“Let me ask you this, and look me in the eyes when you answer. If you could choose one, Lottie, or the acquisition with me, what would it be?”
“Lottie.” I look him straight in the eye. “Lottie. She is everything. I don’t know how it came to this, how I fell for a girl so fast, so hard, that I actually feel physical pain from losing her, but here I am, a desperate asshole willing to do anything to get her back.”
That brings a smile to his face. Dave leans forward and holds his hand out to me while he says, “This might surprise you, Huxley, and in some ways, it surprises me too, but you have a deal.”
“What?” I ask, awkwardly taking his hand, unsure what we’re shaking on. Dwayne said he was developing the land with him. How is this happening?
Dave stands from his chair and buttons his suit jacket. “Your brothers were right. I wasn’t sure I wanted to make a deal with someone I didn’t quite know. I wasn’t sure you were going to develop the lots into something I could consciously be okay with. I’ve been incredibly disappointed in deals I’ve made in the past, promises that weren’t kept. It’s why I spoke with Dwayne. I knew you’d be working with him. I wanted to see if your plans were feasible. I wanted to see if he knew about you and Lottie. I wanted to see what kind of deal I might be getting myself into. But when Dwayne genuinely looked surprised to hear about you and Lottie, I knew, even though you were lying, you weren’t making me into a laughingstock.”
“Fuck, I would never. If anyone is going to be laughed at, it’s me. I had all my employees sign an NDA—even Lottie was under an NDA. And those who didn’t have an NDA believed we were actually engaged. She moved into my home and everything. Trust me, I didn’t want this getting out.”
“I believe you,” Dave says confidently. “It’s why the lots are yours. I’ll have my lawyers work with your lawyers on the details. I’m trusting that you’re not lying to me now, and that you’ll follow through on the terms of our agreement.”
“I will. It’s not in my nature to lie, Dave. I honestly felt wretched every time we pretended around you. Lottie and I both did. So, I won’t let you down in your trust in me.”
“I feel confident in you. Now. And maybe another man would’ve told you to fuck off, but I find the whole scenario quite fascinating, and I’ve enjoyed seeing you change. You were a hard man to understand before, but Lottie has smoothed out your rough edges. You understand your priorities now. And frankly, you’re more relatable. I’ve had some fun times, not only watching you struggle, but also having some honest conversations with you. You’ve grown, Huxley, and I do consider you a friend, even if under some false pretenses. I only hope you can fix things with Lottie, because we truly did enjoy your company.”
“Wow,” I say. “I honestly wasn’t expecting you to say that. I thought this conversation would go a completely different direction, and I was ready to beg and plead with you.”
Dave glances at his watch. “I have about five minutes if you want to get down on your knees and do a little begging.” He chuckles and I nervously laugh, because, hell, I would’ve done it. “But in all seriousness, I can’t stop thinking about seeing you two interact after the baby class. I knew you’d changed. I knew you’d gentled. Your severity had disappeared, and I appreciated that. I enjoyed the transformation, and I hope it continues. You’re a good man, Huxley. Now, figure out a way to fix this with Lottie, because I know Ellie is going to want you two over for a celebratory dinner.”
“That would be great, Dave. Thank you. Truly, thank you for everything.”
He heads toward my office door. “I’m a pretty understanding guy who can find joy in almost every situation. But know, you probably won’t see the same respect from other business associates, so I’d keep the fake fiancée and fake pregnancy thing out of business deals from here on out.”
“Trust me, never again.”
“Good to hear. We’ll be in touch.” He offers me a wave and then takes off. When I know he’s farther down the hall, I slump in my chair and let out a pent-up breath.
Holy.
Fucking.
Shit.
After a few minutes, Breaker and JP come barreling into my office.
“Oh fuck, he doesn’t look good,” Breaker says. “Is that sweat on his brow?”
JP takes a step closer. “Fuck, it is sweat. He doesn’t ever sweat.”
“What happened? Are we ruined?” Breaker asks.
I clasp my hands together and chuckle.
“He’s laughing. Is that a good laugh or a he’s lost his mind laugh?” Breaker asks.
“Sounds slightly maniacal. I think he’s lost it,” JP answers.
“He’s signing the deal.”
“What?” Breaker and JP say at the same time.
“I don’t have time to talk about it. I have to figure out how to fix things with Lottie. That’s what I care about.” I stand and push my hand through my hair. “Fuck, I don’t even know where to start.”
“You can’t half-ass it,” Breaker says.
“You went all in on this contract with her, might as well go all in on a relationship,” JP says, laughing.
But a light bulb goes off in my head.
“I have an idea,” I say as I go to my desk to pocket my phone and keys. “Have the lawyers connect with Dave’s lawyers. I’ll give you a call while I’m in my car to explain everything.”
And without a goodbye, I head out of my office and past Karla.
I have some shit to do before tonight.
Chapter Twenty-Three
LOTTIE
“What am I doing, Kelsey?” I ask, staring out the window, the rich, elegant homes in The Flats passing me by.
“You’re going to hear him out,” she says through the phone, her calming voice doing nothing to soothe my raging nerves.
I got a text from Huxley a few hours ago telling me a car would be at Kelsey’s to pick me up at six thirty and that he hoped I got in the car. I almost texted him that I’d changed my mind, that I couldn’t make it to dinner because the thought of seeing his face tonight made me nauseous.
But Kelsey made me take a few deep breaths, she talked me through the positives, and told me that the reason I was so upset was because I loved him, and that upset feeling wasn’t going to go away until I listened to what he had to say.
At the time, I thought she was right. Now that I’m nearing his place, I’m starting to think maybe she was wrong.
“I don’t feel pretty. He’s going to think I look like a mess.”
“You look freaking amazing, and who cares if you do look like a mess? If he loves you, he’ll think you look beautiful no matter how tear-streaked your cheeks are.”
“I should’ve dressed up. I should’ve done my makeup.”
“You couldn’t stop crying long enough to do your makeup. Remember? We tried, it just smeared down your face.”
“This was a mistake, Kelsey. I really don’t think I should do this. I’m not ready.”
“I’m not sure if you will ever be ready, Lottie.”
“I feel broken inside,” I say softly. “I don’t think I’ve ever felt like this before. When Angela fired me, I thought that was rock bottom, but that feeling is nothing compared to this. I thought we had something, and then he just ripped that away from me.” I suck in a deep breath as a lone tear falls down my cheek. “I’m not sure how to wash away that feeling.”