Page 139 of Falling Into Forever
“It’s been like that a long time,” Grady says, stopping beside me with a suitcase in each hand because I’m still not allowed to carry anything over fifteen pounds.
I stare at the second story, then let my gaze wander down the old brick exterior to where there were once large glass-plate windows in the front, and my mind instantly conjures our future.
“Do you know who owns it?” I ask.
“Yup.” Grady rocks back on his heels, giving nothing away.
Tilting my head to the left, I find him staring at me with wry amusement in his smirk. “Care to share anything about who it belongs to or if I could persuade them to sell?”
Nothing changes in his expression except for one tiny muscle twitch in his cheek. “It’s supposed to stay in the family, but the owners have had no use for it.”
“Shit,” I mumble.
“But,” he says, and I swear I can hear a grin in his words. “Since families are expanding and all that, they’d probably allow some liberties—for the right people.”
I turn to face him full-on. “You own the damn building, don’t you?”
His smirk is answer enough, but he shrugs and opens his mouth anyway. “Not only me. Adam, Harrison, and Lilly too. Well, Lilly will when she turns twenty-four. Our grandparents owned a bakery there years ago, but none of us could figure out what to do with the place because new businesses haven’t exactly been clamoring to move in. Not with the issues Faith Falls has had next door.”
Saylor told me the entire town of Faith Falls is struggling, and the poverty rates are double what they are in Hope Hollow or Chance Lake. For a community that seems to care for one another, it shocks me that an entire population would be left out to dry.
“We’re trying to rehab it,” Grady says, as if reading my mind. “There are new businesses in Chance Lake that will bring in more jobs, more opportunities. The brewery is doing outreach there too, but it’s a slow process.”
“It’s good that you’re trying,” I say.
“It is,” he says gruffly. “So, the building. What were you thinking?”
“Well, the first floor might be the perfect place for a bookstore if someone wanted to take back their home. And the second floor is the perfect size to build a publishing empire and maybe help with some PR problems on the side.”
Grady nods hesitantly. “Hear me out, okay? Kate is a pain in the ass, but I’ve seen what she’s done for Sassy’s career. It might be something to think about if you’re building an empire. She’s ruthless, don’t get me wrong, but she loves Saylor and Ainsley like sisters.”
Internally, I groan, but nod because I’ve been thinking the same thing. “We’re on the same page. I sent her some preliminary plans last night to gauge her interest.”
“You’re going to do this for real, huh?”
“Yeah. Saylor’s the only dream I’ve ever wanted. Now that I have her, I’ll spend all my time making her dreams come true. I’m not afraid of hard work, and she has the talent. Plus,” I say with a waggle of my brows, “if we’re working together, I’ll see her more.”
Grady chuckles while shaking his head. “Yeah, remember that when she’s biting your head off. You wanted this.”
That makes my smile grow. “I can’t wait.”
He claps me on the back, then drags the suitcases toward the house. When he reaches the stairs, he calls over his shoulder, “Welcome home, Dante. You may have brought a metric ton of baggage with you, but you’ve unpacked it better than I would have ever imagined. She’s lucky to have you.”
My eyes sting. I don’t need Grady Reid’s approval, but I’d be lying if I said it didn’t slam into me like something I’ve been waiting for.
Pulling out my phone, I snap a picture of the building next door. It’ll be a before picture for our office when it’s done. Then I follow Grady inside, more than ready to start my happily ever after.
CHAPTER39
SAYLOR
Labor Day Weekend
“Sassy!” Poppy squeals my name, and I curse whoever gave her sugar already. I’m not sure how this kid is so freaking happy all the freaking time, but she is, and sugar makes it worse.
I won’t admit it to anyone, but she has softened me a little. Instead of buying the Bomb Pops that taste like dirty socks and vomit for the bookstore’s Labor Day contribution, I got the sugar-infused, sickly sweet regular ones. I did it for Poppy but told everyone else it was an accident.
I have a reputation to uphold, after all.
