Page 63 of Tangled Kisses
And yet tonight, Lauren offered me exactly what I need.
I know what Lauren wants. I have no clue about my beautiful Reese.
But God help me, she’s the only oneIwant.
Lauren’s offerremains at the forefront of my brain for the rest of my trip. She doesn’t mention it again, but she takes my business proposal and promises to look it over when she’s not fussing over table seatings and arrangements.
Still, it gnaws at me. Lauren has never spoken of marriage before. And while I believe she means well, and that her offer would solve all my problems, it would create one I can’t live with. Because saying yes to her would mean giving up any chance with the woman I’m falling for.
It doesn’t matter if Lauren and I don’t share a bed—Reese wouldneveraccept a role as the other woman. I’m left with a sense of foreboding, because it seems easier for Lauren to propose marriage than to hand over the kind of capital I need for my business. Start-up costs, marketing, machinery, the cash to float me for six months while I build a name—we’re not talking thousands, we’re talking hundreds of thousands.
Don’t get me wrong. I care about Lauren deeply. But her proposal blindsided me.
When her driver pulls up to my cabin a few days later, Lauren presses a small envelope into my hand. “Thank you for putting up with all my obnoxious friends this weekend and for keeping me entertained. You make life bearable.”
“It’s always a pleasure,” I reply, and it is.
“Stop worrying so much.”
“Don’t know if that’s possible.”
“Now you sound like me.” She slides a few crisp bills from her wallet and holds them out. “Go have some fun. Get a drink at the bar. Do what young men do.”
“I don’t need that, Lauren.”
But she won’t be dissuaded, as she closes my hand over the money. “Take it. You’ve earned it.”
She steps out with me to grab my bags from the trunk. When she lifts one of the cases, she nods toward a hatbox tucked to the side.
“That one is yours too.”
I pull it free, lifting the lid to reveal a brand-new Stetson. Five hundred bucks worth of craftsmanship, the same one I’d lingered on in a shop window more than once.
“I saw you looking at it last time,” she says with a soft smile. “Consider it a gift.”
Her wallet barely felt the hit, but for me this hat would take months of squirreling away tips and overtime. The reminder sits heavy as I set it back in the box.
“You’ve got to stop buying me things. I feel bad I can’t get you anything.”
“You do plenty for me. Don’t worry.” Her gaze is kind, steady. “It’s just money, Griffin.”
“Easy words to say when you’ve got it.”
“We’ll figure something out.”
With that, Lauren smiles, giving a little wave as the car rolls away. I watch the headlights disappear into the dark until the gravel settles. Dean is behind the wheel, so I know she’ll be safe.
I carry the envelope and hatbox inside, strip off my tie, shrug out of the suit coat, and change into my everyday duds. Before I head back out, I settle the new Stetson onto my head.
Lauren is right—I could use a drink. But more than that, I need to find Reese. Four days without her has already felt like a lifetime. I’m not sure how many more I can take.
Chapter Fifteen
Reese
Maybe Piper’s right. Maybe I don’t need an epic, all-consuming love right now.
Maybe I just need to have fun—hell, get laid properly for once.
