Chapter Twenty
Her phone vibrated and danced on the nightstand, startling her awake.
Not wanting to disturb Declan, she grabbed it and quietly padded out of the room. Seeing her stepfather’s name on the screen—coming so soon after bailing on Mrs. Lumley—had her heart racing. “Hey, Drewsy.” She tried for light and airy.
“Seraphina.”
Oh, crap. His clipped tone had her shriveling like plastic to a flame.
“I’ve just got off the phone with Reginald Lumley.”
She should’ve told her parents. Nothing was worse than being blindsided. “I’m so sorry about that.” Even though she was a grown woman who stood by her decision, she hated upsetting her stepfather. “I know it’s an awful situation, but my circumstances have changed. I had no choice.”
“Darling, this is simply not done. You asked our friends for a paid position, and they gave it to you. I don’t need to tell you this is a family foundation. The family runs it. They don’t have salaried positions because their sole purpose is to raise money for women and children.”
Well, of course they did have some executives on their payroll, but she understood what he meant. The Crutchleys were considered family. “I know, and I feel terrible about it, but I’ve got news, Andrew. I’m going to stay here.”
“So, you won the contest?” Diverted, he went into business-mode.
Thankfully. “I did.”
“That’s wonderful.” He chuckled, sounding relieved. “Well done. I’ll just ring him back and tell him you don’t need the salary after all. All right then, your mum and I will cover your bills until we sell the property. In the meantime, we’ll fly out there in the next day or two and help you prepare it for sale. Once it’s in the hands of a realtor, we can manage the rest from here. I’ll phone Reginald right now.”
Anxiety ripped through her body like a bullet. “No. Don’t do that. I’m not selling the ranch, and I’m not going back to London. Andrew, I’m staying in Calamity.”
“What are you going on about? Of course, you’re selling. What are you going to do with a cattle ranch in the States?”
I’ve given it away. But the idea of telling him made her sick to her stomach. He would never understand. “I’ve met someone, and I’m really happy here. I’m staying in Calamity and living on my dad’s ranch.”
“Your dad’s ranch? He’s your dad now, is he?”
“No, it’s not like that.” Flustered, she sat down at the top of the stairs. “You raised me, and no one can replace you in my life. But I’ve learned that Kurt wanted me.”
“You’ve learned this from a dead man?”
“Well, yes, I’ve seen his office and read…his correspondence.” She switched the phone to her other hand, swiping the clammy palm on her T-shirt. “I’m just saying I see things more clearly now.”
He blew out a breath of exasperation. “We’ve done you a terrible disservice by sheltering you the way we have. Now listen to me, this man you’ve apparently fallen for is playing you. Anyone from that area knows the value of the property. He wants to get his hands on the money.”
“What? I’m not stupid. I’m not…Andrew, he’s the man I competed against.”
“You see? He didn’t win the land, so he’ll get it by seducing you.”
“He’s not…that’s not what happened. We fell in love with each other.” Of course, Declan had never said the words. But it would come. She was sure of it. He just had a hard time opening up. “The first time I met him was in the lawyer’s office. The moment he learned about the contest, he offered to walk away. He said he wouldn’t interfere with my birthright. The only reason he stayed for the competition was so I wouldn’t sell it.”
“You must sell the land. It’s not even a question. Your life is here with us. With your family. You’re twenty-five years old. What if you get pregnant with this man? Do you really want to raise a family five thousand miles away? That would break your mother’s heart.”
She wasn’t really speaking to her mum at the moment, so that wasn’t exactly a selling point.
“It would surely break mine.”
Oh, Drewsy. Affection eased the knot in her gut. “That’s not something we need to worry about. Trust me, I’m not looking that far into the future. I’m not ready to have a child.” In many ways, she felt like her life had just begun. Like she’d emerged from a cocoon and could see the world through fresh eyes. “Look, I know this is big news. It’s huge for me, too, but—”
“Listen to me. I know how it is to get swept away by a new love, but you must look at the bigger picture. You must consider your future. If you don’t sell the land…how will you support yourself? Phinny, I won’t be able to loan you money. I can’t support you.”
Her back straightened. “I don’t need your money. After I won, I learned there was a second codicil. The winner could choose between the land and a cash inheritance. I gave Declan the land, and I took the money. And I haven’t asked you for a dime since you cut me off, so I don’t know why you think I’d start now. In any event, I can’t take the job because I’m staying here, and I’m going to start my own business.”
“What business? What scheme has this cowboy led you into?” She’d never heard him so distraught. “Seraphina, you must come home straight away. Is it too late to change your mind about the will?” He’d grown agitated in a way she’d never heard before. “Forget coming home, I’ll catch a flight first thing in the morning.”
“It’s too late. I’ve signed the papers.”
“What have you done? I don’t know how much you inherited, but it’s clear this man’s going to help you blow through it. Is the business your new friend’s idea? Did he ask for a loan to buy feed and a new tractor?”
Blow through my money. The very idea sent her reeling. That would never happen. “No, it’s my idea. I’m going to start a shop for locally-sourced products. No one’s done it here yet, and it’s a really good idea.”
“Perhaps for someone who has experience and business sense. You know nothing about running a store. It’s not like a swap meet, where you set an old belt and a worn pair of shoes on a table and hope some tosser comes along and buys it. Businesses are complicated. Honestly, I don’t know what to do with you right now.”
Obviously, she had no experience. That point had been driven home when she’d messed up Lachlan’s pop-up store. Imagine if she used some of her inheritance to buy a building or some inventory—and then it went sideways? What potential did she have to earn it back? The only income she’d ever made came from tips at a diner.
“Look, you’ve come into a large sum of money. You’ve no experience managing it. I’m going to insist you come home and take the job with the foundation.”
“No, I’m not going to do that. I live here now, and I don’t need the money anymore. Andrew, I’ve got twenty-five million dollars.”