you, Lucky. Oh, and, Noah, Cash heard through the grapevine that Ashton Holdings was getting ready to accept a new offer.”
“He heard about that?” Noah doesn’t seem surprised.
“Yeah. And he, um…well, he heard that you might be involved in it, and he was fairly insistent about gettingallthe information out of me. You probably have a few missed calls. All three of your brothers are on their way over here.”
36
As soon asthe door closes behind Bruce, Noah turns to me. He gazes at me like I’m the only thing he can see and the only thing he cares about.
His palm slides along my jaw, weaving under my hair to grip the nape of my neck. It’s a thing he does, a slow, powerful reminder of his strength and his barely-controlled vigor. Every time he does it, I go wet for him.
I love how handsome he is, how big and unashamedly rugged, even though heshouldn’tbe rugged. He can’t help it. He’s a ridiculously sexy, manly hunk, who’d fit in just as easily wrangling bucking broncos on some wild Wyoming ranch as he would in a Manhattan boardroom. It was one of the first things I noticed about him, and its effect only compounds itself.
Most of all, I love how he makes me feel alive in a way I’ve never experienced. He’s woken up a part of me—my lucky, Irish wild side—that was always hidden in there somewhere but never had a chance to find the light of day. Like a seed that, under his blazing August sun, has not only sprouted, but has found her full, noon-time bloom. “I can’t believe you just did all that.”
He kisses me. “My little dream girl is getting good at saying yes.”
“When have I ever said no to you, Noah Steel?”
“I didn’t want you to start now. I was prepared to go to a billion to knock those bad boys off your wildest dreams list.”
“You’re crazy.”He’s a gem and a keeper. Hang on to him with everything you’ve got.I already knew that, Enid, but thanks for the tip.
“Crazy for you, baby girl.” His hand tangles in my hair, the other pulling me against his big, hard body.
“Your brothers are coming over?” I gasp.
“Sounds like it. Cash is probably going to blow a major gasket but just ignore him. I’d lock them out but Colton knows the code.”
He claims me with his mouth, the kiss turning slippery and greedy.
We’re so caught up in the kiss, it takes us a few seconds to register a sound. Of someone clearing his throat. “Eh-ehm. Hello-o-o.” I recognize it as Colton’s voice.
We break the kiss and turn to see…a whole bunch of people standing there staring at us. Taking in every detail of the way I’m practically wrapped around Noah and his hands are gripping my ass.
Slowly, we disengage. Noah’s arm goes around me. His stance is protective, like he’s shielding me. “To what do we owe the astounding pleasure of this unannounced visit by my entire family?” Noah asks sarcastically.