Page 107 of The Best Thing He Never Wanted

Bea’s expression shifted, but she still didn’t interrupt.

“I know what you’re thinking. If I’d gone home, odds are I wouldn’t have been getting shot at anymore.”

The corner of her mouth moved, but she didn’t quite smile.

“I can tell you exactly what my logic was, Bea. I just can’t tell you it was good logic.” He let out a breath. “At the time, I genuinely believed that if Brooke didn’t get used to depending on me, she wouldn’t have to lose me too. I thought keeping my distance was protecting her.”

He shook his head.

“It wasn’t. I arranged for her not to need me, and then I lived long enough to see what that cost us.”

Bea looked into his eyes and gave a small nod.

He was grateful she didn’t tell him he’d done the right thing. He hadn’t, even though he’d believed at the time that he had. And she didn’t try to make him feel better about it either. She simply kept hold of his hand.

He was grateful when the waiter came to clear their plates. The man gestured toward where the sun was slowly sinking toward the horizon.

“You will stay for the sunset?”

Blane cocked an eyebrow at Bea. She looked longingly out at the sea before turning back to the waiter.

“We’d love to, but we should probably get going.”

“Why?” Blane asked.

She let out a short laugh. “Because I’m driving, remember? And no matter how good I might get at staying on the right side of the road, my night vision isn’t wonderful, so I’d like to get back before it’s dark.”

Blane turned to the waiter. “Can you bring her a glass of your best red wine?”

The waiter chuckled, and Bea turned to Blane, looking puzzled. “I can’t, I—”

“Yeah, you can, darlin’. We’re going to stay and watch the sunset while you enjoy a glass of wine. Relax. I’m driving us home.”

“Oh, Blane.”

The waiter beamed at them. “He’s a good husband, no?”

Blane froze, but Bea reached for his hand.

“He’s a wonderful man.”

The waiter returned a few minutes later with Bea’s wine, and they sat in comfortable silence for a while, watching the sky begin to change color.

After a while, Bea turned to him. “Does Brooke understand why?”

He didn’t need to ask what she meant. He shook his head slowly. “No. I figured it was better if she just thought I was a selfish bastard. Thought that’d make it easier for her.”

He sat up a little straighter, wishing he had a glass of something himself. “Crazy kid still made me the most important person in her world anyway. Even though I was never fucking there.”

“Of course she didn’t think you were selfish, Blane. No one who knows you could ever think that.”

He was tempted to make a joke, to get past the moment, but he had nothing.

“I imagine she’s thrilled to have you living back in Montana after all this time.”

“Yeah. She’s glad I’m around, but she has her own life. She always has something going on with work and friends and…” He shrugged.

Bea smiled. “Anyone special?”