Page 166 of Tangled Kisses
I take a sip of wine, fighting back a grin. “Don’t worry. I’ve got extra napkins in the cabinet just for you.”
Her eyes narrow in mock suspicion, but her smile blooms anyway. “Awesome.”
We eat in comfortable silence for a few minutes, the fire popping softly in the stove. It feels easy, something I never thought we’d have again.
Then she stills, her gaze darting to the corner of the coffee table. The check. The one she handed me the night she broke me in half. She picks it up, fingers brushing over the envelope. “You didn’t cash it.”
“No.” I set my bowl aside, leaning back. “After that night, there was no way I could.”
Her eyes glisten. The fork shakes in her hand. “Hurting you was the worst thing I ever had to do.”
“No.” My voice comes out rough. “Enduring what you had to with that piece of shit—that was worse.”
She shakes her head, tears brimming now. “I could handle that. But knowing I hurt the man I love more than life itself? That was the worst thing I’ve ever done. A pain I never want to feel again.”
The heaviness settles between us, threatening to pull us both under again.
Not this time.
I lean closer, brushing the sauce-slick corner of her mouth with mine. “Don’t hurt me again. Problem solved.”
A laugh breaks from her throat, and she kisses me back, tasting faintly of tomato and wine. “Deal. On one condition.” She nudges the envelope toward me. “You cash the check.”
“Nope. You’re going to deposit it back into your retirement account.”
“What about your business?”
“It’s taken care of.”
Her eyes narrow as she repositions herself on the couch. “Did Lauren agree to help you? Because you’re marrying me,remember? She can invest in you as a business partner, but I’m not budging on the other part.”
Damn, but she’s adorable. She arrived in Tangled Vines as a runaway bride. Now she’s all but demanding I marry her. Funny thing is, I’m not sure she realizes how close she is to getting her way.
“No,” I reply with a laugh. “I don’t think Lauren is a big fan of mine anymore. Not after the showdown at the fundraiser.”
“I’ll talk to her,” Reese replies, sipping her wine. “Clear all that up.”
“Don’t worry about it. I don’t need her money.”
“Griffin, honey, it takes capital to start a business.”
“I know.” I set my fork down, running a hand over my jaw. “My dad didn’t do a lot right, especially not by Pearl. He couldn’t live with the guilt of causing the accident, so he put alcohol and space between them. All my sister ever wanted was for her dad to love her.”
Her face softens. “Oh, Griffin…”
“But the one thing he did right? He took out a two-million-dollar life insurance policy years ago. It goes to Pearl, so she’s set for life. A damn good life, too. But she insisted I take two hundred and fifty thousand to invest in my business. So I guess in a way, my sister’s my first investor.”
Reese blinks, stunned. “I love that so much, because Pearl always wanted to help you like you helped her.”
I shrug, but inside I’m raw with relief. “Guess Dad took care of us after all.”
Reese sets her bowl aside and curls into my lap. “Would Pearl be up for guests? I’d like to spend a few days with her.”
“You would?”
“Of course. I’m sure she’s really hurting.” Reese nuzzles my neck, determined to be as close as possible. “I could keep hercompany. We could talk, go shopping, or cook. I don’t know. I’d just like to be there for her.”
God, this woman.
