Page 58 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

Regardless, it didn’t deter Tristan from walking around the table and embracing me. “You look smashing, darling.” He kissed my cheek.

I backed away from him, refusing to enjoy his touch. He’d made his choice, and like Ariana had said, it had been too easy to move on from him. Yes, I still had feelings for him, but I wasn’t pining for him. There was only one man I pined for. The man who saved me in my dreams and even in real life. Why did he keep doing that? The better question was why I allowed him to, consciously and subconsciously.

I had another question: “What are you doing here?” I asked Tristan, who looked frustrated by the distance I had placed between us.

“I am Miles’s editor.”

That didn’t explain anything, as he hadn’t been planning on coming to the release party before.

Tristan stepped closer and rested his warm hand on my cheek. “I missed you, Kins.”

I let out a heavy sigh. I didn’t want to do this with him. “I need to get back to work.”

He dropped his hand and nodded. “Of course. Can we talk after?” When I didn’t respond, he added, “Please, love, I flew across an ocean to see you. That must count for something,” he pleaded.

I bit my lip and debated. His puppy dog eyes and that accent got to me. “Fine,” I rushed to say. It wasn’t going to change anything, but we had been together for almost a year, and perhaps we both needed the closure. Except I knew he hadn’t come here to say goodbye.

He let out a relieved breath before giving me another peck on the cheek. “See you soon.”

I watched him walk over to Miles. Brant, curiously, seemed to follow him. That was a mistake, as a reporter pounced on him. From a distance, I was barely able to hear the reporter ask, “With the election next week, do you have any regrets about dropping out of the race?”

“Not one,” Brant responded with finesse.

That surprised me, considering it had been his life goal.

It seemed to take the reporter by surprise, too, judging by his widened eyes, yet he wasn’t deterred. “You’ve still never given a solid answer as to why you dropped out. Care to give one now?”

Brant smiled his best politician smile. “And ruin the chance for you to criticize me on your show? I’m a nicer guy than that.”

Whoa. That was spectacular and kind of sexy. Okay, it was a lot sexy, but I was too hurt by him to give him full props.

The reporter spluttered, apparently at a loss for what to say.

Brant walked off with a spring to his step.

It was a good thing Sheridan tugged on my arm—otherwise I would have continued to ogle Brant, which wasn’t good for my mental health.

“My friend Marianne wants to know if you’ve ever paired the panna cotta with hot fudge instead of fruit,” Sheridan said.

I tried to shake the thoughts of men out of my head. “I don’t use hot fudge, but I have a great dark chocolate sauce that tastes fantastic with it.”

Marianne’s eyes lit up. “That sounds wonderful. Is that something I could place as a special order at your restaurant? I entertain quite often, and that would be perfect for my next dinner party.”

“Yes, of course. We can cater any size group. Let me get you my card, and we can discuss menu options over the phone or in person.” I stepped to the side to retrieve a card from my bag, which I had hidden in one of the boxes sitting at the bottom of a catering cart. While searching for a card, I heard the woman ask Sheridan, “I didn’t realize you had gone into the catering business, Sheridan.”

“This is Kinsley’s show; I’m only helping out.”

“Oh good; I would hate to think that John had left you high and dry. I hope you plan to take him for half of what he’s worth.”

I whipped my head in Sheridan’s direction to see how she would respond to such a callous, insensitive remark.

Sheridan stood tall and gripped the table. “Thank you for your concern, Marianne, but you have no idea what he’s worth to me.”

Marianne blinked and blinked, stunned into silence. I, too, had to wonder what Sheridan meant by that comment. Was there hope for a reconciliation, or was she saying she was resigned to the state they were currently in? Honestly, the Hollands had my mind reeling constantly, trying to figure them out.

I walked back over and handed Marianne my card even though I wasn’t sure I wanted to do business with her after her ridiculous remark. But for Sheridan’s sake, I played nice. “I look forward to hearing from you.”

That shook her out of her stupor. “Yes.” She took the card. “I’ll be in touch.” She walked away without a word to Sheridan.

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