Kissed Blind (Hot Pursuit #2)(92)

“I know you won’t.”

A few moments of uncomfortable silence followed.

“Yeah, well, I should get going.” He nudged his head toward my door.

I stepped out into the grass and leaned back in. “Tell your parents I said hi.”

“You bet.”

I walked inside my apartment, and as soon as the door shut, someone knocked.

Becca called to me from the other side. “Open up! I took a box off your mat when I got home. It’s here!” In the hallway, Becca held a large brown shipping box in her arms.

I waved her in.

“Do you think it’s the right one?” She walked past me and laid the box on my kitchen table.

I sliced open the clear tape sealing the box. “It can only be this one...I hope. Vance is going to die when he sees this.” I pulled the package out and smiled from ear to ear. “It’s perfect.”

“Are you sure about this being the right gift? Seems kind of odd.”

“Yes, I’m sure.”

“When are you going to give it to him?”

“Tomorrow, I’ll go to his house tomorrow.”

Becca squealed. “I can’t wait. This is going to be great. Epic. I can feel it.”



. . .



I took my time the next day and went through my spiel, polishing my words. But morning had somehow faded into late afternoon. I had to stop dragging my feet or I’d never do what I needed to do. It was now or never, and I had to at least see if Vance and I would ever have a chance. I was a nervous wreck.

I took the gift I’d gotten Vance and sealed the check in an envelope. It was nearing dinner time when I finally left my house. Becca had texted me throughout the day and gave me more than one pep talk. I was as ready as I was ever going to be.

I pulled in behind Vance’s car and gathered my things from the back seat, taking a moment to catch my breath; my lunch wanted to come up. I walked to his door in slow motion and knocked. My heart threatened to jump out of my chest, and I almost ran back to my car, but by the time I heard his footsteps, it was too late.

The familiar air inside his house brushed my face when he opened the door. He looked at me, confused.

“Hi,” I said.

“Hey.” He looked over my shoulder for the reason I was standing on his porch. “What’s up?”

“I have some things I need to say to you. Can I come in?”

He hesitated. For a moment I thought he might say no, but then he held his door open wide. I picked up the bag at my feet and walked in.

“What’s that?”

“I’ll get to it in a second. Come sit down with me.” I walked into his family room and sat on the couch.

He sat in his chair across from me and leaned back. “So what’s up?”

Everything I’d prepared to say disappeared from my head. “How’s your dad?”

“Good.”

“And your mom?”

“Good.” He sighed. “What do you want? We covered this yesterday.”

I tried to swallow, but the well had run dry. “I… um… I wanted to tell you to your face that I’m sorry.”

He leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. “Is that right? For what exactly?”

“For everything. The way I’ve treated you in the past and cast you aside whenever Gabe came along. I’m sorry for the fight we had in the hotel mostly and for all the awful things I said and did.” I cleared my throat. “It’s just when you pushed me aside—”

“Damn it! I did not.”

I held up my hand. “Just wait and let me finish. I felt like you did, but it was only because I was jealous.”

“Jealous? Of what? Cici?”

“Yes, and I know that makes me a total hypocrite.”

His eyes opened wide. “Yeah, it does.”

“I know. And I wish I’d known all those years ago, before we started working at B&B, that you were interested in me. I really didn’t think you were.”

“Uh huh…”

“Because if I had.” Air filled my lungs, but I felt like I was suffocating. “I might never have gone out with Gabe.”

He slumped back and tilted his head. “Really?”

“Really.” I reached into my bag and pulled out the envelope. “Over the years, I’ve thought of you as my best friend, and I’ve thought of your family as my family, and when your family needs help, I want to help them.” I walked next to him and handed him the envelope. “I want you to have this and use it where it can help the most.”

He opened the envelope and stared blankly at the check I’d written, giving him all of Camille’s money. “I can’t take this.”

“Yes, you can. Besides, I did it for you anyway. And knowing the circumstances behind this money, it should be used for something good. Save their house, pay some bills, make their life easier.”

He stood and pulled me into his arms. “I don’t know what to say.”

“Say you’ll forgive me?” I tried to hold back the tears welling in my eyes.

He released me and held me in his gaze. “I thought you said I’d never make you cry.”

“I’m not crying.”