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“Why?” she repeated, stunned he could be so dense.

When he convinced her father to leave him the store in his will, Arnold had only seen how profitable it was.

He didn’t seem to think he had to work to keep it that way.

She knew the hard work it took to make Sullivan’s the success it was.

And apparently, now he knew it, too. When it was almost too late.

He hadn’t deposited her two percent of the profits in the bank like he was supposed to do, either.

And it was probably because there wasn’t anything to deposit.

“Look at this place, Arnold! When was the last time you took a broom to the floor? When was the last time either of you dusted the displays?” She held up the ledger.

“How difficult is it to record a sale in the book? Or pay the bills? I found four invoices that haven’t been paid.

That’s not how you run a business.” She shook her head, still unable to comprehend what he was thinking.

Or doing. “And what do you need a new chandelier for anyway?”

He didn’t answer, probably because he didn’t have a good answer, but then, he didn’t have to. She already knew. Willetta had wanted a new chandelier so Willetta had gotten a new chandelier. She’d always been that way, always wanting more than she had. “Give me the store back, Arnold.”

“Give it to you? Why would I do that?”

“It’s obvious to me, and everyone else, that you don’t want it.

Not really. Neither you or Willetta know how to take care of it.

You just wanted the money it brought in.

Or used to bring in.” She inhaled deeply and let it out slowly.

“You can’t make money if you have no customers, and no one wants to come in here.

It’s dirty and your wife is rude to the customers. ”

“Get out!” he all but yelled, though, it didn’t seem like he meant it. There was something in his voice, something that told her just how tired he was. And perhaps, disappointed things hadn’t turned out like he expected.

She didn’t care. “I will not.”

“You don’t own it. I do.”

She snapped the ledger closed. “No, I do not, but you are still required to give me two percent of the profits according to Daddy’s will, which you haven’t deposited in the bank.”

He seemed to deflate right in front of her and she gentled her voice.

“If you aren’t willing to do the work it takes to keep Sullivan’s successful, then give it back to me.

Or sell it. It’s one or the other, Arnold, but either way, the next time I come in here, I want to see it cleaned.

I want to see this ledger.” She held it up.

“In order, inventory and receipts. And I want to see your wife be kind to the customers. It’s the only way you’ll begin to see profits again.

” She stalked over to the counter where the only register resided now, dropped the ledger on the glass top, then picked up her drawstring purse and walked past him toward the front door.

He didn’t say a word. Not one in his own defense nor in Willetta’s.

He didn’t try to explain. She wouldn’t have wanted to hear it anyway.

With anger raging through her, she flung open the door, stepped outside, and slammed right into a hard body, the force of which almost knocked her on her behind.

A set of strong arms came around her to steady her.

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” she apologized then looked up at the smiling face of the man who held her. “Devlin.”

He let go of her and took a step back, taking his comforting warmth with him. “You rushed out of there like your hair was on fire. Are you all right? Is Avery?”

“Avery is fine. She’s with Lucy, but I’m not.

I just had an argument with my cousin.” She drew in a shuddering breath, wanting more than anything at this moment to feel Devlin’s strong arms around her again.

“I think Arnold and Willetta are intentionally trying to drive the store into bankruptcy.” Sullivan’s had been a staple in Serenity for a long time.

It made her want to cry to think it was dying.

“What makes you think that?” There was genuine concern in his expression.

“Neither one of them seems to know what they’re doing. Inventory is off, either not being recorded correctly or they just don’t know how to count. Receipts are off, too.” She let out a sigh. “And they’re not paying their bills.”

“And that hurts you,” he acknowledged as he took her hand, placed it in the crook of his arm and started walking up the street.

“Yes, it hurts me. It also makes me angry.” They fell into a comfortable stride. “Daddy should never have given the store to them.”

“No, probably not, but then…” He didn’t pause in his stride, but his gaze swept over her, his eyes warm and filled with both sympathy and something else, something she couldn’t define. “I know it’s selfish of me, but you wouldn’t be with Avery and me right now if the store had been given to you.”

She stiffened with his words and almost missed a step.

Yes, that was true. And she wouldn’t give up her time with them for all the riches in the world, especially now, when she knew she was in love with him.

Even if she didn’t want to be. Even if she thought being so betrayed Brett’s memory in some way.

“I’m very glad you are. With me, I mean. Avery is, too. I wouldn’t be able to do my job if you weren’t. I know my daughter is safe. I know she is being taken care of. I know she’s being loved and that makes me able to leave her every morning without worry.”

He meant it. He needed her. Her anger with Arnold and the circumstances seemed to dissipate. Not all the way, but enough so she could think clearly. Maybe it was time to give up her dream and tell him how she felt, even if she didn’t know if he felt the same.

He patted her hand and stopped walking. “We’re here.”

Surprised, Tresia looked up to see they were in front of Lucy’s house. How had they gotten here so quickly? She hadn’t even noticed.

“I’ll see you at home,” he said, then reached out to rub his knuckle against her cheek.

She leaned into the gentle touch, then, realizing where she was and what she was doing, took a step back, removed her hand from the crook of his arm and moved up the walkway.

She stopped in front of the door, knocked then turned around while she waited for Lucy.

He stood there at the end of the walkway, watching her, hands on his hips above his gun belt, a slight smile on his face.

Yes, she did love this man and wanted to stay with him and Avery, for as long as he wanted.

She loved him, more than she thought possible so why was she so hell-bent on getting Sullivan’s back?

Maybe, she just couldn’t watch it die. There was another option.

She could take the time to teach Arnold and Willetta how to run it successfully, if they were willing.

Lucy answered the door, opening it wide.

Amusement danced in her mocha brown eyes as her gaze shifted from Tresia to something over her shoulder.

Tresia turned, surprised to see Devlin still at the end of the walkway, just beyond the little wrought iron gate.

He hadn’t moved, hadn’t gone on his way.

In fact, he leaned against the trunk of the big tree now, his arms folded across his chest, looking like he had all the time in the world.

“It looks like he’s waiting for you.”

A thrill coursed through her. “I think he is.”

Lucy chuckled. “I won’t keep you then. We’ll catch up tomorrow.” She turned slightly and yelled down the hall, “Avery. Time to go.”

A moment later, Avery came flying out of the house, running past both of them, her little legs moving fast down the walkway. “Daddy!” she squealed as she jumped into her father’s waiting arms, her laughter startling the birds from the trees.

Tresia met them at the end of the walkway, her gaze sweeping over both of them. Just seeing Devlin and Avery made her feel warm all over. And happy. “I thought you were going to see us at home.”

“I changed my mind. I’ll walk with you.” He lifted Avery and settled her on his shoulders then reached out to take her hand. He smiled that charmingly crooked grin and all at once, her heart, which had been beating so normally just a moment ago, began to pound in her chest. “Do you mind?”

“Not at all.” She glanced down at his hand holding hers, feeling the warmth of his touch ripple through her, and returned his smile as they started walking down the street.

As Avery chattered on about everything she’d done at Miss Lucy’s, Tresia listened, her smile widening, and a feeling of completeness, of overwhelming love, of contentment settled within her.

This is what she’d been missing and something she’d never thought she’d have again after Brett passed.

The three of them had become a family and her heart swelled with pure joy.

Devlin stopped on the last riser of the staircase after putting Avery to bed and frowned.

The house felt empty. No chess board was set up on the little table.

Only one lantern was left burning in the parlor.

And one in the kitchen. He could see the warm glow through the doorway.

Had Tresia gone home while he put Avery to bed and read her a story?

Surely, she would have waited to say goodnight. “Tresia!”

“I’m out here.” He heard her voice and all at once, his mood lightened. She hadn’t gone home.

He strode through the kitchen and stepped out the back door to see Tresia sitting in one of the chairs on the porch, coffee cup in her hand, her head tilted back as she stared at the horizon beyond the backyard.

The coffeepot sat on a trivet on the little table between her seat and the empty one beside it. His favorite cup was there, too.

“What are you doing out here?”

“It’s such a beautiful night, I thought it would be nice to have our coffee outside.”