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He moved to the other side of the coffee table. He knelt down. “That key goes with one of these.” He reached out to the first package and lifted the box.
What was beneath the fancy wrapping was a model of a building. She could only surmise that it was a replica of Toliver Tower. She wanted to hate it, she really did. But it was a pretty building. It had modern lines but historical characteristics. It wasn’t the cold, nondescript building that she’d imagined. Someone had taken their time in designing it.
Then without a word, Graham lifted the lid on the other package to reveal a model of the Stirling—the place she’d called home all of her life. She marveled at the exactness of the miniature, right down to the bushes next to the front door.
Her gaze lifted. “They are amazing.”
He nodded and then came to sit beside her. “The m
an who makes them is a real artist. But I didn’t bring them here for you to merely admire. Back when you made me that deal, I was so sure I knew what I wanted in life. I knew I didn’t want to repeat my parents’ mistakes. And truth be told, I didn’t repeat theirs. I made all of my own mistakes. I thought for so long that I could have only one thing or the other, but I never thought I could have both.”
Her heart started to beat faster. She told herself not to get too excited because she didn’t want to get her heart broken. But she knew it was too late for that. She was totally invested in this—in them. But she needed him to spell it out to her in detail.
“Graham, I don’t know what you’re trying to tell me. Have both what?”
“The business, it’s all I’ve thought of since I was a kid. I needed to prove myself to my father, but most of all, I needed to prove to myself that I was good enough to be CEO. And I did, but I found out that being a success in the business world wasn’t as fulfilling as I’d thought it would be. I need someone to share it with.”
“But you did it. You pushed through the sale of the Stirling in record time, and your building—” she glanced at the coffee table where the replicas sat “—will be completed ahead of schedule. It’s everything you wanted. Your name will be on the building and your board has to be duly impressed.”
“But they aren’t who I want to impress. That’s what I’m trying to tell you in my fumbled way. It means nothing without you. I love you, Alina.”
Had she really heard him correctly? “You...you do?”
He nodded. “I fell for you that first day in the café.”
“You did?”
He smiled at her as he took her hand in his, his thumb gently stroking her skin. “Why else would I take you up on that arrangement to take over the handyman duties when I didn’t have a clue what I was doing?”
“You didn’t seem terribly lost.”
“That’s because I had YouTube videos to guide me and real handymen on speed dial when I got myself in a jam.”
“But you never complained.”
“And take a chance of you firing me? No way. I was having too much fun getting to know you. The better I got to know you and the residents of the Stirling, the more everything started to change.”
“You mean you finally figured out what’s so special about this place?”
He nodded. “I did. Now I have a question for you. In which of these two—” he gestured to the buildings “—would you like to spend your future?”
She looked at him. Then she turned to the building models. And then she gazed back to him. “I thought you’d already made up your mind. The Stirling needs too many repairs.”
“And if you want to remain here, I’ll see that the repairs are done. It may not be pretty for a while and I can assure you it will be noisy, but I will make it happen.”
Her gaze searched his. She had to be imagining all of this. He couldn’t be serious. “But all of your plans...”
“Plans are made to be changed.”
With each word he spoke, she was falling further in love with him. “But this is your chance to make your mark on the company.”
“And you’ve taught me there’s more to life than business. Something my mother tried to tell me years ago, but I was too stubborn to hear.”
Hope bloomed in her chest. “Does this mean you spoke to your mother?”
“I did. We had a long conversation and we’re getting together for the holidays. She’s eager to meet you.”
“I’m so happy for both of you.”
