Page 29 of Resolve
Warmth floods my face. As tempting as that is, I need to see how Dane’s doing, and I hurry around him to Dane’s room.
I tap on his door a couple of times with my knuckles. “Dane? Can I come in?”
No answer.
I turn the knob and poke my head through. “Hello?” The bedroom’s dark. And empty. But the bathroom door is cracked, and light shines into the room in a bold line along the floor. I close the door behind me and approach the bathroom. “Dane?” I gently pushthe door open.
He snaps his head up, looking at me through the mirror and then over his shoulder. There are two boxes of hair dye on the sink in front of him. One blond. One brown.
“What are you doing?”
“Staring at hair dye, apparently.” He looks back at his reflection. He runs his fingers through the longer hair at the top of his head. “The blond is almost gone,” he says, almost wistfully. “And I don’t know what I should do. If I dye it, does that mean I’m still stuck in the past? But this guy with brown hair… I don’t know who that is.”
I move to his side, my gaze on his through the mirror. “Dye your hair whatever you’re comfortable with. Don’t worry about if it means something or not.”
His brows pinch and his lips thin to a line as he looks between the two boxes with uncertainty.
“You don’t have to force her out of your life, you know. It’s okay if you take some time to let certain things go. And it’s also okay if you’ve just grown to like the color.”
He turns, settling his hands on my waist and tugging me a step closer. “Which color do you like?”
I gaze into his warm amber eyes, drawing me in and trapping me like honey. “I’d like you in any color if that’s what makes you happy.”
Dane raises an incredulous brow. “Any color? Even if I dye it blue?”
I shrug, a small smirk pulling at my lips. “If that makes you happy.”
He chuckles, pressing a chaste kiss to my forehead. “Youmake me happy.”
I tilt my head back without thinking, my lips seeking his oninstinct. His eyelids droop as he leans in, our mouths fusing as one. Clutching his shirt in my hands, I pull myself against him. His heart hammers, matching mine as if they’ve somehow synced. He wraps an arm around my waist, tucking me even closer as his other hand cradles my face so he can deepen the kiss, melting me from the inside out.
Eventually, we part, our eyes locked. As much as I want to stay in this warm feeling, it’s eating me alive to know what he’s thinking.
“Dane... I’m sorry. I'm so sorry. I promised to—”
He kisses me. It’s a short press of lips. A sweet stop to my words.
He strokes his thumb over my cheek. “Thank you. For doing what I couldn’t.” His eyes turn glassy. “I wish we could have saved her some other way, but I think you did the right thing. She’s free from them now. So... thanks.” His throat bobs with the effort it’s taking to hold himself back.
I throw my arms around his neck, pulling his head to my shoulder and holding him tight. He wraps himself around me, exhaling a shuddering breath against my skin. “Thank you,” he repeats, his voice strained.
Tears prick my eyes as I squeeze him tighter. Hold him, as if I can somehow transfer my strength to him. “I’m sorry she’s gone,” I whisper.
It’s one thing to lose his sister the first time. But to then have hope that he could have her back, only for it to be crushed again...
He draws back, kissing my cheek. My lips. “Me too.” Dane somehow manages a soft smile. “Want to help me dye my hair? I’ve decided on a color.”
I share a watery smile in return.
“Sure... Is it blue?”
Chapter eleven
Raegan
We’reinAiden’soffice,discussing board member details, when multiple phones ring like an alarm.
“Pull up security footage,” Aiden orders before he’s even read whatever message is on his phone.
