Love Redesigned (Lakefront Billionaires #1) by Lauren Asher

RAFA

Nope.



My phone vibrates with a private text from Julian.

SECOND BEST

The house is ours if you want it.



My mouth drops open. It hasn’t even been two weeks since we agreed to the plan.

ME

For how much?



SECOND BEST

1.2 million



SECOND BEST

We need to decide now because there’s another offer.



ME

Who?



SECOND BEST

Some asshole from Chicago. He is willing to pay more, but I have a good relationship with the seller.



ME

Exploiting others for personal gain? Nice.



SECOND BEST

…



ME

Just curious. Do I know the other buyer?



SECOND BEST

Declan Kane.



My fingers fly across the screen.

ME

WHAT?



SECOND BEST

You know him?



ME

I know OF him. His family is the biggest name in the entertainment industry.



SECOND BEST

Well, the only thing he is entertaining tonight is a bruised ego.



My cheeks hurt from how long I’ve been smiling.

Snap out of it. This is Julian!

I throw my phone to the opposite side of the bed.

Reserved Julian I can handle. Even competitive Julian can be frustratingly funny at times, although I wouldn’t tell him that solely because his ego doesn’t need any more boosting.

But a joking Julian? I’m not sure I would stand a chance against this kind of behavior. Last thing I need is to stir up old feelings just because he makes me genuinely smile for the first time in months with a few quips.

God help you if your standards for men have fallen that low.

My phone vibrates with another text from Julian. Because I suffer from an inquisitive mind and a lack of self-restraint, I reach for it and read his latest message.

SECOND BEST

Do we have a deal?



ME

Yes.



My heart races as the three dots appear and disappear four different times before the next text comes through.

SECOND BEST

House is ours. I’ll text you the details about scheduling a walk-through once I deal with all the paperwork.



ME

Shouldn’t I be there for that?



SECOND BEST

Do you have a lawyer on retainer who can review all the contracts before tomorrow?



We both know the obvious answer.

ME

On second thought, I’ll sit this one out.



SECOND BEST

I’ll have Sam send you a standard company agreement that will honor your percentage after we sell the house.



I press my phone against my chest and stare at my childhood dream board. Although my design style has changed over the years and I no longer have an obsession with floral prints, my passion for historic homes has never wavered.

Lots of properties in Lake Wisteria have caught my attention, but the Founders’ houses stole my heart the first day my dad drove me past them. There is something about the stunning views, isolated properties, and view of the lake and nearby Historic District that calls to me.

It feels like I’ve spent years waiting for an opportunity like this, and I plan on taking advantage of everything Julian and his company have to offer once I sign on the dotted line.



My sister barrels into my room an hour later wearing a pink cowboy hat and a dress with far too many sparkles. “Grab your comfiest heels and your favorite tube of lipstick because the Muñoz sisters are going out.”

I pause my TV show and sit up in bed. “What? Since when?”

“There’s a costume party at Last Call, and our attendance is required.”

“I don’t know…” While my mood has been improving thanks to my antidepressants and therapy sessions, I don’t want to push myself too hard since there is a fine line between stepping out of my comfort zone and getting sucked into a black hole of panic.

“It’ll be good for you to go out, even if it’s for a little bit.” My sister rummages through my luggage, throwing expensive designer clothes everywhere in the process. Where I am organized to a fault, Lily is the human equivalent of an F5 tornado, wrecking my system of packing cubes and colorcoded outfits within a few seconds.

Honestly, it’s impressive given how long it took me to pack everything.

Lily peeks over her shoulder. “What are you doing sitting there? Get out of bed and go work on your hair and makeup.” She claps her hands together and yells, “Chop chop!”

I wrap a throw blanket around my shoulders. “I don’t want to see people from town yet.”

She frowns. “Why not?”

I stay quiet.

She rolls her eyes. “You care way too much about what other people think of you.”

“No, I don’t.” My tone comes off annoyingly defensive.

“Then why else would you have spent the last week holed up in here, finding every excuse to avoid going into town?”

I scratch my nose with my middle finger.

Lily chuckles as she tosses a jacket on my bed. “It’s okay. Little sister is here to save the day.”

“How?”

She holds up a sparkly dress in the air, scrunches her nose, and tosses it on top of the growing pile beside her. “Consider tonight your first lesson in the subtle art of not giving a fuck.”