Total pages in book: 90
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 87260 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 436(@200wpm)___ 349(@250wpm)___ 291(@300wpm)
“I agree with what Sophia is suggesting. You don’t have a lot of debt, which is good. But this donation can help even more with that. And like Sophia suggested, you should put it in the bank and hang onto it. With the donations that have come on board and the money the two of you are bringing, you don’t have to have any more of a down payment to get the business loan. You’re set there.”
I nodded. “Okay. Yes, I think we should do what you suggested, Sophia.”
She smiled, as did Pete.
“If it was Nate Shaw who gave you this money, he either really loves dogs or…”
My head snapped up to look at Pete. “Or?”
“Or he has a heart of gold.”
Sophia chuckled. “Or he has a strange way of showing someone he has feelings for them.”
By the time our meeting was over and Sophia and I walked out to the parking lot, my mind had gone over every possible reason I could think of why Nate Shaw would drop a shit-ton of money into my lap. Or my business lap, if you will.
“Your mind is racing, Haven.”
“Do you know that when I picked up my car, I thought Ted had paid for my tires? Ted? The guy who has never even held a door open for me. How could I have been so stupid?”
Sophia stopped at her car. “How did you find out it was Nate?”
“By mistake. Hank slipped and said it was Nate. I should have known. The night he picked me up in the storm, he had wanted to pay for the new tire, and I went off on him.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “Pride mostly. My mother was always so adamant about not taking handouts. That a man always wants something in return. When I heard Nate say he would pay for it, I got embarrassed and used anger to deal with it.”
“Then I have to ask this, Haven, how are you taking it that he gave you three-hundred thousand?”
“He didn’t give it to me; he gave it to our business. And where does a twenty-two-year-old get that kind of money? I mean, his house is beautiful, he has a brand-new Ford F250 truck, and he’s dishing out three-hundred-thousand-dollar checks?”
Sophia looked around, wondering if she should say anything. Ultimately, she said, “I know the grandkids all received a trust from their grandparents. That’s how Josh and Nate bought the land and built houses. Please don’t let Nate know I told you. I don’t think it’s a big secret, but I don’t think they want me going around telling people. You’re not people, though. I mean, you are, but you know what I mean.”
“I know the Shaws are a wealthy family, but, Sophia, he gave us three-hundred-thousand dollars. Why?”
Sophia gave me a soft smile. “The same reason Josh donated or, I would assume it’s the same reason.”
My gaze met hers. “I want to think I know why, but it’s Nate. We have a history.”
Her brows rose. “What kind of history?”
I closed my eyes as that night in the barn returned to me. “Our senior year of high school, I worked with a horse at Nate’s parents’ barn. We were the only ones left in the barn, and I was trying to save this kitten, and let’s just say I ended up on the bed in the office. Things happened, and I was so gloriously happy, Sophia. I can’t even begin to tell you how long I had, or if I’m being honest, I have liked Nate. Things went pretty far, but not that far. He just stopped and said it was a mistake. He kept repeating how what we had done—what we’d almost done—was a mistake.”
Sophia took my hand in hers. “He got scared, Haven. He’s still scared.”
With a shake of my head, I felt the tears starting to build. “No, I don’t think that’s it. He knows something about my past and I’m afraid…I’m afraid…”
“You’re afraid of what?” Sophia asked.
“That my past is what is keeping him from moving on from friendship. I know he cares about me, that is evident with what he did about my car and the donation.”
“I think he more than cares for you as a friend. You should see him when your name gets brought up. Something in him changes, and he lights up. And don’t even get me started when I mentioned you had gone out with Ted. I thought Nate was going to tear his hair out.”
My chest ached. “Why can’t he admit he has feelings if he truly does have them?”
Sophia thought for a moment. “I wish I had that answer for you, sweetie. The only person who knows that answer is Nate.”
I nodded. “What do I do now? Do I tell him I know the money and the tires, that it was all from him?”