The woman accepted this as fact, nodded at them both as her goodbye and said, “I’ll get you the numbers next week.”
Remy took a step back and Cassidy did too, stunned by his generosity in action. It was one thing to hear of a plan, and quite another to implement it. “Sounds great. My wife and I have other stops. Take care, Miss Harnet.”
“Thank you.” The young lady closed her blue door.
Cassidy waited till they were far enough away from the house so no one might hear her, but then she asked, “How many people like her did you discover?”
He walked her to his car and took the paper he’d left on the dashboard, which he handed to her. “There are about fifty families we need to visit.”
So he intended to reopen all the businesses lost in the past thirty years on her lands too? She read the files about the remaining families and then she flipped through his tenant files. After funding the businesses, he intended home ownership financing at low rates and low interest business loans to anyone who applied. She glanced up at him, amazed. His numbers seemed high, but the payout predictions were astronomical. She gave it back to him. “Remy, this is beyond what I imagined.”
He folded the papers and walked her to the passenger seat. “In a few years when the businesses are all up and running again, your lands will be fruitful.”
He held her door open for her, but she didn’t go in. Instead she stared at him blankly. “Even with the Internet? Most of us shop online.”
Again he gave her that wink of his. “So, you’re in charge of ensuring our business ventures have a digital footprint.”
She nodded and met his gaze. “I can do that. I never thought about that to be honest. I was too worried about my family and keeping them fed.”
He motioned for her to get in the car. “In helping others, we help ourselves. Grannie taught me that lesson.”
Overwhelmed with love for him, she wrapped her arms around his waist. “Remy, kiss me.”
“Now? We have a lot of stops left to do.” He held her tight and delivered a warm kiss laced with passion.
With a smile, she shrugged. “Then there will be lots of kisses today. Your soul is so pure and good, Remington Burke. I hope you realize it.”
“It’s your job as my wife to remind me.” He nibbled her lower lip.
His logical plans for their future made him even sexier. As his lips pressed against hers she lost track of time and focused on happiness.
When he finally stepped back, she was weak in the knees and when he helped her into the car she didn’t fight. “Let’s get going—I told you that we’d have fun.”
She complied but joked, “Fifty stops and fifty kisses. Today is going to be a good day.”
He laughed and closed her door. As he slipped in beside her to drive, she realized her heart was lighter than it had been in years. She no longer had the burden of her parents’ estate or day-to-day worries of getting by. With Remy running the banking, her tenants could prosper without once tempting her father’s addiction. Remy was one of a kind and she was lucky that he’d always been here for her, as children, as friends and now as her husband.
Chapter 20
Waiting with her mother and her sister, Cassidy traced the sweetheart neckline of her sleeveless dress. The diamond-encrusted waist went into afleur di lisin the back. It was exactly what she’d imagined for herself, including the fluffy, chiffon skirt. She tried to stop her legs from shaking as she dressed in the guest bedroom of Bei Giardini Manor, her home.
Her mother and sister both dressed in sparkling pink knee-length dresses, and neither had left her side—right now they argued over a broach Francesca thought would complement her sister’s neckline. Chelsea didn’t like it.
Just then her phone rang and Cassidy scooped it up before anyone had a chance to stop her. She saw Remy’s name and sighed. “Hello.”
His deep voice was like thick hot chocolate that soothed the soul on a cold day. “Cassidy, I just needed to hear your voice.”
She giggled and whispered, “I’ll see you in a few minutes.”
His voice became more serious. “You’re not by yourself?”
If she said yes, he’d probably send the army. She shook her head though he couldn’t see her but continued to whisper, “No, my sister and mother are both here with me.” Her mother then held out her hand like she was twelve and caught on the phone after bedtime. She covered the speaker and said, “They are signaling I should get off the phone.”
“Okay, but hurry,” Remy said.
“We’re leaving for the church now.” Cassidy met her mother’s knowing gaze.
Someone started to talk to Remington in the background. He said, “I have to go.”
