Page 129 of Tangled Kisses
I don’t have to think about my response. “I love it, and I’m good at it. That patio I constructed for the ranch? Watching everyone gather there made me feel like I’d built something that mattered.”
“You’re incredibly talented,” she agrees, giving me a smile that melts straight through me.
“Appreciate it.”
Then her smile fades just a touch. “But you shouldn’t have to rely on Lauren to make it happen.”
“Well, that’s no longer a possibility. She had stringent parameters in her deal, which I couldn’t abide.”
Reese tips her head and giggles, her fingers drumming the side of her cup. “Oh, hell no. She’s not marrying my man. That’s my job.”
Her words hit like a sucker punch. She’s in this, just as deep as I am.
Trust me, there’s no better feeling in the whole damn world.
“Reese—”
“But here’s the thing.” She cuts me off gently, sliding her hand fully into mine. “I have a 401k. Been saving for years. I was thinking about cashing some of it out. Enough to get your business started without Lauren.”
I shake my head. “Reese, no. I don’t want your money. I just want you.”
“I know.” Her voice is steady, but her grip tightens on my hand. “But I want us. And I want us to have a future thatisn’t dependent on anyone else. You’re a damn good investment, Griffin.”
That line sticks like a blade in my chest—sharp, sweet, unforgettable.
But it’s also unexpected and a bit overwhelming.
I ease my hand out of hers, my palms pressing against my thighs as I lean back. “Can we just enjoy today? Let me stew on it?”
She nods. “Fair. Just promise you’ll think about it.”
“Promise,” I murmur, pushing up from the table. “But first, a refill. You want one?”
“Always,” she says with a smile, and I know I’m ruined for life.
I slide back into my chair a few minutes later, the mugs warm in my hands, steam curling up between us.
My phone buzzes against the table, screen lighting with a message from Lauren.
Lauren: I need to arrive early to the fundraiser. Does that work for you?
Shit. Of course she’d pick now to send a text.
I lock the screen without answering, but the damage is done. The reminder sits heavy in my chest.
I need to let Reese know about Lauren’s request.
God, I don’t want to. Don’t want to scuff the shine on our day.
But I swore I’d never hide the truth from her, and I’m not about to start now.
I clear my throat. “Actually, I need to tell you something, too. It’s about Lauren.”
Her expression slips, her lips pressing together. She rubs the back of her neck, gaze darting away. “I get now why you didn’t enjoy being on the receiving end of that sentence. Is it bad?”
“I hope not.”
The warmth fades from her face, and I drag a hand across my jaw, stumbling forward. “There’s a fundraiser next week in Tangled Vines for the new critical access hospital. Lauren asked me months ago to go as her date—strictly a friend thing. More like a bodyguard gig. She wants backup since a few adversaries will be there, and…” My voice trails as I watch her face fall.
