Page 33 of Property of my Boss

“Paperwork?”

“Yes!” Sheriff Williams nods. “We talked about it yesterday. You wanted to sell me the campground for the youth program Mira and I are going to run.”

I glance down at the contract offering one hundred thousand dollars. It’s far less than this place is worth, but I know what he’s doing.

He glances toward Bowers and the ass as though he’s oblivious to what’s going on. “These guys are making a killing on me, but this place is going to do some real good for the community. I can already see the city kids down here learning how to start fires and roast marshmallows.”

This is robbery, but it’s the only choice we have.

Atlas bumps my shoulder and tugs me aside. “We should do it.”

“We would get four times this,” I whisper low. “Maybe five.”

Atlas rolls his eyes and tugs his hair up off his shoulders. “What good is any of that going to do us in prison?”

He’s not wrong. I know that, but fuck.

“We’ll sign the paperwork,” Atlas says, reaching for the sheriff’s folder. “Thanks for stopping by.”

His name is in ink within seconds, and soon he’s handing everything to me.

“There’s cash in my truck to cover the payment.” The sheriff clears his throat. “I figured this was easiest given Mira and I would like to take ownership as quickly as possible. We’d like to get a few rounds of kids down here before the snow flies.”

This feels a lot like making a deal with the devil, but up until recently, my life’s been hell, so I guess this is how it was always meant to be. I lean against the shaky porch rail and sign my name beneath Atlas’ signature, transferring ownership of the campground to the sheriff.

That’s it… it’s over. Whatever we were doing here… is over. The campground and the business… Serenity Pines now belongs to someone else.

That reality is still hitting me as the sheriff sets a duffle of cash on the porch and drives away.

“Looks like your Hail Mary came through,” the asshole says, his tone sharp as he lifts the bag and walks away. “This is the last you’ll hear of us. Good luck, guys.”

In less than twenty minutes, we’ve lost both our home and our livelihood. Some might say we deserve it. Hell, I might say that, but fuck if it still doesn’t sting.

“What are you going to do about your family’s property? I have fifty grand you can have, but—”

“No thanks. I need to take a walk, man. I’ll catch up with you.” Jaw clenched, Atlas hops off the side porch and makes his way across the field toward the back trail where the waterfall is flowing extra hard this time of year.

What the hell am I going to do?

I’ve barely started thinking about the next step when the cabin door cracks open and my sweet, nosy, little princess steps out, wiping her eyes as though she’s been sleeping.

“You can ditch the innocent act. When did you have time to call your brother?”

“What?” she says sweetly, tipping up onto her toes in front of me for a kiss. “What are you talking about? Did the men come to get their money?”

I nod. “When did you call your brother?”

There’s a long pause where she only stares up at me. “Last night before we got into bed. I only told him you were in trouble and that you needed some help. He fought me on it, but… I love you, Tucker. I had to do—”

“You love me?” My chest tightens as I stare down at everything I’ve ever wanted.

“Yeah,” she nods, swallowing the lump in her throat, “I love you. I don’t want you to go back to prison. Not now, not ever, so… I called my brother, and he said he’d think of something. What did he do?”

Another cool breeze passes through, knocking the wind chimes together.

“He bought the campground from me. Said he was going to use it for that youth center he and Mira wanted to start.”

“What? He bought the campground?” She pushes her hand back through her hair as the wind gusts. “I’m guessing he took it for a steal, didn’t he?”