Page 58 of New Hope, Old Grudges

Like Brody.

“You don’t have to wear it—”

Brody’s hand curled behind my neck, then he drew me forward until our mouths met, kissing me brutally.

I returned the kiss enthusiastically until he broke it off.

Brody kept me close, our noses almost touching as his eyes seared into mine. “Besides what I’m holding right now,” he squeezed my neck meaningfully, “this is the most precious thing I’ve ever had.”

My breath turned shallow. Even though he shared his feelings freely, I never got used to the intensity of them. And how they felt right when they shouldn’t. Not after this short of a time.

Brody leaned back so he could slip on the ring.

On his left hand.

Fourth finger.

I opened my mouth. Closed it again. Opened it again. To say what, I didn’t know, but Brody didn’t give me the opportunity.

“Since we’re doing gifts…” He let me go only to reach into the pocket of his jeans.

“This was incredibly hard to find, but your friend, Avery, is a force of nature.” He peered up from beneath his lashes, presenting a box.

I didn’t know what to say first. “How did you know about Avery?” I asked, deciding that was the most sensible question, and that it would help me recover from the ring episode.

He grinned, showing off his white smile. “I’m the sheriff, remember?”

I thought about that. Even a great sheriff couldn’t connect those dots.

“That and she called the station demanding to speak to me, then threatened to disembowel me if I hurt you again,” he added with twinkling eyes.

I let out a chuckle. “Yeah, that sounds like Avery.”

“Like that for you, baby,” he murmured softly, running his thumb along my bottom lip. “That you’ve got a friend like that.”

“Yeah, me too.” I missed my friend. I was so looking forward to her coming here, showing off New Hope. Showing off Brody.

A weird thought. I’d also limited the exchanges she had with Geoff, knowing she didn’t like him. I’d never been proud of my fiancé, a part of me knew he was the wrong one. That’s why I’d never brought him home.

“Anyway, now that I’m seeing what you’ve got me, I’m second-guessing this.” Brody’s words jerked me out of my thoughts, finding him gesturing with the box.

He moved to put it back in his pocket, but I snatched it off him with a grin. “Uh-uh, no take-backs,” I waggled my finger. “Plus, if Avery was involved, it can’t be bad.”

I realized my hands were shaking as I unwrapped the box. It was small. Jewelry for sure. Jewelry was not a first holiday together kind of gift, especially when your relationship started at thebeginningof the holidays.

My hands shook even more as I ran my fingers over the glossy emblem against the velvet box.

WWWwas stitched into the fabric.

I looked up at him.

For the first time in his life, Brody looked unsure, rubbing the back of his neck. “See, now I’m questioning this. Giving you something you made seems so fucking stupid, but—”

I held my finger up to silence him before opening the box. Inside it was a silver necklace. The interlocking chain was chunky, deliberately inconsistent sizes and textures. TheWWWin the middle of the necklace was delicate and fine compared to the links around it. A tiny diamond was set into the peak of the last W.

It was the first piece I ever sold. I recognized it immediately because it was one of a kind. I knew that people scrambled after this particular piece, its scarcity making it all the more popular. And valuable.

My eyes were misty as I looked up at Brody.

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