[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]

my heart to Luke. Wherever he was, that was home to me. I squeezed his hand and he returned the
pressure as his breathing slowed to the rhythm of sleep. I closed my eyes. We d get through this,
together. I knew it.
Chapter 17
Luke
I pushed aside several cartons of eggs and spotted what I was looking for in the fridge. I pulled
the milk out, frowning as I saw that it was whole, not skim. Who still bought whole milk? I didn t
know they even sold it anymore. It wasn t part of my training diet, but it would have to do.
 John!
I smiled as I turned.  Hi, Emma. Her eyes widened. I hadn t bothered to put on a shirt this
morning so she caught me in just a pair of sweats.  Oh, sorry. I was half-asleep and...
 Don t worry about it. Emma smirked.  I don t mind.
I laughed as I poured myself a drink. I d forgotten how much I liked Emma. I wasn t as close to
her as Dani was, but she had been good to Dani, helped her out a lot, and I appreciated that.
 Don t tempt the woman, Dani said as she came into the kitchen. She tossed a shirt at me. She
grinned at Emma.  And hands off. He s mine.
My stomach tightened at the memory of me saying something similar the night before. I pulled on
the t-shirt and then noticed that Dani was wearing one of mine. It hung to mid-thigh, offering just a
glimpse of her shorts.
I walked over and pulled on the fabric of the shirt.  What s this? I didn t remember bringing that
shirt.
 I kinda packed it, she answered and wrapped her arms around my waist.  I wanted something
that smelled like you.
 You two are something else. Emma laughed as she scooped loose grounds into the basket of the
coffee machine.  I m so glad the two of you are still together.
I set the milk down and hugged Dani tightly.  Me, too. I kissed the top of her head even though
what I really wanted to do was take her away from here. Run away together someplace, far away
from all this shit where we could be alone and make love for days on end. She was all I really
needed. And nothing else would do.
 I was going to make waffles, Emma said.  Do you want some?
I opened my mouth to say yes, but felt Dani shake her head.
 Hanna, how about you? Hearing her alias made Dani stiffen and she looked up at me.
 Uh, no, thank you. I m just going to have some cereal.
We hadn t talked about it, but I could tell what she wanted to do. Whether Emma knew me as Luke
Romero or John Conners, it wouldn t really change my life. Dani s confession, however, could cost
her a friend. She pulled away from my embrace and I gave her the nod. It was her call.
 Emma, we need to talk. Dani reached for my hand. I squeezed her hand to give her support, but
let her take the initiative.
Emma pushed the start button on the coffee machine and turned to face us.  Okay. The expression
on her face turned serious. She sat down at the table and Dani sat next to her.
I pulled a chair up next to Dani and put my arm on the back of her chair, my hand resting at the
base of her neck. I could feel the tension radiating off of her.
 This isn t easy for me to say, Dani said.  But please hear me out before you say anything.
 All right. Emma s forehead creased with worry.
Dani took a deep breath, and then began,  My name s not Hanna. It s Daniella Carrington. Dani,
for short. She glanced at me and I gave approval.  And his name s Luke Romero. We re from New
York.
In a voice that grew stronger as she went, Dani told the truth, not only about our names but about
the events that had brought us to Summerville. She began with her grandmother and the treatment that
had driven her to take the money that had started everything. The anxiety of telling Emma the truth was
eating away at her. I could feel it whenever we were together, and now that we were right here in
Emma s house it was tortuous for her. I knew Dani felt guilt over stealing the money, even if it had
been for a good reason and from illegal sources. She was worried that Emma would see her like she
saw herself. A thief.
I slowly moved my fingers in a circular motion, massaging her tight neck muscles as she
continued. She explained how the two of us had met at the Summerville bus station, and how I d lied
to her about who I was, at first. I felt like such an ass now for tricking her like that. Dani put her hand
on my knee, wordlessly reminding me that we d moved past all that.
 The day Luke and I were going to leave together, he got a call that his promoter, the one who d
lost all that money, had taken Luke s daughter. Dani s hand squeezed my leg. She explained how I d
gone to New York, and how Brian had given her the news about the man I was scheduled to fight.
When her ex-husband s name was mentioned, Emma s eyes widened. She was putting together the
pieces of the puzzle and now she knew that Bruno was the one who d paid for Brian s attorney.
By the time Dani got to the part about the true identities of the   family  who d been renting a
room, Emma s face was ashen. She stared blankly, in disbelief, as Dani s words just kept rolling off
her tongue, describing what she probably had never imagined would ve happened in her small town
life. I searched her eyes for any signs of anger towards Dani. Emma was overwhelmed, that was for
sure hell, we just dropped a bomb on her but not angry. That was good. Emma had the right to know
the truth, but I didn t want Dani to be hurt.
Finally, Dani reached the reason I was here. She was vague and didn t give the details of the
plan that was mine to tell. Once Dani finished, she fell silent and waited for Emma s reaction.
After nearly a full minute of silence, Emma leaned back and placed both of her hands flat on the
table. She exhaled a long breath and said,  Okay, then. I m not going to say that I m not shocked, but
I m glad you told me.
Dani s relief was visible.  You re not angry at me?
 No. Emma gave Dani a small smile.  I know a little something about hiding things from
people. She looked at me.  And I am so sorry about Lacey. She s such a sweet girl.
 Thank you. I managed a tight smile.
 I do ask that you don t tell Michelle the truth. Not yet. It d be too much for her to take, on top of
the trial. Emma s face suddenly went pale.  The trial.
 Don t worry. We still have an hour before we have to be there, Dani reassured her.
 No. Emma stood.  The police, they think you re Hanna. That s the name on the police report.
You can t get on the stand, and say you re Hanna.
Shit. I hadn t thought about that. One look at Dani s face, however, said that she d already thought
of it.
 I have to. It s the right thing to do, Dani said as she stood. She embraced the other woman, but [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]