Page 66 of Disavowed

Ironically, he’d been the last guy she’d had sex with. But for the second time since he’d walked in the door, she found herself laughing with the last person she ever expected to share her birthday with.

After finishing their cake, she carried two mugs of hot tea into the living room and handed one to Dom. He reached for it, and when she would have sat opposite him in her overstuffed chair, he patted the sofa cushion next to him. “Sit here. I have something else for you.”

She twisted her lips, then narrowed her eyes. “Oh, really?”

“Not that.” He frowned. “Get your mind out of the gutter.”

“Fine.” She sat next to him, but not too close.

He set his mug onto a coaster and tugged a small red velvet box from his jeans pocket and handed it to her. “I hope you like it.”

She stiffened, not reaching for the box. “I—I don’t know what to say. You shouldn’t have gotten me anything. The cake was more than enough.”

“Take it.” He held the box closer to her. “Happy birthday, Daisy.”

She set her mug onto another coaster and accepted the gift. With unsteady fingers, she flipped open the lid and gasped. “Oh…Dom.” Tears stung her eyes as she gazed down at the beautiful piece of jewelry. An antique gold broach in the shape of a vase, bursting with cloisonné enamel flowers—a perfect match to the necklace her parents had given her.

Tears began tumbling down her cheeks. “How did you know?”

He touched his fingers to the chain around her neck. “You wore that a year ago. Here,” he added as he took the pin from her trembling fingers, “allow me.”

He affixed the pin near the collar of her sweater, and when his fingers grazed her skin, a warm flush heated her neck. But it was more than just his touch that affected her. Her heart did a little flip-flop at the incredibly kind, incredibly thoughtful gesture. “I don’t understand.” She shook her head. “How could you remember all these things from a year ago? Why would you—of all people—do that?”

He drew his brows together, his expression hardening. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Look, I’m sorry.” Needing space to clear her head, she stood and took a shuddering breath. “I don’t understand what this is all about. None of this makes any sense.”

“I know it doesn’t.” He held out his hand to her. “Sit with me so I can explain.”

“Explain what?” She swallowed hard, willing her heart to stop pounding in her chest and her hands to stop trembling.

“Why I left. Why I never called or reached out to you afterward.” His jaw clenched, making his face even more handsome.

With her heart threatening to burst from her chest, she put her hand in his and sat next to him.

Releasing her hand, he tugged a wallet from his back pocket and pulled out a photo, handing it to her. It was old and wrinkled, as if it had been in his wallet for ages and been looked at many, many times over.

As she studied the couple in the photo, the thumping in her chest slowed to a dull thud. This is the reason he left me. More specifically, she’s the reason he couldn’t bear the thought of seeing me again.

“She’s stunning,” Daisy said, unable to tear her gaze from the truth. The love in Dom’s eyes as he gazed down at the petite brunette was obvious, as was the complete adoration the woman had for him. It was in the way she was touching his chest, and the intimate way she leaned into him. As if they were one.

She handed the photo back to him. “Now I understand.”

He began slipping the photo back into his wallet but paused. “Understand what?”

“Why you left without a word. It’s obvious how much you love her.”

“I did.” He again looked at the photo.

Did? As in, no more?

“She died fifteen years ago.”

A lump the size of a golf ball lodged in Daisy’s throat. “How did she die?”

“Anika was killed.” His face tensed. “She was a doctor in Afghanistan where Gray and I were stationed. The hospital where she worked was targeted by missile fire. I heard the blast and was first on scene. She was dead before I even got there. She—” He shut his eyes, obviously struggling for control.

Daisy gasped. “Oh God. I’m sorry. I feel so stupid. I didn’t know.”