Nash sighs and rubs a hand up and down my arm, trying to warm me as I shiver. “It’s a terrible flaw, but I’ll try to overlook the fact that you’re incredibly rich.”
I pinch his side, and he yelps.
“Magnolia, the reason I think you’re the perfect person to inherit it all is that you don’t chase this stuff. In all the time I’ve known you, you’ve never been a clout chaser or obsessed with money. I know you’ll make good decisions on how to handle it. And you don’t have to have it figured out right away.”
I snuggle closer to him, stealing more of his body heat. “Can we move to Pine Ridge tomorrow?”
He laughs. “I still have to get a few things straightened away, but I’m ready when you are.”
“Maybe if we change our names and dye our hair, we won’t have to sort out your grandpa’s money.”
Nash leans around to press a kiss against my lips. “I’m afraid that’s just wishful thinking. I know my grandpa; he’d chase after you with suitcases full of cash.”
That mental image is too funny to ignore, and I find myself giggling.
“Come on. You need some food. It’s dinnertime, and it’s cold out here.”
“But it’s a good excuse to snuggle,” I remind him.
He has a wolfish grin as he leans back against the bench. “Then by all means, let’s stay out here a little longer.”
CHAPTER 37
Nash
I walk outof the kitchen, where I’ve been making dinner, and almost run into Grandpa, who’s coming down the hall.
“I thought Magnolia was still here.” Grandpa looks around like I’ve hidden her somewhere. “Where is she?”
“She was just here. But she might have stepped out to take a call. I think her mom called earlier.”
Grandpa looks at me sharply. “Really? That’s strange. I thought I’d heard a man’s voice. Have you been in the kitchen for a while?”
“The last thirty minutes. Magnolia stepped out only a few minutes ago.”
Grandpa shakes his head. “I could have sworn I’d heard another voice when I was coming down the stairs.”
His eyes are clear, and he looks healthy as can be, so I have no reason to assume he’s confused. “We’ll go find her,” I assure him.
Together, we walk down the hall toward the living room and front entrance.
The front door opens, and Harper hurries inside, a frown on her face. “Where’s Dad?”
“Kevin’s here?” I ask a little sharply.
Harper looks at me with wide eyes. “Nash, I’ve never seen him like that. He came home ranting. He was irrational. I mean, more than usual. We went on home ahead of him from the ranch today. And when he met us at the house, he didn’t even bother coming inside. He left again. Mom’s worried he’s going to make a scene, so she sent me to make sure he wasn’t here.”
They live five minutes down the road, so it’s not like a big event to turn around and come back. But it does make me wonder what kind of scene Kevin could make. If he doesn’t mind pulling fire alarms and trying to manipulate attorneys…what else would he do?
“Where’s Magnolia?” Harper asks quietly.
Magnolia. The person who Kevin would probably point all his anger at if he had a chance.
“I didn’t see him come in,” I say.
“He was really mad.” She looks down at the floor and says quietly, “The real reason we’re back is Max kicked us all out after he saw what Dad did to the house.”
I rub a hand over my face. If Kevin threw a tantrum bad enough to get a rise out of Max…it must be bad.
