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“We did it,” Charli whispered, relief slowly starting to trickle into her body. Her knees began to shake and her hands trembled. She turned a too-wide smile to Bronson, who was at her side. “We did it.”
“MIDNIGHT!” Caro screamed, rushing down the stairs. “It’s midnight!” She began to dance in the front room as everyone slowly began to congregate in the small space. No one else seemed to have Caro’s endless supply of energy, but their smiles said enough.
“Did we finish?” Brooklyn asked, wiping a hand across her dirty forehead.
Charli choked on the words and nodded vigorously instead. “You did,” she finally pushed out. Strong, warm hands wrapped around her from behind and she collapsed into Bronson’s chest.
“You’re amazing,” he whispered in her ear.
“So that’s it? You fulfilled the will?” Bennett asked. “You get your inheritance?”
Charli could feel Bronson’s sigh at her back. “I don’t know,” he answered honestly. “Technically, it said I have to have something to show for it. We were hoping to have it sold so that I could present that to the judge, but maybe this’ll be enough.”
“About that...” Jensen hedged. He glanced at Mel, who stepped up and took his hand with her brilliant smile beaming full force. They turned to Bronson and Charli. “We were thinking maybe we would put an offer on the house.”
Charli’s eyes widened. “What?”
Bronson stiffened. “You don’t have to do that,” he said, his voice hoarse. “You’ve already done plenty for a man you barely know.”
Mel’s smile grew. “We know, but we’ve been thinking we’d like a real home after we get married in a few months anyway.” Her eyes traveled around the space. “And this one is beautiful.”
“It’s a big decision,” Charli said. “Are you sure this is something you want? Don’t you want to see other houses?”
Mel laughed. “We have. And we haven’t found a place we like as well as this one.”
“So?” Jensen asked, his face expectant. “Are you willing to negotiate with us?”
Charli looked over her shoulder to see Bronson frowning.
He opened his mouth to answer, but his phone interrupted and he snapped his mouth shut. Grabbing it out of his back pocket, his eyes darted to Charli. “It’s Ken,” he said.
A hush fell over the room as Bronson answered and turned the phone on speaker.
“Bronson Ramsay.”
“Hey, man, it’s Ken. I’ve got news.”
“What did you find?” Bronson asked, his body visibly tightening.
“I think it would be better if you came down to the station,” Ken said, sounding slightly distracted.
Bronson made a face, and Charli grabbed his hand. “Is there anything you can tell me now? Everyone is waiting for answers.”
Ken sighed. “I think we know who’s causing you problems,” he said warily. “But I don’t think you’re going to want me to just shout it to the world.”
“Was it Canon?” Charli blurted, then winced. She really shouldn’t have done that. This was Bronson’s scene and she didn’t need to add to his troubles. She looked up and mouthed sorry, but he just shook his head.
“I really think you should come down to the station,” Ken said. “Let the crew get to bed and you two come here so we can get this settled once and for all.”
Bronson’s eyes closed and his head hung. “Sure. We’ll be there in a few.” He stuffed the phone in his back pocket and looked around. “I don’t know how to thank you all enough.” His arm slipped around Charli’s shoulder and she went willingly into his chest. “I know you did it to help Charli, but I can never truly repay you for it.” He grinned, looking ready to melt into the floor. “When everything settles down, I’ll treat you all to dinner.”
“We’ll hold you to that!” Bennett answered, rubbing his stomach. “All this work has given me an appetite.”
“Like you needed this to make you hungry,” Brooklyn said with a roll of her eyes. She shook her head and started for the door. “I always enjoy a good steak, Bronson.” She winked. “Remember that.”
Bronson chuckled and Charli bounced against him. “Okay.”
“Remember what we said,” Jensen said as he and Melody left.
“I will,” Bronson said solemnly. “And if it comes to that, I’ll let you know.”
Jensen smiled and he and Mel left.
“I’m offended that you think you aren’t our friend,” Caro snapped.
Charli groaned. “Oh my gosh, Caro. Don’t you ever get tired of being dramatic?”
Caro fluffed her hair. “Nope. What’s life without a little drama?” She grinned and came over to hug Charli, pulling her away from Bronson’s hold. “We love ya, sweet pea,” she whispered in Charli’s ear, making Charli’s eyes fill up with tears.
Oh my gosh. I haven’t cried so much in my entire life, she thought wryly. Apparently working too hard for too long made her far more emotional than normal.
“And remember, if you ever get tired of Mr. McHotty—”
Charli pushed her away. “Good night, Caro,” Charli said pointedly.
Caro snickered and waved at Bronson. “See ya!”
Bennett came up behind her. “Why is it the newcomers always get more attention than the locals? What is it with women and strangers?” he grumbled, glaring pointedly at Caro.
“Maybe because I don’t have as many stories about a stranger,” Caro shot back, her voice growing softer as they got farther away. “I can still remember you picking your nose at—”
“I DID NOT!” Bennett shouted. Their arguing faded as they disappeared into the night.
Charli shook her head.
“And on that weird note, I think the rest of us will go.” Rose smiled softly and led all the rest of the crew out of the house. “I left some daisies in the kitchen,” she called out just before leaving. “They’re for a new beginning.”
“Good luck,” Genni said as she and Cooper left.
Charli smiled back. “Thanks.”
“Ready?” Bronson asked when the last car had pulled out of the driveway.
“As I’ll ever be,” she murmured. All Charli wanted was her bed and twelve hours of uninterrupted sleep, but it appeared it wasn’t coming quite yet. She grabbed her purse and her keys and walked into the dark with Bronson at her side.
Pausing at her truck door, she looked across the hood at Bronson. “I guess the better question would be...are you ready?”
Bronson took in a deep breath. “Nope. But I don’t think I have a choice.”
Charli nodded. “I know.” She climbed into her seat. “But truthfully, we have nowhere to go but up from here.”
“I hate how true that statement is,” Bronson said through a yawn. He leaned his elbow on the window and put his head in his hands. “Wake me when we get there.”
Charli laughed quietly. It felt good to do so. The house was finished, but there was no guarantee the offering would be accepted, and now Ken had something more. It felt like every time she and Bronson thought all was well, something else came up. But it didn’t matter. When she gave her heart to Bronson, she did so without caveats. And surely after all was said and done, things would only get better.
She made a face. Well...eventually. After we take care of Bronson’s problems, then I need to tackle my own. Mainly, where can I look for another space for a storefront? After that...then we can move forward.
*****
BRONSON KEPT HIS EYES closed, but never actually fell asleep on the trip to the police station. A feeling of dread sat heavily in his stomach, taking away the victory of finishing the house by the demanded deadline. Jensen’s offer to buy the house only added to the queasiness. It just felt wrong to sell it to one of Charli’s friends. Bronson felt like Jensen and Melody were sincere in their offer, but he didn’t like the taste it left in his mouth. He would always worry that they were only trying to help out instead of having honestly chosen the home because they liked it.
“We’re here,” Charli said, patting his knee.
Bronson grunted and opened his door, following Charli inside. Surprisingly, there were several officers there sitting around or working on projects.
“Charli! Bronson!” Ken stepped out of his office and waved them down the hall.
Once they were settled inside, Bronson couldn’t stand it anymore. “I have to know, Ken. Was it Canon or not?”
Ken gave Bronson a sad smile. “No. I didn’t find any evidence that it was Canon.”
Charli gasped while Bronson sighed in relief. He let his shoulders relax and his head hung down as his muscles went lax, releasing weeks’ worth of tension.
“Then who was it?” Charli asked, bringing Bronson’s attention back to Ken.
Ken turned his laptop around. “Do you recognize this guy, Bronson?”
Bronson studied the man on the screen. He had an ultra-white smile, with a manicured goatee and carefully styled hair. His eyes were a murky shade of green and brown and his skin looked tan, as if he spent time in the sun. Bronson shrugged. “No. He looks like half the men in California.”
Ken nodded. “Well, that’s exactly where he’s from.”
“He followed me from California? For what purpose?” Bronson could feel his anger growing. He didn’t know this guy from Adam. Why in the world would he be trying to sabotage him?
Ken turned his computer around and clicked a few things before facing it to Bronson again. “How about now?”
Bronson’s jaw fell slack. “That’s my sister,” he rasped. The man from the earlier picture was standing with his arm around Aria, kissing her temple as they both held up champagne glasses for the camera.
Ken nodded, his face solemn. “This is Davis Sorenson. It was his fingerprints on the spray can.”
Bronson could feel his heartbeat picking up speed. He didn’t like where this was headed.
“I’ve been in contact with Canon and Mr. Filchor,” Ken said, his words slower than before as if he were testing Bronson’s reaction. “And I’ve got an APB out for your sister and this Davis guy.”
“No...” Bronson breathed.
“Oh, Bron,” Charli whispered in a thick voice.
When she reached out, he clutched her hand like a drowning man with a buoy. Canon had always been difficult to get along with, which made believing him to be the bad guy a little easier to take. But Aria? She was his baby sister. They might not have had the same ideas of life, but he’d always gotten along with her. “So you’re saying that Aria is behind all the problems at the house?” Bronson choked out.
Ken shrugged. “We don’t know for sure. And won’t know until we bring her in. Right now, all I have are some fingerprints and a connection. Only time will tell the rest.”
“But why would she do something like this?” Bronson asked, leaning forward. “She’s just about to graduate. She has her whole life ahead of her with a modeling career. Why in the world would she be trying to keep me from my inheritance? It makes no sense.”
“I agree,” Ken said. “But like I said, she’s all we’ve got.”
“Sir?”
They all three looked toward the door.
The officer nodded at Bronson and Charli, then turned to his captain. “We found Sorenson.”
Bronson jumped to his feet. “I want to see him.”
“Whoa, there,” Ken said, standing up and coming around to put a hand on Bronson’s shoulder. “That’s not a good idea.”
“Why not? I’m the one he’s been trying to hurt. I have every right to confront him.”
“Because right now all I have is circumstantial evidence,” Ken said firmly. He held up his hand to stop Bronson’s interruption. “Those fingerprints could have come from any time, and any lawyer worth his salt will know that.” He sighed and scratched the back of his head. “I’ll talk to him personally, okay?” He raised his eyebrows and met Bronson’s glare with patience.
Bronson was the first to look away, knowing he wouldn’t win this battle. “Fine,” he ground out. “But I want to know what this guy is doing with my sister and why he’s after me. I don’t believe that Aria would be mixed up in something so underhanded.”
Ken nodded. “I get it. Go home and get some rest and we’ll take care of things.”
“Come on,” Charli said softly. She tugged Bronson toward the door. “Let Ken do his job and when he has news, we’ll be the first he tells. Right?” She looked to Ken for confirmation and the police officer nodded.
Bronson let Charli pull him away. He didn’t have the strength or willpower to resist right now. “Fine,” he muttered again. Turning fully toward the door, he let Charli lead him outside.
“You can sleep at my house tonight,” Charli said as she started the engine.
“I can’t sleep at your house,” Bronson grumbled, folding his arms over his chest. “Just drop me off at the motel.”
“Nope. I don’t trust that you won’t come hounding the officers when they have work to do.”
Bronson glared across the cab. “You’re being bossy again.”
“Someone has to be when you’re in such a mood,” she stated without batting an eye.
Bronson huffed, but settled back into his seat. “It’s still not right.”
“Felix will be there. You can have the guest bed and you can count him as a chaperone.”
“Whatever.” Bronson jerked his head over when Charli started to chuckle. He always loved the low huskiness of her voice, but right now his mind and emotions were in too much turmoil to find comfort in the sound. “What’s so funny?”
“I think we’ve spent most of our relationship with you being the reasonable one, trying to calm down me.” She grinned as she looked at him. “It’s sort of nice to know that you have a breaking point.” Her smile fell. “I’m sorry about your sister though. That had to be hard to hear.”
“We haven’t heard anything,” Bronson argued. “For all I know, that guy is using her to get what he wants.”
“True,” Charli responded, though he could tell through her tone that she didn’t believe it.
“Aria has no reason to do something like this,” he said, his voice soft. “Someone had to put her up to it.”
Charli reached over and patted his knee. “It’ll all work out,” she assured him. “We’ve come this far. If we can finish renovating a house in six weeks, we can conquer anything.”
Bronson thought back on the support that Charli had brought with her to the project, and for a second, he believed the words. But this has nothing to do with them. This is all on you. The tiny voice in the back of his head dispelled the hopefulness she was trying to share. They might have made it through the deadline, but now the situation was out of their hands. If Aria really was involved, then no one, not even Charli or her friends, could fix it. This was all Bronson and his messed up family.