Page 46 of Pretty Desperate (Pine Village #6)

JILLIAN

I took time off Monday so I could be with Kameron when he went to the title company.

I’ve rarely done that over the years, taken time away, always putting my heart and soul into the business I’ve nurtured and grown.

However, today is different. I want to be there as he signs his name on the line, purchasing the old brick building beside his own.

I wouldn’t miss it for the world.

Or the celebration I have planned after.

Why? Because after today, I know he’ll sink every waking hour into turning his dream—the vision he’s had for the building next door—into reality, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

I know it’s going to be hard work, and I certainly know it’s going to take a lot of his time, but I don’t begrudge him of any of it. In fact, if I can help, I will.

Anything I can do to contribute to the success of his dream.

I reach down and place a hand on my flat stomach. Speaking of dreams…

We decided to hold off a bit on telling everyone.

Of course, Blair knows, and I’m pretty sure that means Gabe does too.

Ryan knows, since I told her last Tuesday night, so there’s also a good chance Marcus is aware.

I’m itching to tell the rest of the group and my parents, but I want to give it just a little bit longer.

I’m excited beyond words, but I can’t help but feel just a little nervous that it’ll be ripped away from me.

Kameron pulls into a parking spot in front of the title company in Hudson. “Ready?” I ask once he’s turned off the engine.

He flashes me an easy smile. “Definitely.”

I start to climb out, and before I can close the passenger door, he’s there, taking my hand and shutting the door behind me.

We head for the glass front door of the title company, where Kameron will first meet with the loan officer at the bank.

Then, Mrs. Krokus and her attorney will join us, along with a representative from the title company, to finish the paperwork.

Just as we approach the entrance, he pauses and faces me. “I’m glad you’re here with me today.”

I give his hand a gentle squeeze. “No place I’d rather be.”

“You feeling okay?”

He asks me that often. I receive text messages throughout the day, checking in, but it doesn’t feel overwhelming.

It shows how much he cares about me and the baby, and the fact he isn’t a fan of me being nauseous.

Fortunately, that’s all it is. It comes in waves and doesn’t usually hang around too long.

I’m tired a lot, but the fact I’m not throwing up is a blessing.

I’ll take a bit of nausea over actually throwing up any day.

“I feel great. I’m excited for you,” I tell him, offering a big grin.

He seems to relax, as if hearing I’m doing okay has a calming effect on him. “This is it,” he adds, bringing our joined hands to his lips and placing a tender kiss on my knuckles.

“Let’s do this.”

We enter the building, and forty-five minutes later are walking out with smiles on our faces. He sighs, taking a deep breath of the cooler, Wisconsin air. “I can’t believe that happened.” He turns to face me, a look of pure relief on his face. “Now, the real work begins.”

“But you’ve been planning and prepping for this moment since Mrs. Krokus told you she’d sell you the building.”

He snorts and nods. “Longer than that. I’ve had the plans drawn up for years.”

“And now you get to use them. It’s going to be a lot of hard work, but you’ve got this.”

He nods again and levels me with a look. It holds his eagerness, his fears, and everything in between. “I’ve got you, so I can do anything.”

My heart melts into a pool of goo at my feet. He’s been saying the sweetest things lately, and it never fails to make me blush and swoon. Maybe it’s just the pregnancy hormones, but I don’t think so. I’ve been like this since he showed up at my door and asked me to be his pretend girlfriend.

“Where to now?” I ask as the door behind up opens.

“Why aren’t you two already heading back to Pine Village?” Mrs. Krokus asks as she steps outside with her attorney.

“I was just taking a few minutes to tell this beautiful woman how much I appreciate having her beside me,” Kameron says with a wink, feeding right into Mrs. Krokus’s tender heart.

“You two,” she coos, stepping forward and placing an aged hand on Kameron’s arm.

“I know I said so before, but I truly am happy you’ve purchased this building.

I felt my Louie smiling down from the heavens above as I signed my name on those documents.

That place is in good hands with you and Jillian, and I’m so excited to know you’ll be welcoming a new life into the fold in the near future. ”

My mouth falls open, as does Kameron’s. Her attorney doesn’t say a word, just politely waits to escort the older woman to an awaiting car.

“Ho—how did you know?” Kameron asks, confirming the fact he wasn’t the one to tell her.

She just grins and winks. “I just know, dear. Now, both of you go, enjoy, and most importantly, don’t forget to always come together in love at the end of the day. It’s what will carry you through when it gets hard.”

I lean against Kameron’s side and offer a small smile. “Thank you.”

She turns to her attorney and takes his offered arm. “Let’s leave these two to it. They have some celebrating to get to,” she says with an ornery glint in her eyes.

Kameron chuckles as we watch the older woman walk away. “I take it you didn’t tell her our news?”

I shake my head and turn to face him. “No. I suppose one of the others could have told her, but I doubt it,” I reply, referring to the couple of friends who are aware we’re pregnant.

“Hmm,” he replies, watching as the attorney helps Mrs. Krokus into the passenger seat of his car. Finally, he turns to me and smiles. “Ready to get back to town?”

“Yes,” I reply, and together, we walk to where he parked his vehicle. “When are you meeting the contractor?”

“Not until tomorrow morning,” he says, shocking me.

“Really?” I stop before getting into the passenger seat. “I would have thought that would be the first thing you’d do after this appointment.”

He shrugs. “He had another appointment later, so we opted to meet in the morning. This gives us more time for the walk-through of the building and to finalize the plans. He wants to start Thursday.”

A huge grin spreads across my face. “I’m so excited for you.”

He leans forward and brushes his lips across my forehead. “Us, Jilly. This is all for us. Our future.”

My hand goes to my belly once more before I climb into the front passenger seat of the vehicle and the door is closed behind me.

Maybe that’s how Mrs. Krokus figured out I was expecting.

I have been placing my hand on my stomach a lot, mostly because I’m still in shock that I’m pregnant.

Perhaps I absently did it during the meeting we just left.

We drive back to Pine Village, discussing the building and the changes he has planned for the restaurant.

His menu will remain mostly the same, but he’s wanting to continue some of the new updates from the new building into the current one.

His business loan was increased enough to change the lighting and move a few walls to accommodate the changes to the added space.

Kameron parks behind my building and turns off the ignition. “Are you coming inside?” I ask.

He flashes me a grin and retrieves his phone from the cupholder. “I thought I’d stay and help you this afternoon. Plus, it’s nearing lunchtime, so I’ll go grab us, and Helen too if she wants, something to eat from the diner and bring it back.”

A smile instantly breaks out on my face. “You’re too good to me.”

He presses his lips to mine in a short, chaste kiss. “Never, Jilly. I could never be too good to you. If anything, it’s quite the opposite.”

Shaking my head, I say, “We’ll just have to agree to disagree there, mister.”

“Let’s go for a walk,” I say, my heart starting to beat a little harder than it was just a few minutes ago.

He gives me a slightly confused look but nods quickly. “Of course. You’re feeling okay?” he asks, clearly referring to my bout of nausea that hit just after lunch.

“I’m fine,” I insist, trying to hide my excitement so he doesn’t get suspicious. Fortunately, I don’t have any cake orders for tomorrow, so everything I had to work on this afternoon was in preparation for the next day.

I make sure the back door is locked and take his offered hand.

We make our way to the front sidewalk and toward the opposite end of downtown.

The restaurant is just down the way, and with each step we take in that direction, I get more excited for this surprise.

I have worked with both Mrs. Krokus and Ryan to make it happen, both eager to offer their assistance.

When we reach the block that house’s Prime Steak House, I take notice of the vehicles in the area. I recognize most of them, especially the few in the parking lot beside Prime.

“Huh, seems to be a lot of activity here,” Kameron notes, but doesn’t say anything more about the additional vehicles.

“Maybe the bank is hosting an after-hours event,” I suggest, even though we just passed it and clearly the lights were off.

“What do you want for dinner tonight?” he asks as he pass the front door to his restaurant.

“Umm, I’m not sure,” I blurt out, catching his attention. My voice is a little wobbly, which he notices, but before he can ask me what’s wrong, we’re standing in front of the empty building next door.

The first thing he notices is the white paper covering the front windows.

It wasn’t like that before, but we decided to do that to not only enhance the surprise, but also because the contractors will do it before they begin to work.

“What is going on here?” His voice is firm with a wave of uncertainty sweeping through it.

He’s reaching for the door handle, realizing it’s unlocked, and pushes it open.

“Surprise!” everyone yells, catching him completely off guard.