Page 63 of Here With You

Miles looked between her and Darryl. “Okay, let me explain something before you jump to conclusions. Remember when you asked me why The Kessler, and I said I was talking to Carter about it, and you assumed I was talking about managing it? I was looking to buy it.”

Her jaw went slack. “But you’re managing it. Besides, how could you afford a property like this?” Her eyes went wide. “Oh my God. You actually won the lotto?”

He nodded. “I did.”

“I want five million for my share of the ranch,” Darryl said.

“Deal, now go away.” Darryl got up, and Miles turned back to her. “That day I saw you in the hospital, I knew we weren’t finished, so I did what I had to do to get close to you. Carter and Brie weren’t sure they wanted to sell, and they weren’t sure I’d want to buy, so they asked me to manage it as a ‘try before you buy’ deal while they were on their honeymoon.”

She stared at him and tried to process everything he was telling her. He was rich.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

She watched him take three deep breaths. “When you turned me away all those years ago, I thought it was because I had lost everything and only had my love to offer. If you were going to love me now, I didn’t want my newly gained windfall to be the reason.”

She took his hand. “I didn’t let you go because you were poor. Leaving without a cent was worrying, but I didn’t go with you because I was an idiot. I put more value into my parents’ dream than I did mine. There’s been no one but you, Miles. When you left, you took my heart with you, and I didn’t feel whole until the day you returned.”

“Did you think that I might have burned The Brown down to get you to leave it?”

“No,” she lied. She would like to say the thought hadn’t entered her mind, but it had, even though it was a ridiculous notion. There was no way Miles would ruin her life just to improve his. It wasn’t in his nature. “What do I do now?”

“Nothing. Just let it soak in and mourn the loss. I’m sure Brie and Carter will let us stay with them until you decide what you want to do. Insurance should probably cover a rebuild, but if it doesn’t, I’ll cover the costs.”

“Wow, I keep forgetting I have a rich boyfriend.”

He took both of her hands in his. “I don’t want to be your boyfriend, Emmaline.”

Her heart stopped beating. Was this where he realized she came with too much baggage? Maybe he finally understood that she was nothing without The Brown. It defined who she was, and now that it was gone, she wasn’t sure where she fit in. “You’re breaking up with me?”

He laughed so loud that it scared the seagulls on the beach into flight. “Are you kidding? I gave you up once. I’m never giving you up again. I don’t want you as a girlfriend. I want you as a wife.”

She sat up straight. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

He brought her hands to his lips and kissed both. “I don’t have a ring, but I can buy you whatever you want.”

“I don’t need a ring.”

He shook his head. “Oh yes, you do. I want everyone who sees your left hand to know you’re taken. Hell, I’d tattoo ‘Property of Miles McClintock’ across your forehead if you’d let me.”

“No way, all tattoos fade over time, and I don’t look good in faded colors. I only wore that pale pink the other day to make you regret you left me. In truth, I’ve grown into a jewel tone girl.”

“If I remember correctly, your color is diamond.”

Despite the sadness that threatened to overwhelm her, she laughed. “I don’t know how you can make me smile when I’ve lost everything.”

He thumbed up her chin, so she was looking into his eyes. “You lost nothing. This is all stuff, and it can be replaced. We have each other, and that’s everything.”

A shadow fell over them, and when she looked up, she saw Carter and Brie.

“When we left, I knew you two hotheads would battle it out, but I never thought you’d burn the place down,” Brie said. She kneeled and pulled Emmaline in for a hug. “I’m sorry about the loss.”

Carter looked behind him and smiled. “I guess this means The Kessler just moved into the number one spot to stay in Willow Bay.”

Brie slugged him in the arm. “How can you joke when my aunt just lost everything?”

Emmaline took a minute to process what she wanted to say. “Everything is right here.” She stared at what was left. “Who we are was never in that building. Never forget that. We can rebuild if you want.” She turned to Brie. “You’re a half owner.”

Brie laughed. “Half owner of nothing is still nothing.”

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