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Erika’s eyes fell on the box before lifting them to stare at Ryan, who stepped up to her and took her hands into his own. “I always adored you, you know that. But I thought you’d probably make a better sister.”
She smiled and leaned forward to kiss him on the cheek. Sad irony was that could never be. Then Ryan shocked her completely by saying, “There should be enough money in here to refund your grandfather’s trust fund.”
Erika gasped. “How did you know?”
He made a face. “I had my suspicions when you ran out of the church. I knew you loved Jay and he loved you, so something didn’t add up. Thankfully, when I approached Mr. Lyndon, he was very forthcoming.”
Her eyes shifted to the man himself as he stood among the crowd. So much for client confidentiality. He offered an apologetic shrug and she returned it with a smile. “Is it true?”
The lawyer nodded and stepped toward Erika and Jay. “Consider debt repaid in full.”
With glowing eyes, she turned to Jay who looked down at her with such a stunned look. She reached up and kissed him hard on the lips. It must have done the trick for he blinked and grinned like a silly boy. Wrapping his arm around her waist, he turned to the gathering and told them, “Thank you. All of you. Your kindness and generosity have touched me deeply.”
“We’re only repaying the kindness you have shown us all these years,” someone said.
One of the widowed sisters from the outlying farms came forward. “You mean so much to this community, Jay. We wanted to show you how much we care and appreciate all you’ve done for us.”
Erika felt her heart swell and looked up into Jay’s face. She was shocked to his eyes glistening. Giving him a squeeze, she felt all warm inside when he gave her a responding one in return.
Then everyone came up to Jay and started talking to him all at once, so Erika used the opportunity to slip away. Finding Mr. Lyndon, she pulled him aside.
“Just to let you know, since my trust fund has been fully restored, it is with great pleasure that I decline my grandfather’s inheritance.”
He actually grinned. “I figured as much. But, you might be interested to know. I gave your grandfather’s papers a thorough look and found a small loophole. He specifically mentions you forfeit your trust fund if you marry a Colby, but makes no mention of his companies. So, in fact, you are the sole owner of his businesses and estates. That is until, of course, you marry. At which time your husband will take ownership.”
Stunned, she stared at him, not sure if she was happy or not about this bit of information. Jay suddenly appeared at her side, slipping his arm around her once more.
“What’s going on?”
She turned to him and broke out into a smile. “I hope you intend to marry me now, Jay Colby.”
He chuckled softly. “It seems I have no choice.”
Erika grinned in return, and then turned fully into his embrace. “You always have the choice, but it will make your task of destroying the gambling resort that more difficult.”
Obviously puzzled, he simply shook his head.
“It seems as my husband you will finally be able to take control of how my grandfather was running this town.”
His brow lifted and he looked slightly interested, but it was gone and replaced with a look of love. “Right now, the only thing on my mind is finding a quiet spot where we can finish what we started earlier.”
She studied his face. So strong and handsome. In her mind, she had always known that he would make a great leader. Too, perhaps, her grandfather had known. It would explain why the younger but more powerful man had threatened him.
Her eyes fell on the gathering crowd and knew Jay had something Gerald Snowden never possessed. Respect and love from the people of this town.
Though her grandfather had tried to stop Jay from achieving any success in Placid, he had unknowingly passed the reign over to him. Erika felt pity for her grandfather all at once, for he had never bothered to come and understand Jay. To realize what a truly remarkable man he was.
