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“I’m still eating. Deal.”
So was he. “I named it Welcome Home. My initial venture was smaller. Done in a town that was having issues with their unhoused population. I sent in my researcher to see how many were veterans and we started there. I’ve always been interested in architecture, so I’ve been learning that as I go along.”
She sipped her soup but her eyes were locked on him. Bradford cleared his throat. Not even Livingston knew of this.
“We? Who’s we? You said that your military brother doesn’t know, does your oldest?”
“No. He doesn’t see me as anything but a playboy fuckup. If I’d told him, I think he would have tried to talk me out of it or taken over.” He curved his fingers around the cup, grateful for the warmth that helped soothe his nerves.
“Then who is we?”
“I have a board.”
“Good for you,” she praised immediately. “I don’t know a lot about it, but seems like you’ve taken all the necessary steps.”
“I keep my name out of it. Something less for my father to pervert, and if he knew, he’d try.” The growl and ice in his voice took him by surprise.
Iris didn’t speak on it, just pushed on like he’d not said anything about his father.
“Tell me about the first place.”
“We built a tiny home community.” He ate a few bites of soup. “I used local businesses for the building. If I’m helping the community, then I am actually going to help them.”
“That’s brilliant.”
He smiled at her words. “There are stipulations, of course, to being able to have a tiny home. Work is a necessity. No drugs. No crime or things like that. They are allowed to have a pet. We learned that animals are vital to most of them becoming reintegrated into civilian society.”
“What about the ones who aren’t able to work?”
He shook his head. “No. There is work to be done in the small community, and if you’re unable to hold down a job or people won’t hire you, you can work on the community garden. Become a handyman. Work at the office. We have options.”
She put down her cup and took his away before climbing into his lap and settling her legs on either side of his hips. When she cupped his face, he lost his heart.
“Regardless of what you think your brothers may or may not say to you about this, Bradford, you’re doing an incredible thing.” She rested her forehead to his.
Bradford closed his eyes and realized that this was what it was like to have someone in his life who supported him unconditionally. Didn’t give a damn about how much he was worth or want him for a personal gain. She was just supportive.
“And what are you working on now? Expansion?” She moved to slide off his lap and he held her in place.
“Yes. Going to a larger city. It’s where I was flying to when my brother told me to leave town. I just purchased two old apartment buildings in a military town. Once the renovations are finished I’m going to do the same thing, open them for homeless veterans.”
She rocked on his cock but didn’t look away from him. “If you’re in a larger town, who are you using for the renovations?”
“I’m not sure yet.” He lifted her shirt, allowing his hand to settle upon her warm skin. “The manager who will run it is starting to line all of that up.”
“Are you getting new appliances for everything?”
“No. Worked out a deal where we get outdated models that didn’t sell, or maybe have a scratch or dent on them. If the ones in the apartments will work, we’ll keep those. I’m trying to open one right away then finish up the other and open it.”
“That’s a huge endeavor.” She chewed on her lower lip. “If they were expecting you there, do you think they’ve alerted your brother you haven’t shown up?”
Fuck. I didn’t think of that.
She pushed her fingers into his hair, warm breath fanning over his lips. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you.”
“What about you? Will your family wonder where you are?”
“No. They know I’ve gone off the grid, so to speak.”
“You weren’t planning on being home for Christmas?”
“If I made it, great. If not, I would show up when I did. My mom, thankfully, gets that about me.”
Bradford stretched them out on the bed and flipped the blankets over them. He loved being cocooned with this woman.
“Tell me about her? She sounds incredible.”
Pure love was the only word he could use to describe her smile.
“She is.”
She inched closer and rested her cheek against his torso. Bradford settled his palm along her neck, letting his fingers dip in and out of her soft curls.
“My mother had married a man who had a child from his previous marriage. My youngest sister. She adopted her. They couldn’t have children of their own so they adopted more. Boys and girls of all ages.”
