He cleared his throat. “So that’s us, but we’re here for you.” He gestured to the empty space. “We are at the future Center for Specialized Development. That’s just a preliminary name so we had something to call the project.”
“What?” I peered closer at the sheaf of large papers he held. Blueprints. On one sheet was the image of a building with three wings, and between each wing was a small courtyard. “Wait, what?”
“I’m building your tutoring center. And it needs a manager.”
I stared at him. At the blueprints. At the vacant lot.
“Or you can hire a manager if you just want to teach. Either way, the place is yours.”
“Mine,” I squeaked. “How can you give me a building?”
“Halstengard Industries will provide the scholarships. You figure out the details.”
“How— Why?”
“Because I love you, Tilly. And I’ll do anything for you, even stay away for three months while I figure this business out and talk myself into being okay if you turn me down. One thing I learned looking into places where Lynne can live in a well-rounded environment is that there’s a serious lack of resources. The community needs a center like this, one that doesn’t have to worry so hard about keeping the doors open, one where the clients don’t have to sit and wonder how the hell they’re going to pay for it. With or without me by your side, the place will be your baby.”
“Mine?”
He still loved me. I shook my head. This was too much. Information overload. I went from fighting not to collapse in despair to having my wildest dreams handed to me. I should turn it down, but that’d mean handing over the care of all the future kids to someone else. Giving this up, now that I knew it existed and could be my project, was too much. But accepting it, accepting him, overwhelmed me.
“I’m serious, Tilly. It’s yours to run, no strings.”
“It needs a different name” was all I could say. It confirmed nothing. I wasn’t ready to commit to either him or the center.
“Take all the time you need. I’ll be patient. Persistent, but patient. By the way, Wes and Mara have set up a scholarship for families, too.”
Wes was loaded. A place like this, with the continual support of those two businesses? Unreal. “You’re unbelievable.”
“I also have a standing contribution set up for the Center for Abuse Recovery. Each year, they’ll receive a donation in your name.” He ran his finger along the design. “I wasn’t sure about the layout. I had a lot of meetings with other therapy places and came up with this.”
The man who worked twelve- to fourteen-hour days on his own business? “When’d you have time for all this?”
“Matthew. Two years of following me around, he knows all the people and all the lingo. Add in Mrs. Silverstein, and they’re unstoppable.”
“Your PA is running your company?” More importantly, Flynn had handed over the reins to someone else? That it was Matthew made sense, at least. Flynn trusted him.
“He’s not a PA anymore. That level mostly needs a salesman and Matthew can smooth talk with the best of them. I still work, too, just not as much.”
“So what do you do with all your free time now besides joyride?”
His gaze turned sincere. “Try to build a safe life for you.”
“I can’t just…” I couldn’t finish. Because the thought of just jumping in with him terrified me.
“I know.” His large hand wrapped around mine. “And it’s okay. I’m here when you’re ready.”
I stared at where our hands were intertwined. “You’re here now.”
“Yes. For as long as you’ll let me.”
I glanced at the vacant lot. The image on the blueprints was hard to envision over the weeds and uneven ground, but Flynn could make it a reality. For me. He’d offered me heaven, love, and everything that went with it. And he was going to move earth to make my dreams come true.
“I’ve been miserable without you.” Way to hold on to my resolve. Be strong. Make him earn it. But he was my kryptonite and he was serious. The center, Lynne, waiting until plans were in place before he came to my house—none of that was merely talk. He was sincere, and he was making strides to change his ways.
He dropped a kiss on my forehead, his warm lips lingering on my skin, as good as branding me. It ignited all the cravings that had haunted each night I’d spent alone. “Misery doesn’t begin to describe it, Tilly. I thought I had little purpose in life outside of work. Then you left. When I wasn’t busy with Lynne or these plans, I was reminiscing about every second we spent together.” His voice dropped to a low growl that curled my toes. “Some more than others.”
“Ohmigod. Me, too.”
We both laughed. I squeezed his hand. He’d been there for me when I thought he’d abandoned me. He’d already waited patiently. We’d known each other for years—enough time had been wasted. “Have you and Lynne eaten yet? I’m starving, and I need to hear all about this crazy, fabulous idea of yours. I think I have a new name for it.”
Epilogue
Flynn
One year later…
“Ready for this?” I grinned at Tilly. My wife’s cheeks were flushed with excitement and she hadn’t quit smiling all day.
Tilly looked up at the sign that read Crazy J’s Learning Center and grinned. “Absolutely. But it’s hard to hold these scissors.” Because they were as tall as she was.
“Let me help. Smile for the cameras.” I took the burden of the weight, which I’d been insisting on since we’d arrived. But she’d argued, How often does one get to hold a five-foot-tall pair of scissors?
She took a moment to straighten her tiara. This one was flashy and full of fake sparkle. One of my favorites. I liked seeing her in them and now that she was back to being around kids all day, she donned them more often.
I was going to buy her
