Page 123 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

Brant pulled up to the back door. “I’ll keep the car warm.” He was obviously anxious to get to his place. If he only knew that my gift to him was going to be way better than anything he got me. I had to think on my toes.

“Uh . . . could you come in with me? It creeps me out now to be by myself.”

He didn’t hesitate to throw the car in park and turn it off.

I kissed his cheek. “Thank you.” I quickly hopped out, not waiting for him to open my door like he normally did. I ran around the car, not even feeling the bite in the air. My adrenaline was pumping. I held my purse with the ring tight against me while Brant punched in the code.

We walked in, and per my instructions, “I Go Crazy” was playing on the surround sound. It was the first song Brant had sung to me.

Brant looked up at the break room ceiling and grimaced. “Someone forgot to turn off the surround sound. Who closed tonight?”

I shrugged. “I think Jai. I’ll talk to him. Good song, though,” I added.

Brant flashed me a sexy smile. “I’ll give you another private performance tonight.”

“I look forward to it.” I grabbed his hand and pulled him along past my office and the kitchen to the main area.

“Kins, let’s grab her gift and go.”

“We are,” I lied again.

It didn’t escape Brant’s attention that lights had been left on too. He grumbled about it in true owner fashion. I had to stifle my laugh.

When we reached the main dining area, we found the tables cleared to the side of the room except for one in the middle topped with a vase of red roses, chilling champagne, and Brant’s favorite chocolate silk cheesecake. I’d made it earlier in the day.

I spun around to look at Brant’s reaction. His head was tilted. “What’s this?”

“Come see,” I said in my best come-hither voice, even though I was more nervous than I had ever been. I could hardly believe I was about to propose to the man. As a girl, I’d imagined this moment and I was always on the receiving end. But I liked that I was being proactive and moving forward on my terms for once. All while praying he wanted to tag along.

Brant followed me, and I helped him into his seat.

“Thank you,” he sounded confused, and I think a bit weirded out that I was playing his part.

I proceeded anyway. I put my purse on my seat before reaching into it and grabbing the ring box, doing my best to conceal it in my hand before I placed it behind my back.

Brant tilted his head. “What do you have there?”

“You’ll see.” I took about fifty deep breaths before I approached him again.

By this point, Brant was probably beginning to have some reservations about my mental health. That made two of us.

I stood in front of him, and since he was so tall and I was so short, he didn’t have far to look up.

“Hi,” I said super breathily.

“Hi.” He grinned.

I took a moment to look into his beautiful eyes. I still saw myself in them. It gave me the push I needed to continue with this crazy plan. “So, here it is. I love you.”

“I love you too.”

“That’s good. Really good,” I rambled. “Since we’re in love and all, I was thinking . . .” I was an idiot—this wasn’t what I had practiced at all. I was supposed to wax poetic about how we were good partners and how he lit up my world. That the first time we’d kissed I felt our souls connect. Zero of that came out. “Well, I guess what I’m trying to say is . . .” I dropped to bended knee on the cold hard floor. It kind of hurt, I’m not going to lie.

Brant’s brow shot up.

I held out the ring box and opened it. “Will you marry me?” I asked quickly before I lost my nerve, and before the flood of tears came.

“Kins,” he stuttered.

I was crying and blinking so much I couldn’t gauge his reaction. But it wasn’t lost on me that he hadn’t said yes. I began to stand. “It’s okay if you don’t want to,” I blubbered.

He jumped up and wrapped me in his arms, smooshing the ring between us. “Kinsley, of course I’ll marry you. You just caught me off guard, is all. And beat me to the punch.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a stunning halo diamond ring. That baby could break through a dense fog and help guide a ship to port. “I was planning on proposing tonight.”

We both broke out into fits of laughter.

Brant took my hand and slipped the gorgeous ring on. It was an exact fit. I took his hand and placed his ring right where it belonged. We clasped hands to seal the deal. He drew me to him and gently brushed my lips with his own. “Merry Christmas, my love.”

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