Seeing Double (A Heartbreaker Novel Book 1)

by Tamra Baumann

  “Yay!” Emma grinned and wrapped her arms around Dani’s legs. “I luff Daaani.”

  She croaked out a whisper, “I love Emma, too.”

  Narrow-minded prick? Jake’s words ate at him as Michael paced his living room. He hadn’t had any more peace at home than at the hospital. When he’d finally been released the day before, reporters had shoved microphones in his face and followed him home. At least the security gates surrounding his apartment kept them confined to the parking lot.

  The press wanted him to confirm the nurse’s story. He crossed to the window and checked outside for an escape route. Maybe the vultures had tired and given up.

  Nope. They’d camped out all day.

  The doctors had advised him to stay home from work for a few days to be sure he recovered fully, but he was going crazy. He felt like a prisoner in his own home.

  A friend who produced a local news show had called and asked for an interview. He’d said it’d stop the reporters from hounding him. But should he do it or just hide out until they got tired of waiting? His buddy said since it involved Annalisa, that could be a very long time.

  He flopped onto the couch and turned on the television. A local reporter was talking about Annalisa, of course, and then the view switched to the police station. A woman asked Jake if it were true that his ex-wife and her mother had committed a crime and if they practiced any kind of occult or witchcraft.

  Jake sent the reporter a wide smile. “I like to think everyone has a little woo-woo ability inside of them. It’s just most people haven’t tapped into theirs yet. I know my hunches are rarely wrong, and I use them to put scumbags behind bars.” He turned and started to walk away, but the woman wouldn’t give up.

  “Don’t you think Michael Reilly’s refusal to acknowledge the eyewitness’s statement is an admission to the crime in itself?”

  Jake’s features turned cold. “Mr. Reilly suffered a serious head injury. He needs time to recover. I’m sure he’ll do the right thing when he’s feeling better.” Jake stared into the camera and it felt as if he were looking directly at him. Then Jake strode away.

  “Do the right thing?” Michael pointed the remote at the screen and hit the “Off” button. “Yeah, and what is the right thing, Jake? Lying to someone you claim to love?”

  His mood foul, he stood to pace again.

  When he couldn’t sleep the previous night, he’d searched online for information about psychics and people who claimed to have extra powers, as Jake had said. After he’d gotten past the obvious fakes, he’d found studies and serious research that confirmed that people with exceptional powers do exist. Police forces around the world have used them from time to time. While it still made him uneasy to think Dani had those extra abilities, at least she used them in a positive way.

  He glanced out the window again. The Mercedes Annalisa had loaned him had miraculously appeared and sat gleaming in his assigned parking space, the key in his mailbox. Maybe Annalisa was just trying to soften him up so he’d lie to the reporters.

  A pang of guilt hit him in the heart. Annalisa had taken him on worldwide adventures and had always showed him nothing but love and respect. She’d offered the car out of kindness, and she’d probably had it moved for him for the same reason. It was Dani he was angry with.

  He dropped his aching head into his hands and groaned.

  What was he going to say to the reporters to make them go away, so he could have his life back again? He didn’t want to lie. It’d be no better than what Dani had done to him.

  But Dani’s plea to keep her secret replayed in his mind. She was right: Annalisa’s lawyers would probably find a way to get them off if they got charged for anything, and it’d be Annalisa’s reputation he’d hurt more in the long run by telling the truth.

  But he always told the truth.

  Dani rolled over and blinked her heavy eyelids open. The morning sun, reflecting off the water from the pool, swayed in gentle patterns on the ceiling above her bed. She conjured up her schedule for the day, and her heart sank. Her work calendar was clear, unfortunately. She could’ve used the distraction, not to mention the money a sale would bring.

  She didn’t even have Emma to get dressed and fed. Strangely, that depressed her even more. Maybe she’d just pull the covers over her head and stay there all day.

  No, that was the coward’s way out. What she needed to do was talk to Mrs. Wilson. Surely, she’d seen the news by now and was probably feeling just as betrayed as Michael.

  Not bothering to get dressed—because she seriously considered retreating back to bed if things didn’t go well—Dani padded to the main house in the tank and boxers she’d slept in. She shuddered at the cool October air as the aroma of something sinful and delicious drew her to the kitchen.

  Giving the swinging door a shove, Dani stuck her head inside. Mrs. Wilson was pulling a tray of chocolate chip cookies from the industrial oven.

  A big lump formed in Dani’s throat. Mrs. Wilson was baking them for her. Emma was gone, and her mom never ate cookies.

  Mrs. Wilson turned and raised a brow. “I figured that’d lure you out of your cave.”

  When Dani only nodded, Mrs. Wilson slammed her hands on her ample hips. “Oh, wipe that sheepish look off your face. What? Do you think I don’t love you anymore because you have some weird dreams? Did you really think a person can live in the same house with you two for twenty-five years and not figure it out?” She held her arms out wide in invitation.

  Dani crossed the room, letting herself be wrapped into Mrs. Wilson’s warm embrace. “You knew?”

  “I overheard you explain to Sara how it all worked many years ago. That’s when I fully understood. You were about nine then.”

  “You could’ve sold your story to the tabloids and been a millionaire.” Dani snuggled closer, thankful not everyone she loved was angry with her.

  A deep chuckle rumbled from Mrs. Wilson’s chest. “Yeah, and that would have made me a lonely old woman with nothing to do but count her money. I’d rather be a part of this family and feel loved.”

  “You are.” Dani gave her one last squeeze. “I wish Michael could be as understanding as you.”

  Mrs. Wilson turned and filled an oversize mug with coffee. “Give him time, honey. It was quite the shock when I figured it out. But it might not hurt to bust out some of those gourmet cooking skills you’ve been keeping to yourself. You know what they say. The way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. My Arthur would’ve agreed.”

  She accepted a warm cookie and the mug Mrs. Wilson held out. “Arthur was lucky to have you. I’m not sure I could ever be as good a wife as you were. Thanks for the cookies.” Dani took a bite of the warm, gooey treat. The decadent flavors filling her mouth almost made her smile.

  “You can be any kind of wife you set out to be. You just have to decide what that is, young lady.” She crossed her arms and narrowed her eyes. “The cookie was for you, but the coffee is for your mom. Take it up to her bedroom and, while you’re at it, make up with her.”

  Dani started to refuse, but the steely gleam in Mrs. Wilson’s eyes had her mouth snapping shut. With a deep breath for courage, she turned and made her way to the stairs. When she glanced up, it seemed like miles to the top.

  As she walked toward her mother’s bedroom, the aroma of coffee in one of her mom’s favorite mugs made her feel like a kid again. On those Saturday mornings, when her mom was in town, she and Sara awoke as early as they could. They’d stop by the kitchen and get mugs of coffee—half-filled so they wouldn’t spill—and tried to catch their mom sleeping. They never did. She was always up, reading scripts or talking on the phone. She’d see them in the doorway, push her half glasses atop her head, then throw the covers back in invitation.

  They’d race across the room, slap the mugs down, then dive into the huge, comfy bed, where they’d snuggle with their mom while deciding what to do for the day. It was one of her favorite memories. Mostly because her mom was gone more than half
of Dani’s childhood, off shooting movies.

  Dani reached her mom’s bedroom door and quietly knocked. Maybe she’d get lucky and her mom would still be asleep. For once.

  Her mother’s quiet “Come in” made Dani cringe.

  She slowly opened the door to what she used to call the fairytale room. The bedroom took up half of an entire floor. The walls were covered in soft fabrics, the carpet deep, the furniture gleaming dark antiques, and the four-poster looked like one you’d find Sleeping Beauty in.

  Her mom was propped up against the headboard reading a script. She looked like a queen, dressed in lace and surrounded by silk. Even without makeup she was beautiful.

  Without glancing from the papers in her hand, her mother threw the covers back, just as she’d done all those years ago. Dani’s dread eased a bit before she laid the coffee down on the nightstand, then she slowly slid between the warm, silky sheets beside her mom. When her mother’s arm slid around her shoulder and pulled her closer, Dani nearly sighed. “So, you’re not angry with me anymore?”

  Her mom tossed the script she was reading aside; then her glasses landed on top of it. “No. I’m not angry with you, Dani. Not anymore anyway.” She waved a hand toward a pile of scripts. “I must be getting old. The only scripts I get these days want me to play someone’s mother or colorful aunt. But the one I was just reading is a first. They want me to play a grandmother. The only way I’m playing someone’s grandmother would be to my own grandchildren. You and Sara could help me out there, by the way.”

  Dani didn’t think it wise to comment on the kid remark. She was already walking a thin line and didn’t need another argument about why she wasn’t having any of her own. Instead, she let out a low hum.

  “I’d just like you to consider it, that’s all.”

  “Um hum.”

  “Oh, never mind. God, you’re as stubborn as your father.” Her mom chuckled and laid a kiss on the top of her head. “Something just occurred to me. It probably hasn’t been fair to ask you to keep my secret all these years. Maybe it’d be best to make a statement and let the chips fall where they may. Let them all believe I’m a criminal who dabbles in the occult. Who cares if I don’t work again? I’ve got more money than I can ever spend. I suppose I could take up a hobby or something.”

  “A hobby?” Dani snorted in disbelief. “You’d miss all the attention, and it’d make you cranky. Then you’d be even more difficult to live with.”

  “You’re a little brat and always have been.” She gave Dani’s rear end a sharp smack. “Speaking of cute little brats, where’s Emma?”

  Dani’s throat tightened. “Julia picked her up last night.” She blinked back her unexpected tears. “Is Em going to be okay?” Her mom had dreams much further in the future than Dani usually had.

  “Yes. And I’m going to help her break into show business. That’s assuming I’m not blacklisted. Speaking of which, have you heard from Michael?”

  “No. I’m going to e-mail him Ron’s account numbers after Julia sends them to me this morning. Maybe he’ll have calmed down by then.”

  “He’s upset and hurting. And so are you. I’m sorry for that, sweetheart.” Her mother was quiet for a moment before she said, “I know this feels like the end of the world, but things tend to work out the way they’re supposed to.”

  “Yeah. Maybe he’ll be so happy to have Ron’s account numbers to help his mom he’ll give me another chance to explain.”

  “When you give him the account information, include a message from me, will you? Tell Michael to do what his conscience allows. I don’t want to put any additional pressure on him.”

  Dani whipped her head toward her mom. “Do you really mean that? Or is that a trick to make him feel guilty?”

  “No”—her mom slowly shook her head—“it’s not a trick. Even when Michael was a boy he couldn’t tell a lie. It’s just the way he’s put together. He’s a lawyer because he truly believes in right and wrong. If he decides to give the press a statement, he’ll suffer for it if I ask him to cover for me, and I don’t want to put him in that position. I love him too much.”

  That was all true about Michael. It was why it hadn’t been easy to keep her secret or lie to him when he’d asked if she had any secrets. She should have told him the truth when he’d asked. She’d made the biggest mistake of her life by lying to him. But had her mom thought through the consequences if Michael talked?

  “Seriously, Mom? You’d want him to tell the whole truth? Even if it means risking your career?”

  What career?” Her mom huffed out a breath. “I’d rather retire than play someone’s damn grandmother.” She added a dramatic shudder.

  Dani smiled for the first time all day. “I think you’d be a great grandmother. Gotta go. Love you, Mom.”

  “I love you, too, even if you do have loose lips. There’s a surprise waiting for you in the guesthouse. You’re welcome, by the way.”

  Dani chuckled. “Thank you. I think.”

  She hurried back to the guesthouse, feeling slightly better, thankful her mom hadn’t disowned her. When she opened the door, she was greeted with a loud screech, then a set of arms flew around her neck.

  Her sister, Sara.

  “Hey, you. What are you doing here?”

  Sara, a pint-size copy of Dani, even though she was fully grown at twenty-five, rolled her eyes dramatically. “Mom’s circling the wagons until this blows over. I was commanded to come home. I heard you really screwed up this time.”

  Leave it to Sara to get right to the point. “Yep. I probably set a new record.”

  “Oh, whatever. Mom always fixes it.” Sara paused to read something on the cell phone in her hand, then her head popped up. “Since we’re not allowed to leave the prison tonight, want to get shitfaced and complain about men?”

  “Sure. Why not?”

  Sara dropped onto the couch, her fingers moving with lightning-fast speed over the keys on her cell phone, sending a text. “Good, because I heard grandma’s coming to town, too. She’s always a good time, right?”

  Even their grandmother had been summoned to the compound? Man, her mom must be worried.

  Michael stared at his computer screen, debating. Should he open Dani’s e-mail or delete it? She’d referenced Ron in the subject line, but surely that wasn’t the only thing the message would contain.

  Slowly, like the needle of a compass that couldn’t help but point north, his hand moved to the mouse pad. He tapped the button to open the message, and Ron’s account numbers instantly appeared at the top. That meant Julia must’ve finally come back.

  It also meant Dani would be missing Emma.

  But that wasn’t his concern anymore.

  He turned his attention back to the screen. She’d kept the message short.

  I hope this helps. Let me know if I can do anything else. Love, D.

  Love? She sure had a twisted way of showing her love—lying to someone for years.

  But it’d been nice of her to get the numbers from Julia. His mom would appreciate it. Dani had always loved his mom, and vice versa.

  He’d wanted to get his mother’s views on Dani’s behavior, but not until he did the press conference. He’d decided in the middle of the night that he’d do it. To make everything just go away. He wouldn’t share Dani’s secret with his mother if he wasn’t willing to tell the world. His gut burned with dread as he thought of it.

  He’d considered just saying “No comment,” but the press wouldn’t give up that easily. Annalisa was always big news, and because her people were so good at spin, there was usually so little of it, and that just made it that more appealing to the pit-bull reporters clawing and scratching over each other’s backs for the biggest celebrity story of the year.

  He scrolled down to the end of the e-mail and found a postscript.

  BTW, my mom said do whatever your conscience tells you.

  He closed his eyes and leaned back in his chair. She was making it easier on him to tell the
press the truth. Dammit.

  He reached for his phone. The sooner he got the news conference over, the better. Then he could wipe his hands clean of Dani and restore some blessed peace in his life.

  After arranging to meet his friend at the television station, and trying to use the data Julia had sent via Dani, he sent a text message to Julia. I just tried the passwords. Ron must’ve changed them. We didn’t find any financial info on Ron’s computers at work or home. Ideas?

  After a few moments, his phone chimed. His apartment?

  Ron had an apartment? Actually, that made sense. When he was naming off all the women he’d seen, he’d have to have somewhere to take them. Address? Do you have a key?

  He drummed his fingers on the desk, waiting for her response.

  1519 Henderson. # 211 May still have key. I’ll get back to you.

  Good. It looked like they might just beat Ron at his own game, after all. Now he had to decide what he was going to say to the press.

  It would’ve been easier if Annalisa had called him up and ranted and raved like she usually did if she was unhappy. Instead she’d treated him like she always had—like a son. How was he going to fix things and still be true to his word?

  Chapter Sixteen

  Dani and Sara sat on the couch in the guesthouse, chocolate sundaes in their hands, waiting for the six o’clock news. The station had sent out a teaser saying Michael was making a statement, and they had the exclusive story.

  When Dani glanced down at her treat, her stomach roiled, so she set it on the coffee table without taking a bite. What was Michael going to do? It had been so stupid to tell him her secret in a public hospital, but the timing had seemed so right. She’d never make a mistake like that one again. And she’d never lie to him again. If he’d ever forgive her.

  Now her mother’s happiness lay in Michael’s hands. And if Annalisa was unhappy, then everyone was going to be unhappy.