“We should’ve been able to discuss that like … two adults who care about each other, but you made me feel like a criminal orsomething.”
“You’reright.”
She nodded. Sighed while another beat passed. “Yeah, you didn’t even hear meout.”
“I know,” he admitted. “But I’d like to now. If you’ll letme.”
Her shoulders dropped, and she did a half-grin. “Really?”
“Very much. You’re right. It’s something we should discuss...together.”
Hmm… She set her gaze on her bare feet while tapping a toe on the tile. “Will you make me some hot chocolate while I tell you about it?” she asked while glancingup.
Anthony piped back a laugh and grinned. “Absolutely.”
“Kira,” her sister yelled from the front room. “I’m heading to the store now. I’ll be rightback.”
Kira held Anthony’s gaze. “Okay,” she hollered, a smile curving one side of her lips. “See you in afew.”
As soon as the front door closed, Anthony pulled Kira into his arms. “Comehere.”
Kira returned his embrace, the damp towel pressing against his face as shesighed.
He pulled back, rested his hands on her cheeks, and held her gaze. “I really am sorry,” hesaid.
Kira nodded, snatched his arm and led him into the kitchen. There, Anthony took over. He guided her to a barstool before snatching the kettle and filling it with fresh water. Once it was heating over the gas flames of her stove, Anthony pulled two mugs from the cupboard. His homemade blend of hot cocoa rested in the copper canister on the baker’s rack. Kira retrieved it for him before he could ask. “Now,” he said. “Tell meeverything.”
They sipped on mugs filled with hot cocoa, a layer of whipped cream bobbing along the top, as Kira did just that. There were no interruptions from Anthony this time. No accusations either. He simply listened to the details of the offer beforeher.
“Anyway,” Kira said, tipping her mug to the side and scraping her spoon along the edge. “I feel a million times better now that I’ve been able to get that off my chest. I honestly… hate the idea of leaving, so it’s easy to say no.” She popped a heap of cream into hermouth.
Anthony was surprised to find that Trent’s words really had started to sink in. Kind of like the moment he’d sat next to Kira by the fireplace and told her—in all honesty—that he wasn’t afraid of the choices she might make. He cleared his throat. “I’m not sure that youneedto say no,Kira.”
She yanked the spoon from her mouth. Her face fell flat. “What?” The word soundedangry.
“I’m looking at this offer,” he said, fanning the pages of the documents she’d spread over the counter. “I have a lawyer who can look over it this morning. He’ll make sure the offer’s legit, of course, but if it is… this would be a great opportunity foryou.”
“I don’t get it.Youthink I should gotoo?”
Anthony could hardly believe it himself. He was really putting his money where his mouth was, as the saying went. But he trusted her. Trusted thathereis where she wanted to stay. And she could.Aftershe tied up some loose ends. “I know that you can take this opportunity,” he said. “And that it’s not going to change your mind about what you want to do.” At least, he thought he knew. Hoped. “This is a chance for you to getredemption. You deserve that.Recognition. You deserve that too. Not to mention a pretty nice paycheck. I fully support you. Go spend forty-five awesome days traveling the world and snapping pictures.” He reached his arms across the counter, cupped her hands in his. “And then come back to me. To the life you’ve found here. The one that makes you happy. I’ll bewaiting.”
