Final Offer (Dreamland Billionaires, #3)(33)

How long has she been watching me stare at her?

Given your luck lately, maybe a whole minute. There’s a reason my brothers used to tease me for being Space Cadet Cal. I have a propensity to drift off and forget where I am until someone tugs me back to reality, usually by calling me out.

I clear my throat, forcing some oxygen into my airway. “We’re selling this house in three months for a million dollars whether you like it or not.”

She steps closer, encroaching on my space. “Oh, why? Because you said so?”

“Because that’s the only option. The sooner you accept it, the easier this process will be.”

“Or I could hire a lawyer.” She bats her lashes.

The hairs on the back of my neck rise. Fuck. “Except you’re not going to do that.”

Her scoff comes off as condescending as the rise of her chin. “I don’t take orders from you.”

“Pity. I remember there was once a time you would beg for them.” My thumb traces the bottom of her lip, earning a sweet inhale from her.

She leans into my touch before shaking her head and giving my chest a shove. “You’re just trying to distract me.”

“From what? Stabbing me in the back?”

Her eyes sparkle. “Only cowards go for the back.”

If I didn’t already know I was a bit unhinged, my dick getting hard at the way she threatens me with a vicious smirk would motivate me to get my head checked.

I pin her in place with my stare. “You want to list the house for more money than it’s worth so no one buys it, don’t you?”

“What? Why would I want to do that?” The glint in her eyes and the small hitch of her lips kill her attempt at feigning innocence.

“Beats me. I’m not sure why you’re trying so damn hard to save this place. It’s a complete dump.”

She rears back. Whatever playfulness was in her eyes dies, replaced by a burning gaze and one end goal.

Shit.

Her nostrils flare. “You might see this place as a dump, but I see it as a home—my home—and there is no way I’m giving it up without a fight. So, you better lawyer up and take me to court, asshole.” She storms out of the kitchen, leaving me to stew in how our conversation went wrong.

Fuck.





I place one of my grandfather’s Victorian era revolvers in a box marked for the Smithsonian. It’s the third weapon I’ve found in the godforsaken attic. The longer I spend in here, the more I question who my grandfather really was.

Maybe Lana was right when she said I didn’t know my grandfather as well as I thought I did.

I keep to his side of the attic and avoid the corner that houses all my old belongings and hockey memorabilia since I told Lana I wouldn’t get drunk up here again. Besides taking a few breaks at the guesthouse so I can have a few sips of vodka without breaking my word, I keep true to my promise about not drinking in the house.

My phone vibrates in my back pocket, so I pull it out and take a seat on one of my grandfather’s trunks. I texted Iris an hour ago, only for her not to answer until now. She is slowly getting busier, which only makes it harder for us to talk as often as we used to before she got married.

Iris



Hey. How’s it going?





I hit a minor snag.





Iris surpasses texting and calls me instead.

“What’s going on?” she asks. A car horn honks in the background, making her dog, Ollie, bark.

“Lana threatened to lawyer up, so either I agree to sell the house for three million or I’m screwed.”

Silence.

“Are you there?” I check my phone for a dropped call.

She coughs. “Yeah, just trying to wrap my head around that one based on the photos you sent me of the place. The view might be nice, but it’s not that nice.”

“The bones are decent.”

“That’s exactly what Declan said about our new house right before he took a wrecking ball to the place.”

“Only because he was impatient and didn’t feel like dealing with old construction issues.”

Iris shouts at Ollie to stop chasing squirrels before remembering I’m on the line. “Why does Alana want to sell it for that price?”

A small smile breaks through my annoyance. “Because she thinks if she sets the price unreasonably high, then no one will buy it.” I explain the rest of Lana’s plan, including how she wants to remodel the property to justify a high list price.

Iris whistles. “Damn. I respect her efforts.”

“Whose side are you on?”

She chuckles under her breath. “Yours always, although I gotta give it to her. She must really want that house if she is willing to fight you this hard on it.”

“I wish I could just tell her about the stupid will.” I rub my temple.

“Except you can’t, so we need a better plan.”

“Like what?”

She clears her throat. “If she wants to sell it for a higher price, then do it.”

“Are you for real?”

Iris cackles. “Just think about it. What’s the worst that can happen if you remodel the house?”

“Based on watching you and Declan argue for hours over paint swatches and tile samples, a lot.” The two of them have mulled over every single detail, down to what color the grout should be.