Page 2 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

Brant’s feelings for Dani hadn’t quelled my own for him. There was just something about him that called to me.

“Who said anything about hide-and-go-seek?” Brant gripped the steering wheel, almost as if he were daring himself to prolong our time together.

A bit of hope flared in me, even though I knew it wasn’t wise. I let go of the door, knowing full well I was skidding onto thin ice that would at any moment plunge me into the frigid waters of reality. Brant was planning on entering the US Senate race next year and . . . well . . . I wasn’t senator girlfriend material. I think that role was meant for Jill Copeland. I’d heard her name for years and finally met her last week when she’d come to visit Brant. I’d been comparing myself to her ever since. We both had similar small frames, except I would say I was shapelier and more toned than her. I had long blonde hair to her dull-brown, medium-length hair that she didn’t quite know how to style, or maybe she’d been distracted and only curled half of her hair that night. Or there was a chance I was being overcritical because I was jealous that she’d hung on his arm and every word. Okay, there was no doubt I was jealous. She was not only senator girlfriend material, but she would make an excellent senator’s wife. Her father worked with the President of the United States, and she held some high-power corporate job back East. On top of that, she was intelligent and well-traveled. Though she spoke quietly, she was eloquent. Quite honestly, she intimidated me. But in my opinion, she and Brant didn’t look at all like they fit together. Yet, she fit into his world. Me, on the other hand—I knew I didn’t belong. I’d never been anywhere of consequence, and the only higher education I could boast of was a bachelor’s degree from culinary school. Did it count that I was top of my class? I doubted it would count for much in the Hollands’ world.

I tucked some hair behind my ear. “Did you have something in mind?” I asked, not quite believing he actually did and trying to keep hope from showing in my voice. I too often wore my heart on my sleeve and let my feelings fall out of my mouth before I could stop them, especially around him.

Brant took a deep breath in and let it out slowly. “I do.” He smiled as if he had done something brave.

“Oh.” I bit my lip. “I’m game for whatever.” Ugh. Why did I have to sound so eager? I would like to say it was because I was an optimist. That as a child I had believed my mom when she’d whispered into my ear at bedtime, telling me that whatever good I put out into the world would come back to me. In actuality, it was because I had unrealistic hopes and dreams that I could never seem to let go of. Brant being the biggest one. I’d been infatuated with him since I was sixteen and Dani had brought him and Brock home for us to finally meet the famed Holland brothers she’d talked so much about. The first time Brant had smiled at me, he’d sparked this unquenchable desire that still burned to this day. So, what had I done? I’d run up to my room, embarrassed he had even acknowledged my existence. I should probably run away now, but I wouldn’t. I knew our time together was set to expire, and I foolishly wanted every second I could have with him before he did what his father expected of him and married someone like Jill.

Brant didn’t seem to mind my eagerness—in fact, he let go of the steering wheel and sank back into his leather seat. “Well, I feel it’s my solemn duty to rectify a certain situation.”

My brow popped. “What situation is that?”

“The fact you’ve never seen one Star Wars movie.”

I laughed. “Why does it bother you so much?” On one of our runs a month ago, we had talked incessantly about his love for the movie franchise and his dismay that I’d never seen one. Our runs. I treasured our time together, when the stars aligned, and we could both sneak away for a run through his parents’ property on a secluded trail above Carrington Cove. No one knew about the time we’d spent together in those hills over the last several months. It was in this very truck last year at Thanksgiving that I had boldly asked Brant if he wanted to run together, after he’d mentioned he needed some motivation to get back at it. I hadn’t expected him to say yes, or that together we would brave the cold and snow the very next day. That one run had led to another and another, even if it meant that sometimes our runs were more like walks because of the snow or rain. I loved how we could talk about everything and nothing. From movies to business, we never ran out of things to say. Not only was he funny, but he was insightful. He’d given me great business advice, including marketing ideas and how to deal with my difficult partners. I say difficult, but that was an understatement. Carter and Giselle, my supposed friends since culinary school, made my life a living hell on almost a daily basis. Dani and Ariana had warned me not to go into business with them. Admittedly, there were some feelings between Carter and me. Or there used to be. And Giselle hated me for it. Why was I always attracted to wealthy, unattainable men?

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