Page 121 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

Because of all the craziness, we were all trying to keep a low profile, and we had hired security to be with us wherever we went. Even at the restaurant. They posed as customers so as not to scare my patrons.

With everything that was going on, I wanted to do something really special for Brant for Christmas. I’d been racking my brain. I mean, what do you get the man who has everything? We’re talking private jet level of everything. Then it dawned on me what he really wanted but would never ask for. At least not right now. Me.

Yeah, it was a doozy of a present. One I had to think long and hard about. For days, I thought about it. I even made a list:

Brant and I have known each other for years.

I have loved Brant for years.

Brant is a good man.

Brant loves his mother.

Brant loves me.

Brant is wonderful with children.

Brant wants children.

Brant respects me and my body.

Brant is an excellent business partner.

Brant is an excellent partner.

Brant is the best cookie baker, or so he says. But I believe him. Not that sex is a good reason to get married, but I looked forward to us making love.

I stared at the list often, and thoughts about how we hadn’t been dating long would pop into my head. And yes, thoughts of his and Dani’s one-night stand creeped in as well. But those excuses didn’t hold a lot of weight when compared to the list. And truthfully, we were headed toward marriage. Brant made that very clear. We’d talked about all the cookie monsters he wanted to create from baking cookies with me. He wanted five. I was thinking more like three or four. We’d decided to reevaluate after each cookie monster. See, we were talking children and building a life together. It made me come to my conclusion.

I decided to go for it.

I had no idea the kind of pressure it was to pull off a proposal. Especially considering my life was in fishbowl status. I had to enlist the help of my sisters, Jai, Amelia, and some of the security detail. They loved my desserts, so it wasn’t hard to convince them.

Dani got Brant’s ring size for me. It was easy, as she was married to his identical twin. Ariana knew a custom jeweler at The District who could fashion the perfect ring in time for Christmas. She’d said it was for Jonah. Amelia and Jai were willing to stay late on Christmas Eve and create a romantic atmosphere at the restaurant after all our patrons had left for the night. My plan was to make up something and take Brant there after midnight service with his family. The Hollands were willing to risk the scrutiny to worship God on the holiest of nights. I had to admire their dedication. My security detail knew of the plan and would follow us accordingly.

The closer Christmas got, the more nervous I became. I was practicing getting down on one knee and what I would say. I’d bought five different outfits, which was saying something for me. I never spent money on clothes like that, but I wanted everything to be perfect.

Christmas Eve arrived, and I was a hot mess. I fretted over every detail, and I even broke down wondering what I would do if he said no. Did men stress about this? Holy Hannah. I would never do one of those big public announcement kind of proposals where you could be rejected in front of hundreds or thousands of people.

By the time Brant picked me up from the restaurant, I was a giant stress ball. My leg was bouncing a mile a minute as we drove to the church. Brant reached over and rested his warm hand on my bare leg. I’d gone with the red long-sleeved bandage dress that showed off every curve I owned, yet was tasteful and appropriate for church.

“Kins, you need to relax. No one is going to crucify you tonight.”

I wasn’t too sure about that, given the way the press had behaved and even some of the Hollands’ so-called friends. Regardless, I wasn’t worried about any of that tonight. I was about to, hopefully, commit my life to the man I loved.

“I’m fine,” I lied. “By the way, you still love me, right?”

My odd question had his brows knitting together. “Yes. Why would you ask such a question?”

“Just checking.”

His hand moved a tad bit up my leg and caressed it, sending my skin into a goose bump festival. “I’m sorry if I’ve been neglecting you lately. But you don’t ever have to worry about how I feel about you. I love you.”

He hadn’t been neglecting me. We spent every waking moment we could together. Even if he was working late, we were together. I let out a huge sigh of relief. “Okay.”

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