Page 61 of Committed to You

Please say no.

Piper looks away and then back at me. “No.”

“Do you think it will ruin her night if I surprise her and take her?”

Piper’s face softens. “No.”

“No?”

“No.”

“Is she going to give me another chance?”

Slowly, Piper shrugs. She quietly says, “I don’t know.”

I close my eyes then look at Piper. “Okay. But either way, she won’t be upset if I show up to take her? I don’t want to ruin her big night.”

“No, she won’t be upset.”

“What color is her dress?”

Noah laughs. “It’s not a prom. You don’t need to buy her a corsage.”

“So I can coordinate my tux, dickhead.”

Piper smiles at me. “I might end up liking you after all.” Then she smirks at Noah. “Maybe you should take a note from Chase on that one.”

14

Chase

It’s early Thursday morning,and Dawn and I are the first meeting on Mayor Dixon’s schedule. He’s in his mid-fifties and has been a politician his entire life.

I had to deal with politicians to expand our operations in several states, so nothing about Mayor Dixon surprises me. As I sit in the meeting, I’m easily able to steer the conversation in my favor.

Smiling at him, I say, “I know that you’re a busy man, so let me get right to the point. I want to buy the plot of land, clean it up, and create a recreational park and community garden. I’ll escrow the funds for the cleanup to start the transfer of the property from the city to the Vivian Caras Foundation. The foundation will develop it and be responsible for the upkeep.”

From the corner of my eye, I see Dawn try to hide her confusion. I’m staring at the mayor and not going to look away until he does, so he knows I’m serious.

“The Vivian Caras Foundation?”

“Yes.”

“Vivian has a foundation?”

“She does now.”

“And you’re funding this.”

“Yes.”

The mayor sits further back in his chair. “I get the feeling she doesn’t know about this?”

“No, she doesn’t. I want to keep it that way, for now, if that is all right?”

“Sure.”

“And the park and garden are to be named after her.”

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