Mrs. Robin's Sons by Kori Roberts (free children's online books .TXT) 📗

But her words died in her throat when she saw the look of genuine curiosity in his expression — mixed with a little envy, and a lot of longing — as he stared back at her. “It feels…right,” she finally responded. After a minute, Ethan gave her a brief nod.

“Well.” He cleared his throat and glanced out of the cab window. “We’re almost at the hotel. Let’s talk about how we can get you that Weisman property.”

By the time the cab pulled up in front of the hotel, they’d discussed Rylee’s plans for the place and her offer.

“So, you’re sure this is what you really want to do?” Ethan asked her again as they walked through the hotel lobby toward the elevators that led to her apartment.

“Yes, I’m positive,” she confirmed with a smile.

“Okay, I’ll contact the Weisman family tomorrow to discuss your offer. I’ll call you afterward to let you know how it went.”

They reached the elevators, and Rylee turned to him as she pressed the elevator button.

“I think I owe you an apology, Ethan,” she admitted. “I realize now that underneath that asshole persona there really is a decent human being.”

“Shh!” Ethan said in mock horror and took an exaggerated look around the lobby.

“Don’t let anybody hear you say that. It’ll ruin my reputation as a badass forever.”

Rylee laughed. “Fine, but I do want to thank you for agreeing to help me.”

“Don’t thank me too soon,” Ethan warned. “I still have to convince the Weismans to accept your offer. Although, I think they’ll like your plans for the place a lot more than the idea of some big time developer coming in and destroying it to put up a bunch of pricey town homes.”

“I’m not worried,” Rylee assured him. “I may have questioned your ability to be a good fiancé and husband, but I’ve never doubted your skills as an attorney and negotiator.”

Ethan’s face suddenly became serious. “I might not be as good a negotiator as you think. I mean, I couldn’t convince you to stay with me, could I?”

“Ethan…” Rylee was taken aback by the intense expression she saw on his face, and she didn’t quite know how to respond. “It’s fine.” He smiled suddenly, but Rylee noticed that his eyes remained sad.

“Thank you,” she said softly.

Ethan’s hand reached up, and he caressed her face. “I hope that son of a bitch knows just how lucky he is.”

“I’m the one who’s lucky.” Rylee stepped away from his touch and into the waiting elevator. “Good night, Ethan. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

Once the doors were closed, Rylee leaned against the elevator walls and tried to control the nervous excitement racing through her. Since the first moment she’d laid eyes on the ranch in Wisconsin, she knew immediately that she had to have it. It was the answer she’d been looking for, a way to continue the work she loved, and be closer to the two men she loved at the same time.

Rylee pictured the property and couldn’t help but smile. Everything about it was perfect, from its size to its location. And, with the right amount of renovations, it was going to make a great bed-and-breakfast. And, more importantly, it was only thirty minutes away from Nick and Noah.

Rylee sighed. At least one of the toughest parts was over now that she’d managed to convince Ethan to help her. Now all she could do was hope that he was as good at his job as she believed he was.

That thought brought on another round of worries. Rylee knew that even if the

Weismans agreed to sell the property to her, she’d still need more money to meet her own offer.

She thought about the part-time job she was going to start that week at a nightclub not far from the hotel. It was owned by an ex-boyfriend of hers, and he needed a manager to cover the weekends. Thankfully, their relationship had ended on good terms, and he still liked and trusted her enough to hire her for the job. The pay was extremely generous, and Rylee knew that he was paying her more than he should for the job she’d be doing. But, as badly as she needed the extra cash at the moment, she wasn’t about to complain about it.

The additional income she earned there would help supplement the line of credit she’d secured from her bank and the money from her own personal savings and investment accounts. It would give her more than enough money to cover her offer, and still be able to complete all of the renovations that she wanted to have done.

The elevator doors opened on her floor, and Rylee walked down the hall to her

apartment. As she let herself inside and headed toward her bedroom, Rylee couldn’t help but think that this was probably one of the last nights that she’d get a full night’s rest for a while.

But the lack of sleep would be well worth the sacrifice, if everything worked out in the end.

“When everything works out.” She spoke out loud in the quiet room. It just had to.

Rylee couldn’t afford to believe otherwise. The alternative was more than she could bear to think about.

Chapter Twenty-one

“Damn!” Noah walked into the house just as Nick swore and threw the cordless phone onto the couch.

“What’s wrong?” he asked as he walked pass.

“Rylee.” Noah paused halfway to his room and turned to look at Nick.

“Please don’t tell me she’s working,” Nick heard the disappointment in Noah’s voice.

“Not this weekend.”

Nick just nodded as he sighed and sat down heavily on the couch. He rested his head in his hands. It seemed that lately, Rylee spent less and less time with them.

He’d been living for this one weekend, had barely been able to focus on anything past that one moment when he would finally propose to Rylee. Nick thought back to the weeks he and Noah had spent shopping for just the right ring, one