One And Only: Emerald Lake Billionaires, Book 4

by Leeanna Morgan

“Isn’t that enough? We have parents who loved us. We had a roof over our heads and we never went hungry. Someone cared about us, Blake. They made sure we went to school and respected other people. These boys haven’t had that.”

  Blake frowned. “Child and Family Services will be working with the police to help them. You don’t need to get involved.”

  Elizabeth crossed her arms in front of her chest. “When did you become so cynical?”

  “I’m a realist, not cynical. I hope the boys grow up to be law-abiding citizens, but I have my doubts.”

  “So will everyone else. And that, beyond anything else, is part of the problem. No one will expect more from them than being able to keep out of trouble. What if they want to make a difference, too? What if they want to be a doctor or a teacher? What if they dream of flying to Mars or digging for dinosaur bones? Who’s going to give them a chance to follow their dreams?”

  Blake handed her some tissues.

  She wiped her eyes.

  “Hug time.”

  Blake’s softly spoken words made more tears fill Elizabeth’s eyes. “I’m turning into a rain cloud.”

  He held out his hand. “It’s good for the soul. Why are you so worried about the boys?”

  She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I know what it’s like to exist from day-to-day, to stop thinking about the future because you don’t know if you have one.” She closed her eyes. The warmth of Blake’s body soothed the emotions tumbling inside her. “I know what it’s like to look at someone else and wonder what you’ve done to deserve the life you have. Fear can paralyze you, make you say and do things that aren’t who you really are.”

  “The boys don’t have cancer.”

  “You’re right. They have something worse. No one loves them. All it takes is one person to bring you a tub of ice cream, and it can change your life.” She heard Blake sigh, felt the tightening of his arms.

  “Are you telling me that I made a difference in your life?”

  She leaned back and smiled. “I’m telling you that I love you. It doesn’t matter what happens in the future, where we end up living or who we live with. I’ll always love you.”

  Tears filled Blake’s eyes. “I love you, too.”

  He pulled her close, wrapping her in a cocoon of love so pure that it made Elizabeth cry all over again.

  Daniel rushed into her office. “Drop what you’re doing…oops.”

  Elizabeth stepped away from Blake and wiped her eyes. “What’s happened?”

  “Are you okay?” Daniel’s eyes widened when he looked at Blake. “You’re crying, too?”

  “Don’t worry. It’s not contagious.” Blake pulled some tissues out of the box and wiped his eyes. “Why the urgency?”

  “You need to come with me. You’re not going to believe what’s happening at the clinic.”

  Elizabeth’s mouth dropped open. “It’s not another fire, is it?”

  “It’s better than that. Come on.” Daniel grabbed her jacket and pulled her out of the office.

  “Why don’t you tell us what’s going on?”

  “Because it will spoil the surprise. Where did Blake go?”

  “I’m here,” Blake yelled from the other side of the open-plan work area. He threw on his jacket and followed them down the corridor.

  Louisa and two other staff smiled as they ran onto the street.

  Elizabeth frowned. Did everyone know what was happening except her and Blake?

  Five minutes later, Elizabeth stood outside her clinic, staring at the people going in and out of the buildings. “Where did everyone come from?”

  At least fifteen people were carrying paint cans, drywall, and ladders into the rooms that weren’t fire damaged. On the other side of the building, a group of people were working on the area that would attach to the prefabricated addition.

  Just when Elizabeth thought things couldn’t get any more confusing, a group of women stepped out of a van. They looked as though they were going to a fancy-dress party.

  Daniel laughed. “That’s Sarah’s friends from the history department at the university. They thought it would be fun to dress up as people from throughout history.”

  “What are they doing here?”

  “They’re painting some of the rooms in the accommodation block.”

  “But we aren’t anywhere near ready for painting.”

  “Yesterday morning you weren’t. You are now. A team of electricians, builders, and plasterers worked all day yesterday and throughout the night to get most of the far block finished. They’re working on the rest of the area as we speak.”

  Elizabeth stared at her brother’s bloodshot eyes. “It wasn’t an allergic reaction that made your eyes red, was it?”

  Daniel shook his head. “I was here for most of the night helping whoever needed it. I now have a deep respect for plasterers.”

  Blake’s hand wrapped around hers. “Is that Detective McCormick?”

  Elizabeth looked across the parking lot. Joseph was handing two young boys a can of paint and some brushes.”

  She looked at Blake. “You don’t think…?”

  Blake nodded. “Could be. I can’t see him taking anyone else out of school to help.”

  “Everyone’s here because they want to help you finish your clinic,” Daniel explained. “Paul and Jake have split the volunteers into teams. Paul is supervising the plumbing and electrical work. Jake is in charge of the internal fit out and painting, and his wife Doris is organizing food and drink for everyone.”

  Elizabeth had only met Doris and Jake a few times. They had hearts of gold and really cared about Bozeman. Their hardware store was a community gathering place. While you were there you could buy paint, hammers, and power tools, or enjoy the free coffee and hot gossip.

  Sarah walked toward her wearing a pair of baggy denim overalls, a plaid shirt, and a floppy straw hat. “I know I’m not a historic figure, but it was the best I could do on short notice.”

  Elizabeth grinned at her friend. “Who are you?”

  “The Scarecrow from the Wizard of Oz. What do you think?”

  “Of your costume?”

  “No. Of everyone who’s here.”

  “I can’t believe so many people would give up their time to help us.”

  Daniel pulled her to one side as a truck drove past. “Sarah was here last night as well.”

  Sarah shrugged. “It’s the least I could do. Besides, the dinner Doris brought us was amazing. Have you been inside?”

  “We only arrived a few minutes ago.”

  “Does Paul know you’re here?”

  Daniel nodded. “I called him before we left. He wants Elizabeth to see the accommodation block at the back of the property. He’ll be in the first unit.”

  Sarah smiled. “Do you mind if I come?”

  “Of course not,” Elizabeth said. “Are you coming, Blake?”

  His hand tightened around hers. “I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”

  She stared into Blake’s serious blue eyes and sighed. Neither would she.

  Paul stepped off a ladder and smiled at Elizabeth. “Welcome to your first, almost complete, accommodation unit.”

  She stepped through the front door and stared at the freshly painted walls. “I can’t believe this is the same room I saw two weeks ago.”

  Before Paul had started working here, this unit was a carbon copy of all the other units in the old motel. Dark wood paneling had pulled the walls closer, and brown, threadbare carpet, made the open-plan room look dark and dingy.

  Now it was stunning. The wood paneling was gone, along with the broken cupboard and the old bed. In their place was a light, bright, room that would look amazing with the furniture she’d chosen.

  Paul slid a screwdriver into his toolbelt. “The white paint reflects the light coming through the window. It will look incredible after we’ve added the furniture.”

  “What have you decided to put in each room?” Sarah asked.

  Elizabeth p
ulled out her cell phone. “The units will sleep up to four people, so each room will have a queen-sized bed and a set of bunks. There’s also bedside tables, a chest of drawers, a table, a television, and a sofa. We don’t want people cooking in the rooms, but they can use a shared kitchen in the main block. Here’s a 3D image of what the rooms will look like.”

  Sarah studied the picture on Elizabeth’s phone. “Are these the exact furnishings or something similar.”

  “That’s exactly what we’re having. Sam created a program that replicates the furniture we’ve chosen. The curtains are even the same.”

  Sarah turned the phone sideways. “That’s clever. She should make it into an app. Lots of people would want to use it when they’re renovating their own homes.”

  Daniel and Blake both stepped forward to look at the phone.

  “No way,” Elizabeth said as Sarah handed her the phone. “If you want to look at the program, you’ll have to speak to Sam first. And then make a call to Fletcher Security. She was working for them when she developed the program.”

  “Come on, sis.” Daniel stared at her with his puppy-dog eyes. “Just one look. Blake doesn’t need to see it.”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “I want to see what everyone has been doing with the clinic.” She slid the phone into her pocket and walked across to Paul. “This is amazing. Last time I was here, half the walls weren’t drywalled.”

  “Over the last thirty-six hours we’ve had more than fifty people working in different rooms. By nine o’clock yesterday morning, the drywalling and plastering were finished. Heaters blew hot air into each room, and by seven o’clock last night, we were painting.”

  Blake looked down at the floor.

  “Carpets and vinyl flooring goes down tomorrow. The showers are being installed tonight, and the toilets and basins are being installed tomorrow.”

  Elizabeth’s eyes widened. “What about the water and sewer pipes? I thought we couldn’t do very much until we’d replaced the reception area.”

  “The plumbers were able to create a junction that connects this block to the main pipes. By tomorrow night, twelve units will be finished.”

  “I can’t believe it’s happened so quickly.”

  “None of this would have been possible without our volunteers,” Paul said. “Speaking of help, it looks as though three people want to speak to you.” He glanced over Elizabeth’s shoulder. “I’ll be in the next unit if you want to have a quick meeting.”

  Blake shook Detective McCormick’s hand. “Nice to see you again, Joseph.”

  “It’s good to be here. I’ve got two boys I’d like you to meet.” He stood to one side and held out his hand to the closest boy. “This is Christopher Murray and his younger brother, Harry. They lit the fire in the main building.”

  Both boys were looking at the floor.

  Joseph nudged the eldest boy’s arm.

  Christopher looked at Elizabeth. “We’re sorry for breaking into your building and lighting the fire.”

  Harry’s head shot up. “We didn’t mean to burn it down. We were cold and we thought it wouldn’t hurt to make a fire.” He pushed his wooly hat out of his eyes. “We wouldn’t have done it if we’d known what would happen.”

  Elizabeth studied their solemn faces. Both boys had brown eyes, high cheekbones, and a sprinkling of freckles across their noses. “Thank you for your apology. Was it your idea or Detective McCormick’s to come here today?”

  Harry looked at his older brother. “It was Detective McCormick’s,” he mumbled.

  At least he was honest. “Well, it’s good you’re here. There’s lots of work to do before we can open the clinic.”

  Joseph looked at Elizabeth. “Jake Stanley has offered to look after Christopher and Harry. If you need me for anything, just call.”

  “I will.”

  Joseph looked at the two boys. “Let’s find Jake.”

  They both nodded and followed him out of the room.

  Elizabeth moved to the front door, watching Joseph and the boys walk along the snow-covered path.

  Blake stood beside her. “I’m going home to change before coming back. Are you going back to your office with Daniel?”

  Elizabeth shook her head. “I want to stay and help, too. There’s a spare set of clothes in my office. I’ll get changed and meet you back here.”

  “I’ll give you a ride to the office,” Daniel said.

  Sarah gave Elizabeth a hug. “I’ll see you soon.”

  “Can you tell Paul that I’ll be back in fifteen minutes?”

  “Of course.” Sarah said goodbye to everyone before leaving the unit.

  Elizabeth took one last look around the room. For some people, this wouldn’t be a big deal. But for her, it was the beginning of everything she’d ever dreamed about.

  Her brother wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I’m proud of you.”

  Hearing those words from Daniel meant a lot. He knew what it felt like to make a difference in someone’s life. “Thank you, but it’s a team effort. Without every single person who’s volunteering, we never would have come this far.” And it wasn’t over yet.

  Chapter 17

  Five nights later, Elizabeth stood in the middle of the clinic’s new kitchen and dining area. This was the last room they had to complete before guests could start using the emergency accommodation.

  “Have you seen my knife?” Blake asked. “I thought I left it on the kitchen counter.”

  Elizabeth moved a pile of empty boxes off the floor. It wasn’t there. “I can’t see it over here. Do you want to use mine? I won’t need it for a while.”

  Blake walked across the room. “Thanks. I’ll give it back when I’ve finished. Are the chairs easy to assemble?”

  “They’re easier than I thought they’d be.”

  The smile on Blake’s face made butterflies leap inside her chest.

  “Maybe it was the expert help you received.”

  She laughed. “It took you ten minutes to realize the legs were on backward.”

  “In my defense, I’d like to point out that the front and back legs are almost identical.”

  “Do you want to know a secret?”

  Blake stepped closer. “Only if you whisper it in my ear.”

  “Are you flirting with me, Blake Jefferson?”

  “I could be. It depends.”

  Elizabeth’s heart pounded. “On what?”

  “Whether you want to flirt back.”

  “What if I said yes?”

  “I’d say you’re a wise woman.”

  Blake’s husky whisper sent goosebumps along her skin.

  Stepping closer, she breathed in the subtle scent of his aftershave. It was almost as if she was standing in a forest after heavy rain. Pine, spruce, oak, and something she couldn’t recognize, teased her nose.

  She turned a little to the right, lifting her nose to Blake’s neck.

  “Are you going to bite me?”

  His laughter sent shockwaves through her body. “I like your aftershave. It would make a great scented soap.”

  Instead of moving away, Blake’s hands circled her waist, pulling her closer. “I like your perfume, too.”

  Elizabeth rubbed the tip of her nose against his neck, smiling at his growl of approval. “I’m not wearing any perfume.” She kissed the sensitive skin under his ear, moving higher to nip his earlobe.

  Before she took another breath, Blake captured her mouth in a kiss that made her toes curl. All the worry, the weight of not knowing if the clinic would ever be finished, disappeared. All that was left was the taste and feel of a man who had changed her life forever.

  “Not again,” Daniel moaned from the other side of the room.

  Elizabeth shot out of Blake’s arms. “What are you—”

  “Doing here?” Daniel finished for her. “If you didn’t have your lips locked on each other, you would have seen me arrive.” Her brother held a basket in the air. “Holly thought you might be hungry.”


  Elizabeth ignored the scowl on her brother’s face. “It’s after ten o’clock. We had dinner ages ago.”

  “That’s what I told her, but she wouldn’t listen. I think she was worried about the two of you being on your own.” He glanced at Elizabeth before placing the basket on the kitchen counter. “You know what Holly’s like. She worries about everyone.”

  Elizabeth looked carefully at her brother. Holly wasn’t the only person who was worried.

  Daniel ignored her. “When I was last here, the kitchen cabinets were being installed. They look great.”

  Elizabeth tilted her head to the side, imaging the open-plan area as if she was seeing it for the first time. It was a warm and welcoming space. The white walls, soft gray kitchen cabinets and charcoal counter looked gorgeous against the polished timber floors.

  This part of the building used to be a conference room and two smaller meeting rooms. The construction crew had removed the internal walls, enlarged the kitchen, and created a dining area that could seat sixty people.

  “Most of the tables and chairs are arriving in the next couple of days.” Elizabeth pointed to the stackable chairs she was assembling. “I wanted to buy more chairs in case we have an extra-large number of guests.”

  Daniel placed the basket on the kitchen counter. “What would you like me to do?”

  Elizabeth scanned the room. “Blake has almost finished unpacking the plates and cutlery. How are you at assembling chairs?”

  “As long as someone shows me what to do, I should be fine.”

  Blake’s blue eyes settled on Elizabeth. “Will your secret help Daniel?”

  Elizabeth’s gaze wondered to Blake’s ear. Whispering the secret in his ear would have been a lot more fun.

  The smile on Blake’s face disappeared. She guessed he was thinking the same thing.

  Daniel cleared his throat. “What secret?”

  Elizabeth sighed. “On the top of each leg is a small ‘F’ or ‘B’. As long as the ‘F’ legs go on the front of the chair, you can’t go wrong.”

  Daniel picked up an electric drill. “That sounds simple enough. What could go wrong?”

  “More than you think,” Elizabeth muttered.