Michael just barely curtailed his laugh at the word special. “Yeah. There’s no one quite like Dani.” But he was surprised, and a little impressed, to learn that Dani had actually cut the apron strings. He’d wondered if she took her Realtor job seriously, and now it appeared she did.
Annalisa threw her hands up. “She’s not cut out for the business world. People will take advantage of her. Dani can’t say no. She’d give someone the shirt off her back and then point them to her closet and ask if they’d like another. It hurts me to see her run ragged like this.” She stopped pacing and her face turned stone-cold sober. “Michael, she’s wearing clothes that are over two years old!” She added a dramatic shudder. “And that car she drives? It’s a death trap on wheels. I need to find a way for her to accept money without her knowing it’s coming from me. And that’s why I need your help.”
Helping with Dani’s financial problems would probably mean spending even more time thinking about her after she’d sold him a house. The more he was around her, had reminders of her, the harder it was to remember how she’d hurt him so deeply in the past. But he couldn’t refuse Annalisa; Ron would throw a fit. So, he’d have to keep his guard up and not let his former feelings for Dani seep back into his heart. But Annalisa’s request presented the perfect opportunity to finally tell Dani’s mother what he’d wanted to since they were both in middle school.
He plastered on his best stern-lawyer expression. “Let’s look at the facts. Dani lives in your guesthouse, so she has a roof over her head. There’s little chance of her starving to death with Mrs. Wilson, the best cook in the world, only a stone’s throw away, so all the basics are covered. What I’ve never been able to understand is why you’d deny her the satisfaction of what you and I have both had.”
Annalisa frowned, as much as the Botox injections would allow. “I have never denied Dani anything.”
“That’s exactly the point!” He hadn’t meant to raise his voice but couldn’t seem to restrain himself. “You and I have both worked hard and excelled in our given professions. You’ve won multiple Oscars, and are one of the most beloved actresses in the world. I’ve earned a Heisman Trophy and was a starting quarterback in the NFL. Dani’s never been given the opportunity to work toward a goal and succeed, all by herself. You’ve never made her work for anything. If she wanted it, you made sure she had it.” His heart pounded as he caught his breath. He should probably have stopped his rant, but he didn’t want to. He’d kicked the door open and wasn’t going to stop now.
“Dani needs to try, and maybe even fail, all on her own. Until she does, she’ll never be truly happy. You’re like the parent of an alcoholic who sneaks booze to her child rather than see her suffer through rehab.”
Annalisa’s head jerked back as if he’d slapped her.
He’d just given one of the most powerful women he knew a speech she hadn’t asked for, then he’d ended it with an insulting remark that hadn’t been called for.
No, that wasn’t true. Someone needed to be honest with her, to tell her what Dani really needed. Dani was smart, beautiful, and deserved a real chance to make it on her own. She needed guidance and someone to believe she could do anything she put her mind to . . .
And where the hell had that come from? Dani was none of his concern anymore. She was just the daughter of one of his clients. Nothing more. He couldn’t forget that. After his ex-wife had broken his heart, he couldn’t take another blow from Dani.
When he met Annalisa’s gaze again, she closed her eyes and sucked in a deep breath as if reeling in her infamous temper.
“Annalisa—”
She held up a hand to stop him, looking mad enough to call one of her many security guards and have him thrown out. But she’d asked for his advice, and now she’d damn well take it.
He crossed his arms and waited her out. He was right and Annalisa was wrong. Dead wrong. She shouldn’t trick Dani into being reliant on anyone but herself.
Annalisa opened her eyes, staring intently into his. It was difficult to read what he saw in her expression, but it wasn’t happiness.
She crossed her arms and paced the room, evidently having some sort of internal debate.
Finally, she circled around and stood directly in front of him. “I’ll be damned, Michael. You might be right. Thank you for having the guts to tell me. Heaven knows, no one else around here ever stands up to me. With the exception of Dani, of course.”
She paced away again. “I’ve never looked at the situation quite like that. After those bastards tried to kidnap her all those years ago, I think it made me a little overprotective.” She sighed and shook her head. “Letting her founder won’t be easy. It’s torturous for me to watch, especially if she fails, but I honestly want to do what’s best for her.” She smiled and added, “You’ve somehow always known what Dani needed, even when you were just a boy. It’s a valuable gift that I’ve always appreciated in you, Michael.”
She sat on the couch next to him, then huffed out a breath. “But do you think there’s anything we could do about that ridiculous car she drives?”
He laughed as the tension drained from him like water in a sieve. “Let me think on that a bit. Maybe we could come up with something.” And it might prove to be a good opportunity to pay back the still-absent Dani. Maybe they were having a sale at the Buick dealership.
He’d find Dani—the lover of shiny, fast cars—the biggest granny boat he could find. Or worse, maybe a van. But how could he make sure she’d have to keep it? That’d take a little work, but he’d find a way.
“Michael.” Annalisa grinned and laid her hand on the side of his face, giving it a gentle pat. “Be nice. I know you two enjoy your little games, but don’t get cute.”
How the hell had she guessed his plan? His face must’ve given it away.
Dani shook her head and threw buttery popcorn into her mouth as she and Jake watched the beginning of the third Pink Panther movie. Unfortunately, nothing was clicking in the clue department.
“Okay. Why is this funny? We all know that Cato guy is going to attack Detective Dumbshit shortly after he returns home. Every one of these movies starts this way.”
Jake chuckled and snagged more popcorn from the bowl in her lap. “It’s funny because we do know. And come on, you have to admit the stuff Cato comes up with is pretty damn good.”
“I’d totally agree with you if I was a twelve-year-old boy, but because I’m not, it’s still just stupid.”
Jake wrapped his arm around her shoulder and drew her close, his breath hot against her cheek. “No one could ever mistake you for a twelve-year-old boy, sweetheart. You want to turn the movie off and go to bed?”
Dani leaned out of his embrace. Another two seconds of Jake’s smooth whispers, and she’d be putty in his hands. But she was determined to keep her vow. He’d never sign the papers if she didn’t. Worse, he’d never move on and find the woman he’s meant to be with.
As she chomped another handful of popcorn, she had the overwhelming feeling that she was forgetting something important. “Oh crap, I’m late!”
After shoving the bowl into Jake’s chest, Dani ran toward her mother’s house, every pounding step sending more pain radiating to her still-throbbing face. Passing the pool and the tennis courts, she headed for the dining room’s French doors and tried the handles. Locked.
She cupped her hands against the glass and peered inside. The room was empty, and the dishes had been cleared. She hoped she’d find them in the den and not her mom’s bedroom.
Gross.
She tapped in her security code and walked through a side door.
When she entered the den, Annalisa was smiling at Michael and her hand lay on the side of his face. That couldn’t be good. Her beautiful mother was like those sirens in fairy tales: just one glance and no man could resist her.
She needed to make her mom understand that Michael was off-limits. So after her mother dropped her hand, Dani marched up to Michael, sat on his lap, and
tried to give him a quick peck on the cheek as they’d planned. But Michael turned his head and narrowed his eyes as his mouth slowly made its way toward hers. He was probably mad that she was late, but what the heck was he up to?
She narrowed her eyes right back. He better not.
He did.
Michael laid his soft lips against hers and took total advantage of the situation. Her first instinct was to lean away, but then the sweetness of chocolate and the tart notes of wine drew her in. Warm memories of him seeped into her heart, reminding her of how much they used to mean to each other. Of how much she used to love him.
Then he deepened the kiss, and the heat kicked in.
She hadn’t been prepared for the belly-clenching kiss. She used to think his mouth should carry an R rating. In the years since their last kiss, he’d improved and would get nothing short of an X rating from her now.
He’d sucked all the air from her lungs and left her with about two working brain cells by the time she leaned back and blinked at him.
“You’re late,” he growled.
His gaze shot to her mouth again, and then to her eyes, as if asking permission this time. She couldn’t muster a refusal. She should have, but she really didn’t want to. She hadn’t been kissed like that—ever.
Her head nodded all on its own.
Michael’s lips were still tilted into a grin as he fused his mouth against hers again. His tongue slipped past her lips, taking a long, slow journey, exploring every crevasse of her mouth.
The bones in her body became hot and liquid goo. It was no wonder she’d lost all her abilities to say no to him that night during their senior year of high school.
When he finished their kiss, she stared into his eyes trying to figure out what the hell that had been all about. Not that she was complaining—just confused.
All the anger that had been etched on his face moments before was gone when he said, “Glad to see you, babe.”
“Uhmm,” she stammered, her mind refusing to provide the words she searched for.
Her mom cleared her throat. “This is a surprise, Dani. You hadn’t mentioned that you and Michael were seeing each other.”
Dani cringed. “Uh, yeah. We’ve been seeing a lot of each other lately.” She turned and smiled at her mom, recognizing her error only seconds before her mother’s eyes widened. She’d forgotten about her bruised face.
Annalisa quickly leaned closer, gently tilting Dani’s chin. In a low, dangerous tone, she asked, “Who did this to you, baby?”
“It’s nothing. I’m fine.” She sent a look Michael’s way, silently begging him not to tell.
Trying to distract her mother, Dani pulled Annalisa close and hugged her. Whispering in her ear, she pleaded, “Just let it go, please? It’s no big deal.”
She leaned back, studying her mother’s expression. Too late.
Annalisa turned and smiled at Michael. “Would you excuse us, please? Dani and I need to discuss something in private.”
Dani shook her head. “Michael and I have other plans.”
“That can wait.” Her mother’s voice grew even louder.
Dammit. Recognizing that particular tone, she was in for quite the speech. Why her sister Sara never received that tone of voice, she’d never been able to figure out.
Michael cleared his throat as he stood. “Thank you for a wonderful meal, Annalisa. I’ll be in touch.” Then he turned toward Dani. “Since you don’t have a phone or a car, how about I pick you up at three thirty tomorrow to look at houses? I’ll jot down my requirements. And you forgot your divorce papers in my office today. Should I leave them both in the guesthouse?”
“That’d be great.” Dani wished she could leave, too. “Jake’s there, so maybe you could try to get him to sign the papers.” She would have laughed at the pained expression Michael sent her before walking out the door if her stomach hadn’t been tied up in knots.
She felt like a kid in high school, caught smoking in the bathroom, about to face the principal. Her mother often treated her like a child, unable to let her live her own life, always eager to share her helpful suggestions.
Her friends’ mothers were not nearly as involved in their daughter’s lives. But she and her mom had their special abilities in common. And so did her grandmother.
That kind of bond was hard to break.
There wasn’t anyone, besides her grandmother, who understood the burden of living with a secret that, if she was careless, could affect her mother’s career. Not to mention the fact that everyone would know what a freak show she was. Outside of her family, only Zoe and Jake knew her secret.
But every time she thought she was making progress at gaining her mother’s respect, she always seemed to screw something up, and her mom would have to jump in to save the day. Maybe in the new life she was forging she wouldn’t need as much rescuing. At least she hoped not.
Dani turned, prepared for her mother’s lecture, but Annalisa wasn’t there. She’d crossed the room and was pouring two glasses of wine. Were they going to have a quiet, rational discussion over a drink? That had never happened before.
When her mother held a glass out without uttering a single word, she didn’t know what to do.
She accepted the wine, took a sip, and waited for her mother’s rant.
It never came. The silence stretched.
Was she supposed to say something? Beg her mother to give her a tongue-lashing?
Dani couldn’t stand the pressure any longer and blurted out the whole story. She’d even admitted that she’d just signed up to help Jake with another of his crimes, even though she’d sworn she’d stop helping him.
After another long uncomfortable moment, her mom finally spoke. “You’ve helped Jake save lives and put criminals behind bars, and that’s an admirable thing. And except for the recent mayor trespassing situation, it’s all gone fairly smoothly.”
“Are you forgetting that you asked me to help you with that? You were the one who had that particular dream, not me.”
Nodding, her mom said, “Yes, but scaling the mayor’s wall and getting caught wasn’t what I had in mind. However, you undoubtedly saved his political career by deleting those e-mails and transferring the money back where it belonged. And you and I are the only ones who will ever know that. I’m just not sure how you’re going to keep fighting crime and hold down a full-time job, honey. If you want to continue helping Jake, that’s up to you, but I don’t want to see you hurt. Where is the man who hit you, and how can we be sure he won’t come after you again?”
How many glasses of wine had her mother had? She was way too mellow about the situation. Maybe it was a trick. “He’s in jail. Jake offered to help keep me safe when he gets out on Friday.”
“If you don’t mind, I’d like to speak to Jake about that myself tomorrow.”
“Uh, sure. That’d be fine.” She was totally confused. Her momer never asked for permission; she normally just did what she pleased.
Before she could respond, her mother wrapped an arm around her shoulder, giving her a light squeeze before she kissed her forehead. “I was going to ask if you’d like to come with me to LA tomorrow. I need to reshoot a few scenes from my last movie. I’d only be busy in the mornings, so I was hoping we could get together with your sister, put on our wigs and dark glasses, and then lose ourselves on Rodeo Drive. But I guess you’ve committed to helping Michael find a house and need to stay here?”
God, she missed their covert trips to Rodeo Drive. It had been forever since she’d been able to shop to her heart’s content and eat lunch at her favorite restaurants. It was tempting, but her mother was right; she’d committed to Michael, and she really needed to pick up her commission check on Friday. And then there was that other thing: she was supposed to be acting like a responsible adult.
Wait a minute. Since when had her mom taken her job as a Realtor seriously? “Okay, that’s it. What’s going on? Why are you being so reasonable?”
“Nothing’s going
on. But I think someone who calls themselves a Realtor would need to remember to pay her cell phone bill and have a working car.”
“The car wasn’t my fault.” She crossed her arms. “And I didn’t forget to pay my phone bill. I just couldn’t afford to pay it on time. That will all change on Friday.” Suddenly a thought struck her. “Are you mad at me because I put a damper on your seduction plans with Michael?”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Dani.” Annalisa morphed back into her normal self. “How could you have thought, for even a moment, that I’d be interested in Michael that way?”
Now this was the kind of argument she could deal with. Yelling and screaming made sense. “Because Ron put that theory into Michael’s head, and Michael put it into mine. So, you haven’t been dating Shaun Winters or Ryan Matthews like the tabloids said? Because I looked up their ages on the Internet this afternoon, and they’re both younger than me.”
Annalisa rolled her eyes toward the ceiling as if praying for patience before sitting on the couch and striking one of her “I’m an important star” poses. “Their agents cut at least five years off their ages, and I’m not dating them. I’ve just slept with them.” Her mom waved an impatient hand. “That’s entirely different.”
Dani was still trying to understand the difference when her mother added, “Ron has a big mouth. I slept with the man once, and look what it got me. Lawyers. Nothing but grief.”
“Yeah. Tell me about it,” Dani muttered, thinking of her one night with Michael and the complicated kisses they’d just shared.
Back in high school their encounter had started out as a party game. Chance, or maybe fate, partnered them together to share a kiss in private after not speaking to each other for almost two years. But when they’d kissed, as required by the game, things heated up too fast, and she’d let things go too far. She’d known better that he’d end up with another woman, but her heart begged her to put that aside and just feel what it was like to be with him. She’d wanted her first time to be with someone she loved. But making love to him had made her heart ache even worse afterward, knowing he’d end up with someone else.
Seeing Double (A Heartbreaker Novel Book 1) Page 6
