Page 139 of The Thing About My Secret Billionaire

She walks around the table to stand behind Sam and Elsie because I’ve rolled it out facing them.

“Yup,” I say. “My first day here you told me how you’d always thought it would make a great tearoom and gift shop. So, voilà.” I gesture to the plans.

“Seriously?” Sam looks up at me, eyes wide and welling, like I’ve just offered him the keys to a magical kingdom.

I blow out a breath of relief. I’d been worried he might think I’m trying to take over, what with building a home next door, renovating his house, and getting the old arts barn ready to reopen as a hub for craftspeople. So, I couldn’t be happier that he doesn’t think I’m interfering too much.

“This is the tearoom area over here.” I point to a counter and round tables in the back left section of the barn. “This could be an area set up with displays”—I point to the back right—“and the story of the history of the sanctuary, where you could give your talks on open days. Then this part at the front could be the gift shop.”

“And this…” I draw their attention to a separate plan off to the side that shows the loft area that had been my temporary home. “I thought it might make a good kids’ activity space. All donkey-learning related, of course.”

“Oh, my God,” Sam says. “This is amazing.”

“I have some renderings on my computer that I can show you later to give you a better idea of what it mightlook like. I’ll get my dad and brothers back to do all the woodwork, so it’ll be top notch. And I have a great interior designer who will make it fresh and welcoming, but still keep the feel of a working farm so it all fits in.”

“And the tearoom could get their pastries from Kneads Must, because they are the best,” Elsie says.

Frankie and Sam shrug in earnest agreement, like why would anyone consider any other baked-goods plan?

“This could be a great earner,” Frankie says, squeezing her grandpa’s shoulder. “The tearoom itself could attract people just because the setting’s so gorgeous. We could have tables outside in the summer.”

“You’ll see the patio in the computer drawings,” I tell Sam.

Frankie rests her other hand on Elsie’s shoulder, like she’s the bridge between two people who have found each other later in life. But at least they found each other.

“Thank you for doing all this for us,” she says.

“Oh, I’m not doing it for you. I’m doing it for those guys.” I jerk my head toward the donkey paddocks. “I wasn’t kidding when I said this place changed my life.”

I walk around the table to the others and circle my arm around Frankie’s waist, snuggling up to her back. “And I didn’t even know it needed changing.”

She tips her head against my chest, leaning into my heart.

Out of nowhere, Thelma jumps up onto the table and pads across the plans.

“Nope, not on the plans,” Frankie says, reaching for her.

Sam shouts, “Careful,” and tries to push Frankie’s hand back right as Thelma hisses and raises athreatening paw.

“What’s wrong with me? Why did I even try that? She was nice to me one time, and I somehow think I now have a chance every time.”

I reach past her and pick up the cat. “Don’t write her off.” Thelma immediately nuzzles into my neck and purrs as I scratch her under the chin. “She knew I was a good guy before you ever did.”

Our heads turn at the sound of another knock. But this time it’s at the window, not the door.

We all laugh at Dave’s nose nudging the sliding window open.

“The new windows had better still be slidable for him,” Sam says.

“Yeah,” Frankie makes her way over to grab a carrot from the jar. “There’s a lot of new stuff going on around here, but some things should never change.”

She blows me a kiss, then gives Dave a carrot and rubs his nose.

“But you know what?” I say. “Wherever it is he keeps getting out from, I promise I’ll never fix it.”

It might have been revenge that brought me to this inspiring, life-changing place, but it’s love that’ll keep me here. And Dave and his pals, of course.

This place saved my ass.