Page 163 of For the Sub

As if not comprehending, unsure what to say, Brandy blinked.

“I’d thought we were happily married.”

Her knees buckled a little before she caught herself.

“Or at least happy enough.”

“Oh, Niles…”

“When I went to the morgue to identify her body, she was wearing a ring that wasn’t the one I’d given her.”

Brandy absently stroked Dana’s head.

“And then… The rest of the details emerged over days, weeks…” He recounted finding out about Dale, and the proposal on Lookout Mountain, ending with, “Dale’s family loved her, and they had no clue about her secret life, either.”

“This is…” She blew a breath between her pursed lips. “I can’t begin to understand what you’ve been dealing with.”

“I didn’t want to ruin her reputation.”

“So you kept it quiet,” she guessed.

“Yeah.”

“Damien and Gregorio? They know?”

“The only two people on the planet, besides you and me and Dale’s family.”

“I appreciate you telling me.” When Dana whined, she scratched behind the dog’s ear. “But you didn’t need to.”

“You’re the most important person to me, Brandy. And I’m serious that I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”

A soft sob caught in her throat. “I’ve told you before that I can’t compete with a ghost.”

“I’m not asking you to.”

Without being invited, he pulled back a chair and sat.

The anguish of all of this, her refusal to say she loved him as well, was exacting a toll.

“I saw Damien and Gregorio. And…”

“And?” she prompted.

“Damien told me I had to let go of the past if I had any hope of a future.”

She nodded. “Sound advice.”

“Gregorio threatened to crack my head if I caused you any further emotional harm.”

Half smiling, she asked, “Did he really?”

“Yeah.”

“He could do it.”

“And I have no doubt he meant it,” Niles confirmed. “You deserve to be treated well, by someone who would sacrifice anything for your happiness.”

“It’s taken me a while to believe that myself.”

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