Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 82165 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 411(@200wpm)___ 329(@250wpm)___ 274(@300wpm)
Wringing my hands together, I looked back at the cabin and then at Kian. If he was the owner, he would soon find out I paid the first six months’ rent up front. My heart couldn’t possibly pound any harder. He’d surely want to know why I had such a large sum of money.
Before I could even utter a word, Kian’s phone rang. “This is Kian.”
My brows shot up. Was that really how he answered his phone?
“Yes, I just discovered that little mistake. Did you not get my email, Linda, not to put it back on the market?”
I turned and started toward the porch. There was a rocking chair on the porch, and I sat down. It suddenly felt very awkward, and the last thing I wanted to do was walk back into the cabin that Kian Carter owned and was most likely planning on living in since he had moved back to Moose Village.
Kian had turned and walked away so I couldn’t hear his conversation. His voice never raised, so I took that as a good sign. When he ended the call, he turned and made his way up to the porch and sat on the other rocking chair. Neither of us said anything for a good two minutes.
“So, what does this mean?” I finally asked.
“This isn’t your fault, and it would be unfair of me to make you leave. Besides, I can continue to stay at the guest house at my parents’ place. It was the original plan until I thought this place was vacant when Linda told me the renters moved out. She never got my email…obviously.”
“Kian, I can find another place. It’s really okay.”
He turned and smiled at me, and I tried to ignore how it made my heart feel like it tripped over itself. “I don’t need a place to stay, but you do. Besides, you paid the first six months in advance. Who wouldn’t want a renter like that?”
A nervous bubble of laughter slipped free. “Well, after the places Nic showed me yesterday, this place was like the Biltmore, and I didn’t want to risk losing it.”
Kian tossed his head back and laughed. “The Biltmore, huh? I’ve never been.”
“Really?” I asked. “It’s beautiful. The insane amount of wealth that family had was crazy.”
Of course, I neglected to mention that my family was most likely wealthier than Kian’s. My great-great-grandfather was best friends and business partners with John Rockefeller, and good friends with Cornelius Vanderbilt as well. My family seemed to manage the wealth a heck of a lot better than the Vanderbilts. My parents currently live in Italy and probably received the letter from my brother that I’d written to them. I sent it to him and asked him to forward it to our parents so no one could trace a letter from me to them. I so longed to talk to my mother and father. And my brother. I felt lost in this new world I was living in. Kian spoke and interrupted my thoughts.
“People think money will make you happy, but it’s far from the truth.”
I studied his face. Something was clearly weighing heavy on his mind. “I think that depends on the person. If you don’t let your money go to your head and do good with it, then it can make you happy.”
Kian smiled. “You sound like you speak from experience.”
I shrugged. How in the hell did I let that slip?
“Anyway, what do we do with the cabin?” I asked.
“It’s yours. I’ve got a place to stay.”
“The guest house?” I asked.
Kian smiled. “The guest house.”
“I’m curious why you don’t stay at your home; why the guest house?”
“Are we asking personal questions now?” He winked.
I held up my hands. “Fair enough. I’m sorry about your cabin.”
Kian stood. “Don’t be. I’m glad you were able to get it. Where were you staying before?”
“Um, the Moose Village Inn.”
He nodded. “The place didn’t come furnished. Are you going to be able to buy furniture after putting up so much cash up front?”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I glanced at the door that led into the cabin. “I’m sure I can find some good deals.”
Kian stood. “I have a friend who owns a furniture store about thirty minutes from here in Lake Placid. I’m sure he’ll make you a good deal.”
Everything inside me screamed to tell him I was fine and could manage to get it. But another part of me wanted to spend time with Kian. For the last month, I had kept to myself, which wasn’t normal for me. I was a people person, and keeping to myself for much longer would drive me crazy.
Could I trust Kian? When he smiled, and it lit his eyes up, I had my answer. “You don’t have anything better to do today?”
“I’m currently unemployed, so I have all the time in the world. Are you off from the bakery today?”