Page 43 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

“I would appreciate it if you would let me talk to her first,” he said, very businesslike.

“Assuming this all works out,” I added. This wasn’t a done deal by a long shot.

He smiled. “Yes, of course, I’m getting ahead of myself. What are your other concerns?”

“What if Giselle and Carter don’t agree to take the offer?”

His jaw tightened at the mention of their names. “They’ll take it,” he said, so convinced.

“I’m not sure. Giselle is livid about me not accepting their offer, and she’s threatened to run Two Girls and a Guy into the ground.”

Brant’s lips twitched. “Which is exactly why they’ll sell it to you. They don’t have any passion for the place. Believe me, they’ll be happy to take the money and run.”

“Speaking of money. If we become profitable, I would like to start paying you back so that we have an equal partnership.”

He pressed his lips together for a moment before saying, “You are more than my equal.”

I gave him a small smile. “Not on paper, where it counts.”

He thought for a moment. “How about this? Since you’re handling the day-to-day operations, I’ll put a clause into the contract that will allow you to purchase shares with your sweat equity.”

“That seems unfair to you.”

“Kinsley,” he said with an air of frustration, “I know full well what I’m getting into and offering. Why are you trying to shortchange yourself?”

“I’m not. I only want this to be fair. And for once in my life, I don’t want to feel like I’m in an unbalanced relationship—business relationship, that is,” I fumbled to say. Then I made it more awkward by saying, “I mean, I don’t want to be in an unbalanced personal relationship either. Actually, I don’t want to be in any personal relationships. With men, that is.” Wow. I sounded like a fool. I hung my head and cringed. Why couldn’t I just keep my mouth shut?

With the crook of his finger, he lifted my chin. I was met with a soft look. One that had me internally sighing. Would I ever get over him?

“Kinsley, I promised you this would be a business relationship.” He let go of my chin and stepped back, clearing his throat. “I meant that. And believe me when I say this: I am by far getting the better end of this deal. It is I who owe you.”

I shook my head. “How can you say that?”

He shoved his hands into his pockets and kicked a rock. “Because this seems like heaven after the hell I’ve been through the last couple of years.”

I blinked a few times, stunned by his honesty. “What hell?”

“I know I keep saying this, but I promise, one day soon, I will tell you. I have to . . . ,” he trailed off.

“Have to?” That sounded menacing.

His face burned bright red. “Yes, but we’ll get to that someday.” He took in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Any other concerns?”

Uh, yes. What he just said concerned me. A lot. I felt as if he were trying to warn me. Warn me about what? Obviously, he wasn’t going to tell me right now. His cryptic behavior was maddening. Yet I had more pressing matters. Not only did I need to iron out some things with him regarding hiring new employees and rebranding, but there was a matter of utmost importance that needed to be resolved.

“I need you to forget that I kissed you,” I mumbled. It was embarrassing, but it had to be said. I felt like it was always a huge elephant in the room whenever we were together. And maybe if he could forget, I could forget too. Or perhaps he already had, and he could let me know. Yes, it would hurt if it had meant nothing to him, but it would be the good kind of pain. The kind that would bring about the change I needed.

He had to steady himself as if I had pushed him.

He wasn’t the only one who needed steadying. His reply had me wishing I had something to hold on to.

“I’m sorry. I’ll never forget that moment. I don’t want to.” He was adamant.

I dropped my water bottle, making a loud clanking noise against a rock on the trail, and stared at him, dumbfounded. Neither of us moved to pick up the bottle. Neither of us moved at all. We seemed locked in each other’s gaze. It wasn’t a bad place to be, and for a moment I foolishly let myself get lost in his eyes. I swore I saw in them what I had wanted to see for many years now—me. But I had to be mistaken. It didn’t matter that he didn’t want to forget that kiss; I knew eventually he would forget me. They all do. I needed to remember that.

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