Page 28 of Love at First Swim
Gunner let out a snort and she turned her glare on him, “Kadence, that is your name right?”
She gave a tight nod, “I didn’t know it was her shop. That it was you. I was just trying to clean up that part of town, and I did it wrong. I am sorry. I never meant to catch my mermaid up in anything. She is everything to me. Has been since I laid eyes on her.”
Kadence scoffed, “Yesterday? Nice try. I know how lust works.”
Raiden let out a growl and she shook her head at him, and ignored him.
Gunner walked to his desk, turning his monitor around, and then picking up the picture frame from his desk.
He also turned on his phone and showed her the picture there.
Kadence’s jaw dropped open when she saw all the pictures and she searched his eyes, “When did you get this?”
Gunner gave a small smile, “She was at my niece’s birthday party a few weeks ago. The second I saw her picture, I knew she was it. That she was meant to be mine. Hoping and praying I could find her myself. But she found me. I never thought that the connection I felt to a picture would manifest so strongly with her in real life. Yet, it did. She is mine. As I am hers. And I will never build another thing ever again to get her to see how much she means. I will do everything in my power to never let her come to harm ever again. I already had Miles find a new spot to build the mall and we have pledged money to fix the neighborhood there.”
Kadence let out a small sigh, “Damn it. Why do you have to be so nice? What was with the guy yesterday then?”
Gunner shook his head, “That was a man angered by the fact that my company wouldn’t hire him because he is a bad man who hurts those who are innocent. He broke into my building and stole my files of your shop, knowing it would hurt me. Hurt her because she was seen with me.”
Raiden came up behind Kadence, “Fairy, what can we do to help you? To help your friend? Gunner has never in his life hurt the innocent and with your shop, we didn’t know just how much we were hurting you.”
Kadence turned and her head dropped back, staring up at his best friend.
She shrugged, “I don’t know. We have been struggling to pay for what we need. And we need the shop to be fixed up better. We also need an employee that can help us with whatever. It’s hard on just Arielle and I. She works too much. Into the night a lot of days and then is back first thing in the morning. She is tired.”
Gunner felt his body go still, hating that she worked too much.
“Done. Raiden, your team needs to find out what you can to fix up the shop, and I want you to do what you can for the rest of the shops in that section. I know most couldn’t afford the rent, and that needs to be remedied.”
Raiden nodded, “Come on Fairy. We have work to do.”
He grabbed her hand and she spluttered, “But,” then they were gone and he turned to Miles.
“Find out everything you can about Arielle’s business. What loans she has and pay them. Make sure she has a business account that is fully paid for by me. And then go to the fabric store and start a tab. She needs to be able to go when she needs to get whatever.”
Miles nodded and the phone rang, which Gunner answered, “Gunner.”
It was Steele. “Boss, we got him. We found more files in his house and an article that one of the houses he built and signed off on, collapsed, killing a young man. The judge was all too willing to sign a warrant for his arrest and he is in the police station as we speak.”
Gunner felt a weight lift from his shoulders, and he sat down, “Did he fight it?”
“A bit. But the cops knew about the houses and apparently, those particular men had been on the scene of the house collapse. No one came forward and they couldn’t find Neil. He skipped town for a bit. So this was closure for them.”
“Good. Thank you Steele. Is my woman okay?”
Steele sighed, “Crew has been watching her. She looked exhausted this morning. And her eyes were red and puffy.”
“Shit. I have to go.”
He stood, hanging up the phone and then walking from his office, not caring if he had meetings.
He had to fix things with his girl.
He stopped by the jewelry store and finding the perfect ring for his Queen. And then he was off to the flower shop. Ordering every single flower they had.
Then he went and changed into his tuxedo.
When he pulled up in front of Arielle’s shop, he saw the flowers all over the shop and the floor in every single available inch of space.
