Page 76 of Trouble Me
Colin stared at Shane for several seconds, letting what Shane was telling him sink in. “You’re giving me an out? Why?”
Shane picked up a pen and tapped it against the desk, but didn’t meet Colin’s gaze. “Because I understand where you’re coming from, little brother. To want something so bad, you’ll do whatever it takes to get it.” He thought of Emma and how if he only knew a way to get her attention. Shaking the thought off, he focused back on the task at hand. “You should go, do what you want in life. KVN isn’t what you want to do, and it doesn’t have to be. Go find what is for you.”
Colin’s Adam’s apple bobbed when he swallowed. “I don’t deserve your understanding, Shane. I didn’t do the same for you.”
Shane smiled sadly. “No, you didn’t. But we’re family. The only family we have left. You lost your way for a minute, but now you’re back.” He stood and rounded the desk, hand held out to his brother. “I wish you all the best in your next endeavor.”
Colin stood slowly and shook Shane’s hand, shock still filling his eyes. “Thank you.”
“Come here.” Shane pulled Colin into a hug, slapping him on the back. “I love you, Colin. You’ll always be a Kavanaugh, so I expect to hear great things come out of the Valley from you.”
He nodded. “Absolutely.”
Shane waved a hand. “Go on. I’ll handle the press release of your resignation.” He winked at Colin.
“Have I told you lately that you’re fucking awesome?” Colin asked with a grin.
Ah yeah, there was the brother he knew and loved. Shane laughed. “No, but you can tell me again.”
“I’m headed to the house for a while. You coming?”
Shane nodded. “I’ll be there shortly.”
“I’ll let everyone know.”
“Thanks, man.”
They bumped fists and Colin crossed the room to leave but stopped when he got to the doorway. “Hey, Shane?”
Shane stopped behind his desk. “Yeah?”
“You remind me of dad running this company already. He’d be proud.”
Speechless, Shane could only nod as he sat in his chair.
“Oh, and another thing. You should really go after what you want as well. Make it right.” He knocked on the doorway once before walking away.
Make it right.
He’d made it right with Colin. If only he knew how the hell to do that with Emma and his own life. For that, he didn’t have a clue.
He rose and crossed to the wine fridge that was built into the wall of his office, selecting a vintage sparkling wine the KVN vineyard had produced years before. Looking down at the bottle, he remembered when his father had given it to him, telling him to save it for something special. He figured drinking it now was as close as he was going to get. A solitary drink to the memory of his father.
Snagging a glass from the dark, oak-colored sideboard, Shane walked back to his desk, setting the glass and bottle on his desk with a thud. He shed his suit jacket, tossing it on the desk, and rolled up his sleeves before sitting down with a heavy sigh. The pop of the cork from the bottle filled the room and he poured the golden liquid to the rim of the glass. Kicking his legs out, he tipped his glass in salute toward the windows. “This one’s for you, Dad. Bottoms up.”
Shane drank more deeply than was considered appropriate according to wine connoisseurs, but at this moment he didn’t give a flying fuck what anyone thought. The only thing he cared about was forgetting about the impending changes in his life and a bewitching brunette he couldn’t get out of his head. He was pissed off at himself for thinking about her so damn much when he had a full plate to deal with concerning the company.
He should have known better, should have heeded the bells and sirens that had gone off in his head the first time they’d met. The woman had troubled him and tied him in knots ever since he’d walked into that dingy diner.
Shoving a hand through his hair, Shane stared into the bubbly liquid that glittered in his hand. There was no going back now. The hell of it was, he was going to have to move forward without her, leaving behind a vital piece of himself that she didn’t want, but owned anyway.
Buried in all the heartache of losing his dad was also the heartache of knowing the one good thing he’d had in his life—ever—was gone. They’d both done their share of hurting each other, but even knowing that didn’t ease the ache in his bones. He didn’t have a guide or plan to get over her, but forgetting her was crucial.
Halfway through the second glass, his father’s voice floated through his mind. One of the last things he’d said to Shane before quietly going into that good night.
“My point is this: if you love her, you make it right. No matter how many times I showed my ass to your mother, I made it right. And she forgave me. Now, I’m not saying it’s going to be easy for you. You have a few more complications than your mother and I had. But you’ll figure it out. And whatever you decide to do to make it right, I stand behind you.”
All Shane had ever wanted to do was make his father proud. And all this time, Shane thought that meant what he could prove to his father professionally. He knew now that his father wanted Shane to be successful in love as well. His father gave him his blessing.
