Page 95 of Silent Partner (Pine Falls 3)

He was to me in no time. With no hesitation, his warm hand engulfed my cheek.

My body was at odds. Lean into it, flee, or stand there stunned? I went with the last option.

His thumb gently glided across my skin. “Here is the truth. I love you, Kinsley, and I hope someday we will be partners in every sense of the word. For now, I’ll take working with you and proving to you that you’re the one I want. The only one I want.”

I was holding my breath so tight—hardly believing what he was saying—that I let it out in a huge whoosh.

Brant smiled, even though I’d probably hit him with a breathy mixture of espresso and cinnamon gum.

“I could just let you sue me,” I deadpanned.

“You could.” He ran a finger down my cheek. “But I really hope it doesn’t come to that. I can be a real bastard in the courtroom,” he teased.

“You know you’re not playing fair, right?”

“That’s because I’m not playing,” he said plainly. “I love you. So, let’s get to work.”

I caught his double meaning. I had a feeling this was going to be the hardest work I had ever done.

Chapter Twenty-Five

Trying to avoid Brant, I hid out in the kitchen among the noise of pots and pans clanking and the kitchen staff calling out to each other, which was music to my ears. I took comfort in the smells of rosemary, sage, and fresh-baked breads. Oh, how I needed the solace. I hadn’t expected Brant to be so assertive. I’d never had a man love me so much he’d threatened to sue me. Wait. That sounded kind of wrong, or maybe a lot wrong. Either way, I wasn’t sure if I should be flattered or furious. This was why I was hiding and baking my little heart out.

I was trying to perfect the opera cake—an almond sponge cake with dark chocolate ganache, coffee buttercream, and a chocolate glaze. It was pure genius to put chocolate and coffee together. I felt as if I couldn’t get enough of either one, as of late. Which reminded me I really needed to go running, but I was too afraid that Jill or one of her henchmen would jump out and I would go from starring in a soap opera to a slasher movie.

While I chopped the chocolate for the ganache, Jai sidled up to me with the same grin he had been wearing since this morning. Oh yes, the rumors were swirling. Brant had caused a huge stir. The employees weren’t sure if this was a hostile takeover or if Brant and I were in a relationship. I was going with hostile takeover.

“You going to tell me what’s going on?”

I looked up at him and started to laugh. He was wearing a headband that said, I Kiss Better Than I Cook. “I can’t take you seriously while you’re wearing that.”

He grinned. “Why? It’s true.”

“That may be, but please don’t test it out with any of the employees.”

He slapped a hand against his heart. “I’m offended that you think I would. I would never cheat on Priyanka. But,” he sang, “I guess it’s okay for you to kiss the boss.”

“I am the boss.” I tried not to fall into the trap he was setting up.

He nudged me. “Don’t play coy. What’s going on with you and Holland?”

“Obviously, he’s my business partner,” I said nonchalantly. Though I was using the term partner loosely, considering he was willing to sue me. But it sounded better than “He’s the man I love, but he slept with my sister.” I wasn’t sure what title that would bestow on him. Well, I had a few words, but it wasn’t polite to say them out loud.

He rolled his eyes. “Please, you two are the definition of sexual tension.”

I cringed and looked around. Yep, every eye was on me while trying not to appear to be on me. “Could you say that any louder?”

“I could, but I don’t need to. It’s obvious. And it also explains your major mood swings in the last few days. Is there already trouble in paradise?”

Oh, he had no idea. And I was going to keep it that way.

“No. Like I said, we have a business deal.”

“Uh-huh.” He wasn’t believing a word I said.

I poured some heavy whipping cream into a pan and set it on one of the gas burners. I hoped Jai would go away. The place was hopping, and we were in the middle of the lunchtime rush. He had other things to do besides badger me about Brant. Sure, I should probably make a company announcement. Something like, “Hey, guess what, one of the richest men in town is going to be your new boss. And don’t mind when his father has to go before the Senate to testify.” Sheridan had mentioned that was probably going to happen once John turned over all the evidence he had. Brant would represent him. Then I would add to the announcement, “Especially ignore that your boss’s father will most likely face a criminal trial and be convicted. Nothing to see here. Carry on as usual, and pray that, when it’s all said and done, we will still have customers.”

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