Chapter 40
Brielle
“You scared the hell out of me.”
I blink several times and then glance at my husband, who’s changed out of his suit and into a pair of gray linen pants and a white button-downed shirt, the sleeves rolled to his elbows, showcasing his toned forearms. His brown hair is still damp from the shower, and his whiskey eyes are shining bright today.
“You turned off your tracker on your phone when you left for Russia, so I have no way of knowing where you are. I called several times, and when you didn’t answer, I assumed the worst. Giani assured me you were safe at home, but we already know he works for you and not me.”
“What time is it?”
“Quarter after six.”
“I’m sorry,” I tell him. “I got home from Peyton’s, laid down, thinking I’d take a little cat nap, and passed out.”
“You obviously needed it.”
Kane gives Molly, who’s sleeping against my side, a quick pet, and then he leans in, giving me a chaste kiss. “The doctor has been taken care of.”
My eyes widen.
“And he’s still alive, as promised.”
“Thank you,” I rasp, sitting up and grabbing my phone that was on the nightstand.
Next to it sits the black box housing the engagement ring. I consider putting it on, but I second-guess myself. I’ve only been home for a week. Shouldn’t I take longer to make sure this is what I want?
You already know you love Kane and want to be with him, my subconscious reminds me. Just admit it out loud already.
“Is it too late to go to dinner?” I ask, shoving my internal thoughts to the side.
I was looking forward to tonight. It would’ve been our first real date. And of course, I slept through it.
“We can eat anytime you want. How about you get dressed, and once you’re ready, we’ll go?”
“Are we going somewhere fancy?” I ask, trying to figure out what I should wear.
“Nope. Wear whatever you want. It’s a bit warm out, so maybe something light.”
Hmm … outside. Okay, I can work with that.
I find a lightweight, sleeveless green smocked minidress and pair it with my favorite wedges. I fluff my hair, brush my teeth, and touch up my makeup, and once I’m ready, I head downstairs, stopping at the bottom step when Kane rounds the corner with a bouquet of red roses.
“You look beautiful,” he says, walking toward me as I take the final step into the foyer. “I can’t wait to see your belly swollen with my baby.”
He hands me the roses and gives me a kiss on my cheek.
I inhale the floral scent and set them on the foyer table. “Thank you.”
Kane extends his hand, and I take it, hooking my arm into the crook of his elbow.
Rather than head to the garage, he confuses me when he walks us out the back door and onto the patio. The warm, salty breeze immediately assaults my senses, and I smile out at the ocean. There’s just something so therapeutic about the beach.
I’ve come out here several times since moving in with Kane, and every time it’s as though all the stress temporarily leaves my body.
We cross over the bridge that leads us out to Kane’s private beach, and that’s when I notice the picnic that’s been set up.
Dozens of red roses surround the area, illuminated by soft tiki torches. A blanket is spread across the ground, and a wicker basket is sitting atop it.
Since sand and wedges don’t mix, I tug them off and chuck them to the side and then head down to the picnic.
“I can’t believe you did all this,” I say to Kane, plopping onto the blanket. “When I give in and agree to marry you again, you’d better not stop this romantic stuff.”
The second the words are out of my mouth, I widen my eyes, realizing what I just said, and Kane smirks.
“I’m totally wearing you down, aren’t I, Princess?”
He lowers onto the blanket and pulls two glasses and a bottle of apple cider out of the basket. He fills our glasses and hands me one.
“To you falling in love with me,” he says, clinking my glass.
“To me not drowning you in the ocean.”
He chuckles. “I’ll drink to that.”
Kane pulled out all the stops for our date.
Not only did he include all my favorite foods, but he also included several of my current cravings.
We spend dinner and dessert talking about everything and nothing.
The conversation flows easily, reminding me why I fell in love with Kane. He makes it too easy.
“Dark chocolate is my favorite,” I tell him as he slides a chocolate-covered strawberry between my lips.
“I know.” He chuckles when I moan around the berry. “Because it’s the perfect amount of sweet and bitter and technically good for you,” he says, repeating the words I once told him back to me.
“You know what else I like that’s the perfect mix of sweet and bitter?” I flirt, my gaze descending to his crotch.
He grins, but shakes his head, making me pout.
“What do you mean, no?”
“That’s not what tonight is about,” he says, giving me another bite of the juicy fruit.
“If I have it my way, we’ll have the rest of our lives together.
There’s no reason to rush. I want you to be sure I’m who you want.
Because, Princess”—he tips my chin until I’m looking at him—“if you agree to spend your life with me, there’s no way I’m ever letting you go again. ”
I open my eyes and glance at the ring box.
Last night was one of the best nights I’d had in a long time.
After we finished dessert, we went for a walk along the beach, and then after we showered—together, at my insistence—Kane slid into bed behind me and held me all night long.
Maybe I’m being irrational or jumping the gun, but I love Kane, and I want to be with him.
Not because I want to be in love or because I’m pregnant with his baby, but because I want to love him and spend my life with him.
He’s who I want, and I’m not going to waste another moment without telling him so.
When I turn over to talk to him, I’m met with the empty side of his bed and a note with his chicken scratch scribbled across it.
Princess,
I have an early meeting with Jim. I’ll call you afterward. I hope your morning sickness isn’t too bad. I’ll see you tonight.
XO,
Kane
Glancing from the note to the ring box, I make a decision.
I want to be with Kane, and I’m done wasting time.
I find his name in my text thread and send him a message.
Brielle
Good morning. I hope everything goes okay with Jim. I’d like to talk to you tonight. Since you took me out on a date last night, I’d like to take you out on one tonight.
And then I lift the lid and pluck the beautiful ring out of the box and slide it onto my finger.
I stare at it for several seconds, waiting for my gut to indicate I’m making the wrong decision, but when it doesn’t come, I breathe a sigh of relief, ready to start the next chapter of my life as Kane’s wife.
Since I have a lot to do to get the studio reopened, I climb out of bed and jump in the shower. I’m blow-drying my hair when my phone rings with a call from Matteo.
Since he isn’t one for idle chitchat, I answer it right away, hoping nothing has happened to Dani or the baby.
“Hey, is everything okay?”
“No,” he says gravely. “But before I tell you, I need you to remember you’re pregnant, so you need to stay calm.”
“Telling a pregnant woman something is wrong but to stay calm is counterintuitive. Tell me what happened.”
Matteo sighs. “You need to get to North Harbor Point Medical. Kane’s been shot.”
Kane’s been shot.
My mind goes back to several years ago, watching Owen get shot and killed.
“He’s been shot?” I whisper.
My heart is racing. My breathing labored.
Memories of seeing Owen on the ground, bleeding out. Begging him to live. Knowing he was dead and I’d never see him again.
My gaze goes to my ring.
My husband has been shot.
But isn’t that how the world works?
The moment I say I want a life with Kane, he’s taken away from me.
The same way Owen was taken from me.
The way my baby was taken from me.
My hand goes to my belly, and I take a calming breath.
Stress isn’t good for the baby, and he or she is all I have left.
“Bri, you there?”
“Yeah,” I rasp. “I’m on my way.”