Page 118 of Finding Forever

Cyrus seemed startled by the question and he paused for a moment to stare at them through narrow, appraising eyes.

“Is there something I should know?” he finally asked.

“No. I was curious.”

“Odd thing to be curious about,” Cyrus said.

“Allow me to rephrase,” Cade said with an impatient sigh. “If I were to be hit by a bus at some point between now and Fern’s thirtieth birthday would her inheritance remain safe from that predatory fucker?”

Cyrus’s lips twitched and he adjusted his reading glasses on the bridge of his nose.

“Well, I assume she’d be left a wealthy widow, so she wouldn’t really need her inheritance, but no, her stepfather is no longer a threat to her. Especially since wewillbe pursuing criminal charges against him for his fraudulent activities.”

Cade’s smile was frigid.

“Good.”

“Tell me what you’re thinking,”Cade invited in the car on their way home, half an hour later.

Fern tugged at her lower lip with her index finger andthumb for a moment, before replying, “I’m wondering why you asked Cyrus that question. About splitting up?”

Cade was driving, something he rarely did in the city, so he spared her only the briefest of inscrutable glances.

“It’s a pertinent question, don’t you think? Considering our circumstances and the conversation we had last night.”

“Is it what you want? To split up sooner?” she asked, a lump in her throat at the possibility of losing him sooner than she’d anticipated. Then she berated herself sternly for thinking in terms of loss. She didn’thavehim currently. He was on loan to her. And he wouldneverbelong to her. Not really.

“Fern.” His voice was achingly gentle and the lump in her throat expanded to about the size of a hen’s egg, making it difficult to swallow. “I was thinking more about whatyouwanted.”

“What do you mean, whatIwant?” she repeated in confusion, not sure what he meant.

He stopped at a red light and reached across to tenderly stroke her cheek with his thumb.

“You deserve better, remember? You said so yourself, just last night. I asked Cyrus about it because I wanted you to understand that if, at any point, you want to end this sooner, you can do so without any repercussions from Granger. You now have that option.”

An angry horn sounded behind them and he dropped his hand to shift the car into first and continue driving.

“I remember saying that webothdeserve better,” Fern reminded him softly. “But thank you, Cade. It does make me feel more at ease, knowing that webothhave the option to end this whenever we’re ready.”

“So, what will you do?” he asked and she was almost certain there was an undertone of tension in his voice.

“I don’t know yet. I don’t think we need to think about that yet. Maybe we should give it a year? Splitting up now or in theimmediate future, will make us both look like liars. And I’d rather not tarnish your reputation like that.”

“Aah, sweetheart, there you go again, putting someone else’s needs ahead of your own.”

“You’re one to talk. Have youeverput yourself first?”

“See?” he teased, his tone light. “Always worrying about someone else instead of yourself.”

“We’re a fine pair of martyrs, aren’t we?” She laughed and he grinned.

“Where are we going?” she asked, noticing for the first time that they weren’t heading home.

“I thought we could get some lunch and do some Christmas shopping. I also figured maybe you’d want to get some decorations? Make the place feel a bit more festive?”

Fern’s facelit up like a beacon and Cade felt more than a little smug to have placed that look of sheer joy on her face.

She was going to go nuclear when she saw what was waiting for her back home.

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