Page 105 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

“I’m happy you feel that way.” I wasn’t ready to bake cookies with him yet. That was going to take some time. Probably a lot of time. Ring-on-my-finger kind of time.

“I do, but in the meantime, I want you to have this.” He unlocked the car, opened the passenger-side door, reached into the glove compartment, and pulled out a silver gift bag before handing it to me.

I bit my lip and took the expensive-looking bag, eyeing it warily.

“It’s nothing lavish, I promise.”

I peeked in the bag to see a rectangular white box. My curiosity got the better of me, and I pulled it out. “You bought me a phone?”

“I did. I figured it was my fault your last one got broken and . . . I can’t in good conscience text your grandfather’s phone.”

I tilted my head. “Why not?”

“Because”—he pulled me close and whispered low in my ear—“I have things I want to say to you that are for your ears and eyes only.”

A shiver so deep ran through me, I swore my knees went weak. I gripped him tightly. “What things are those?” I practically begged him to tell me.

He groaned before whispering things that need not be repeated but set my world on fire. Holy Hannah. My knees were definitely going to buckle. And forget about the cold. I was burning.

He knew exactly how he was affecting me and kept me steady. After giving me massive heart palpitations, he gently brushed my lips with his own. “Tell me when you have your phone set up,” he said, his words full of meaning.

I nodded and made some squeaking noise. I’d never had a man so fully consume me. You better believe I was charging the new phone and connecting it to my service plan ASAP.

“You okay to drive there? You look a little drunk.” He chuckled.

“Don’t sound so pleased with yourself,” I teased.

“Oh, I’m very pleased I can elicit such a response from you.”

I really needed to go, or I was going to do something we weren’t ready for. “I’ll see you soon.”

“I hope things go well with Dani.” He let me go.

“Me too,” my voice waffled. “I don’t know what to say,” I admitted.

“It will come to you. You’re an incredible woman, Kinsley. If we all had hearts like yours, what a better place this world would be.”

“I’m still upset, Brant,” I pulled no punches, needing to let him know exactly where my heart was at the moment. “I see and imagine things I shouldn’t. I wonder why it happened. Did you whisper things to her like you just did to me?” I asked hesitantly, scared to know the answer.

“No,” he said gently. “I’ve never said those things to anyone but you.”

“I’m really trying not to make what happened between the two of you about me, but I don’t want to be second best when it comes to you.” I wiped my eyes. Those pesky tears were showing up again.

He tugged on my dress. His forehead landed on mine. “That will never happen. I promise you. You can ask me anything, and as uncomfortable as it may be for both of us, I swear I will give you an honest answer. I’ll do whatever I can to show you where you stand with me.”

I did have some questions. Some very uncomfortable questions, but they would have to wait until later. Dani couldn’t wait. “Okay. I really do need to go. Thank you for the phone. And thanks for saving my business.”

“Our business.”

“I like the sound of that.” I kissed his cheek. “See you later.”

“I can’t wait.” He seemed reluctant to let me go, but he released me to reach over and open my car door for me. Then he stood out in the cold and watched me drive away.

When I glanced at the rearview mirror to see him, I knew that was not where he belonged. I wasn’t meant to drive away from him. But as I looked ahead, I knew the road would be bumpy, especially at first. I smiled, thinking I should get some better shocks, then laughed ruefully, thinking I wasn’t sure if anything would ever shock me again after all of this. Would anyone even believe this story?

I white-knuckled it to Pine Falls, hoping to catch Dani at Children to Love. I hated to bother her there during her busiest time of year, but this wouldn’t wait. I’d been missing her for far too long, and she had been carrying this weight for long enough. We’d once promised each other that we would get through anything together. Surely, we could get through this, as awkward and painful as it was. Nothing would be as painful as losing her. She’d seen me through the darkest time in my life. And now it was time I saw her through hers, as hard as it would be.

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