AllFreeNovel
Share Us
There was no way for her to resist him this way. She’d thought telling him this would make it easier, but it wasn’t going to obviously. She was simply changing the torture from one of loathing to one of kindness. It would only be a matter of time before she slipped and told him the real story or that she loved him.
Dani released a sigh and felt Luke’s arms tighten around her as though he were willing her to take some of his strength and she regretted this move. Him hating her she could handle but him being anything other than the vile raging maniac who’d killed Chance would shatter everything.
“Dani, tell me you’ll stay,” he said pulling back to look down at her.
“I’ll stay, for now,” she promised though she felt like she was sealing her own fate.
***
“Dani, you remember Calvin Brady, don’t you?” Luke asked her six weeks later as they made their way through the crowd at the charity auction.
“I’m sorry darling you’ll have to forgive me. I simply meet so many people and I truly have a horrible time remembering them all,” she replied sending Luke a sweet smile for the sake of their audience.
They had barely argued since she’d told him the newest set of lies. Instead, he had gone overboard trying to boost her mood. Presents, dinners, long drawn out evenings at home that ended up with them in bed and for the first time truly making love were getting to her and she wished for the chance to leave.
Dean called her last week and told her Mona was pregnant. Only after a huge amount of prodding on her part because he didn’t want to bring up her miscarriage and it’d made her want things she really shouldn’t.
“Entirely understandable,” Calvin replied with a bit too much of a smile. “We met several months ago at a function for the Auxiliary Foundation; they were trying to rope you into helping.”
It came back to her, and Dani tensed remembering the event that had taken place about a week after the miscarriage. She felt Luke’s hand gently squeeze her hip and from the look in his eyes, he had also remembered.
“Ah yes, Dani wasn’t feeling the greatest and we didn’t stay long did we sweetheart?” he cut in with to help her.
“No, we didn’t,” she agreed as a new smile formed on her face.
“Well, well, well, if it isn’t my beautiful sister-in-law,” Tyler beamed heading towards them. “Are you ready to leave this one yet and run away with me?” he teased hugging her.
“Find your own woman Tyler,” Luke stated pulling her back into his arms before shaking his brother’s hand. He didn’t like the bond between them and didn’t like the fact that Tyler could make her eyes light up and remind him of the old Dani.
“But you have the perfect one and you wouldn’t deny your little brother the chance to dance with her, would you?”
“One dance,” Luke informed him dropping his usual kiss on her lips before she made her way to the dance floor. He watched as they went, the smile finally reaching her eyes, and he wanted to pound his brother’s face in for being able to put it there.
“Please tell me big brother isn’t in overprotective mode again,” Tyler said as they began to dance.
“Isn’t he always? I mean really Ty, when isn’t he?” Dani countered knowing that Luke had been sticking to her side more than normal.
“I don’t know it just seems as though there’s something new going on…Dani…are you…”
“No,” she answered knowing where his question was leading.
Tyler saw the flash of something across her face and went on, “You can’t fool your brother; you’re pregnant, aren’t you?”
“No,” she replied but the look he sent her said he wasn’t buying it. “Ty, I’m not, really.”
“Then why has big brother been so attentive lately? You can’t go anywhere without him lately and he’s been watching you like a hawk. So, if you’re not…he thinks you’re cheating on him like the tabloids claim?”
“No…alright the truth, I was pregnant, but we lost the baby. Ty don’t and please whatever you do, don’t say a word to your parents,” she pleaded when she saw the regret flash through his eyes.
“God Dani, I’m sorry honey. But why is Luke being so over the top?”
“I was a bit depressed after it happened and I guess you can say I haven’t been taking the greatest care of myself,” she said drawing his attention to the weight loss that was evident by her protruding collarbones.
“Apparently not,” he agreed. “We’ll just have to make sure that you do then.”
“Oh no, you are not ganging up on me with your brother. I’m fine; Luke and I had it out.”
“Ah, you all had another one of your show stopping arguments I take it,” he said with a knowing grin having walked in on one or two during the past couple years.
