Finding Forever (Living Again #4) by L. L. Collins Read Free Book Online Page A

alarmed, and she waved her hand, taking a sip of water and clearing her throat. “I’m fine,” she choked out. She thought back to the card that Brant had given her this morning for her “Birthday Re-do.” She thought it just might have been the nicest card anyone had ever given her.
    It had been a simple card, it wasn’t that. It was what he wrote in it. She didn’t even need the card to remember what he said, and she knew she would probably remember it forever.
     
    Lacey, it was my pleasure to meet you yesterday on your birthday. I really do think that this should be your birthday re-do day. Your smile is too beautiful to spend your birthday every year crying. Your mom would want that for you. It would make me a very happy man to keep getting to know you, because I know that beauty is only skin deep, and that anyone can be beautiful on the outside. You, however, are both. Thank you for the chance to know you. –Brant
     
    “Lacey? You sure you’re okay?” Brant broke through her thoughts. She blinked, turning her attention back to him. He had asked her something before she started choking. Oh yes, why she didn’t date.
    “I’m good,” she smiled, clearing her throat one more time. “Why don’t I date? Well, as you know since you were in school quite a while, school took a lot of my energy and extra time. I was determined to graduate at the top of my class, and I did. I had plenty of fun in college, and did have some fleeting relationships, but I just have never quite been a serious relationship kind of person.”
    Brant studied her, and she found herself squirming in her seat at the intensity in his gaze. “So you’ve never had a serious relationship?”
    Lacey looked down at her plate. She didn’t want to get into the whole thing with him. She had already told him too much information yesterday when she saw him at the river. He was probably thinking she was some innocent virgin girl he could show the ropes. Or he was thinking he needed to run now because there was something seriously wrong with her.
    “Lacey,” Brant said softly. “Look at me.”
    She lifted her head, fighting the rising emotion that was threatening to overtake her. Why was he getting to her so easily? For so many years, she had been good at keeping men like him at arm’s length, and here he was, twenty-four hours after meeting her, trying to pry open her iron-clad walls.
    “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it the way your mind is probably spinning it. I’m just curious, that’s all. There’s nothing wrong with it if you have or haven’t had a serious relationship. I admire your tenacity in reaching your goals. It’s obviously worked well for you, since at your age you have landed a great job at the best vet practice in Nashville.”
    Lacey smiled, the knots in her stomach relaxing slightly. “I’ve had a few boyfriends over the years, but I can honestly say that I’ve never met anyone that shook my entire foundation, made me believe in love.”
    “I’m going to be completely frank, because that’s the way I do things,” Brant started, making those knots curl back tighter than ever. “I’ve learned that it’s best to be honest and not beat around the bush.” He paused, lifting his tea to his lips. She watched the motion, her own mouth drying out watching him flick his tongue out onto his lips. She curled her fingers into a fist under the table, hating the way her body was reacting right now.
    “That scares you, doesn’t it?” Brant chuckled, and she found herself nodding in agreement before she could stop herself. He reached over and put his hand over hers, the one that had been holding her sandwich, now forgotten. “I want to get to know you. I like you a lot. I know we don’t know much about each other, but that’s why I’m being honest. I’d like to see where this could go. Can I have your phone number? Can we see each other again, as something other than vet and dog owner? I promise to make Max behave and