Page 74 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

“For what?”

“Doing this with me and believing in me.”

He motioned with his finger for me to come closer to the phone.

I took a few steps forward and pressed my hands against the bed so that I came face-to-face with him. Or as much as we could virtually.

“Kinsley, I have always and will always believe in you. Never forget that.”

“I’ll try not to.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll always be there to remind you if you forget.”

I held my breath before daring to ask, “Always?”

“If you’ll let me.” He sounded like he was unsure, which was so unlike him.

All I could say was, “Always and forever.”

He gave me a small smile before saying, “I hate to say goodbye, but I have a long night ahead of me and an even earlier morning.”

“I hope you get to take a break when you get home.”

“There is a long break in my future,” he said mysteriously, and before I could ask him about it, he said, “I believe I owe you a song.”

My stomach swooped so much you would have thought I was on a roller coaster. I wanted to throw my hands up and scream, “Yes!” But I held it together and crawled into bed instead, taking my phone and cat with me. I lay on my side, staring into Brant’s eyes, which were locked on me.

“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.

“I wish you were here.”

“Soon.”

I couldn’t wait.

“Close your eyes,” he said softly.

I took one more long look at him before I did as he asked. Before I knew it, the most alluring voice began singing, “Hello, girl, it’s been a while . . .” I didn’t recognize it, but it was the most beautiful song I’d ever heard. I had no idea Brant could sing so well. Not only that, but the words also captured exactly how I felt about him. It spoke of lovers who had been apart, but when the man looked in her eyes, it made him go crazy. He realized he couldn’t hide his feelings any longer.

Did I ever know the feeling. I was crazy. Crazy for Brant.

Chapter Nineteen

All felt right in the world as I sat with my sisters in a corner booth of my bursting-to-full restaurant on Friday afternoon. I couldn’t remember when I’d had such a great week. It felt as if all the pieces were finally coming together. Brant and I were finally going to happen. We were waiting to tell everyone when he returned home and this case he was working on was finally settled. He’d said last night that it was important for me to know all the facts before I was thrust into the spotlight. That being with him wouldn’t be easy and I deserved the choice, and regardless of my decision, he would protect me at all costs. More and more, I was convinced he was representing someone famous. Whoever it was, the outcome obviously made him nervous. If I was being honest, it made me a little nervous too. I wasn’t questioning being with Brant—it’s just that I wasn’t used to the spotlight. Though if some bright lights for a while were the price I had to pay to be with Brant, it seemed like a fair trade to me. I’d told him I would just get some sunglasses. He’d laughed, but I could tell he was still worried. We could worry about it together when he got back, which couldn’t happen soon enough.

I turned and took Sammy out of Ariana’s arms. I’d been itching to hold him since we’d sat down together. I couldn’t get enough of him. As I snuggled him, it hit me that perhaps someday I would have my own little person to snuggle. For the first time in a long time, the possibility seemed real. Not that Brant and I were talking about having kids, but I knew he wanted to be a dad, and I wanted to be a mom, and he had said always and that he wasn’t ever going to let another man try to take his place in my life. That sounded a lot like a forever kind of thing. Maybe I was getting ahead of myself but dreaming in real life was a beautiful feeling. I think Sheridan was on to something when she’d said regret was much harder to live with than dreams that never came true. Lately, I realized I lived a life of always regretting things. I regretted putting up with Giselle and Carter for so long, never standing up for myself. I regretted not being more honest with Tristan about the kind of relationship I really wanted because I was afraid he wouldn’t want me anymore. I was tired of living life like that—always fearful about what I could lose instead of looking at what I could gain.

“You look happy,” Ariana commented.

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