Page 66 of Perfect Pact

“Good. I happen to think you’re a very lucky lady also.” Dusty smirks, tugging on the end of the sheet. “How about you see how lucky you are and get back in the bed.” He waggles his brows. “Finish what we started.”

“I wish I could.” I sigh.

“What’s that about?” He points to my mouth.

“What do you mean?”

“The sigh. Why are you sighing?”

I sit back down on the bed. “You’re right. I shouldn’t wait. I was given this chance for a reason, but at the same time, what if I just postponed it for a few months until these collection companies report my debt was paid in full? Maybe if I apply again, I can get what I originally wanted.”

“How much more do you need?”

“Twenty thousand. I have the ten thousand your grandfather left me, but I was hoping to use that to live on until I started to generate income.”

I run the numbers in my head to see if that’s even a solution.

“Shit!” I bury my head in my hands. “I won’t even have that much.”

“Beth, please don’t worry about anything. This is a non-issue.” Dusty scoots to the end of the bed and pulls me into his strong arms.

“How can you say that?” I nuzzle his neck, drawing comfort from not only his words, but the warmth. “I have a divorce to pay for.”

“Nope. No ex talk today. He made his bed, and I’ll make sure he dies in it,” Dusty spits out. “That man isn’t going to touch a single penny of yours.”

“How?”

“I happen to know someone.”

“Lance.” I totally forgot about him, but there’s no way he’ll want to deal with my bullshit for free.

“Yeah—let my brother take care of him, and I’ll take care of you.”

I know this is something I’ll have to get used to. Being taken care of.

“Starting with the money. Let me give you the loan. Interest free.”

“You don’t have that kind of…” I pause, forgetting Mr. Jacobs left him the house and a couple million.

“Did you just remember?”

“Yup.”

He tilts his head back and laughs.

“Still…I can’t take your money. What if this doesn’t work out?”

Dusty gasps and clutches his chest. “You’re breakin’ my heart with all this what-if talk.”

“It could happen.” I look up into his eyes, and something changes. He’s serious.

“Never. So, use me as your very own personal piggy bank, and as far as living expenses, it only makes sense for you to move in.”

“Whoa.” I reach up and put an arm’s distance between us. “This talk just turned serious.”

“Darlin’, this turned serious the moment you accepted my date.” He smiles, and my heart melts.

“Oh…”

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