Seeing Double (A Heartbreaker Novel Book 1)

by Tamra Baumann

  The front door opened, and her mom and grandmother breezed in. Her mother raised a brow. “Ice cream this close to dinner, ladies?”

  “Dani said I could choose what we were having, so this is dinner. Want one?” Sara licked gooey chocolate from her spoon.

  Eva chuckled and sat on the arm of the couch. “You bet.”

  Her mother slipped between Dani and Sara and let out a long sigh. “What the hell? This is probably the end of my career anyway. Make mine a double, honey.”

  “Woo-hoo! Mom’s gonna eat carbs. I should video this.” Sara raced to the kitchen.

  Dani slid her sundae toward her grandmother. “You can have mine. I can’t eat.”

  Eva’s eyes lit up. “Well, I for one have an iron constitution, so I’ll be happy to take it off your hands. Besides, I have confidence in that boy. He’ll do right by you.”

  Her grandmother hadn’t seen the way Michael had looked at her in the hospital or she’d never have been so sure.

  When Michael’s image appeared, Dani’s heart broke a little more. He was so handsome, even with the big, ugly bruise over his right brow. But his green eyes were hooded and solemn, which probably wasn’t a good sign.

  Sara jogged into the living room and handed their mom a sundae just as Michael was introduced. “God, he’s so frickin’ hot. Why do you get all the best-looking ones, Dani?”

  Dani shushed her, just as the anchorman asked Michael, “So, Mr. Reilly. Nurse Wright claims to have overheard a conversation between you and Ms. Botelli that indicated that she and her mother might have committed a crime on behalf of the mayor and that they have some sort of tie to the occult, or fortune-telling. Is that true?”

  Dani held her breath, waiting for the ax to fall.

  Michael cleared his throat and shifted in his seat. “Nurse Wright overheard a man high on painkillers having an argument with his girlfriend. It was a personal matter between Dani and myself that I’m not willing to discuss except to say that it was about a breach of trust. I’m sure Ms. Wright believes she’s telling the truth, but she misinterpreted the meaning of our conversation.”

  The anchor frowned. “Mr. Reilly, let me ask you directly. Are Annalisa and Dani criminals?”

  “Criminals?” Michael laughed and held up his hands. “Hey, I’m a lawyer and know the consequences of slanderous name-calling. I’d never call them that.”

  “Ms. Wright claims you both used the words crime and special powers multiple times in the portion of the conversation she overheard.”

  Michael laughed again, looking so confident that Dani grinned right along with him.

  “John,” he said and leaned closer to the anchor as if sharing a juicy secret. “I can assure you that I don’t have any psychic powers, although I find most women expect men to have some of that. We’re supposed to know what they’re feeling and thinking all the time, and when we don’t have a clue, they go ballistic.”

  The anchor nodded in agreement. “But what about the committing-a-crime part?”

  “Dani and I were having a communication issue, so while I don’t recall the exact context of our conversation, partly because of the pain pills, I do recall us talking about a crime. The whole conversation is still a bit fuzzy. I guess it’s possible we were talking about her mother and a part in a movie?”

  The anchor looked downright mad at losing out on the biggest scoop of his career. “If this is all as you say, then why haven’t Dani or Annalisa made any attempt to clear the matter up?”

  “I’ve read accounts that Annalisa is out of the country. I’m sure when she gets wind of the situation she’ll have herself a good laugh. Besides, don’t aging celebrities like Annalisa think any publicity is good publicity?”

  “Ouch!” Annalisa slapped her sundae on the table. “I’m going to box his ears for that one—right after I give him a big kiss.”

  The anchor asked, “But what about Dani Botelli? Why hasn’t she stepped up to put a stop to all the rumors about her? A statement through the publicist, at least, denying it.”

  Michael grew sullen. “I ended our relationship yesterday. I’m sure she’s angry and upset with me—and the situation—not worried about some silly rumors.”

  That wiped the grin off Dani’s face. He’d made it sound so permanent.

  When the anchor opened his mouth, Michael raised a hand and cut him off. “That’s all I’m going to say on the matter, and I’d like to ask the media to leave the Botellis and myself alone now. Thank you.” Michael tugged off his microphone and stood, ending the interview.

  Dani squeezed her eyes shut to stop the tears that threatened. Michael’s statement should put an end to the rumors. The press had only an unsubstantiated statement from a nurse that had grown legs because it was a slow news day.

  She was grateful for the way he’d handled it, but she wished she hadn’t seen the anger and hurt in his eyes that only someone who knew him as well as she did could see. It didn’t bode well for a future relationship with him. She’d always feared he’d be unable to accept her, let alone love her, if he ever found out the whole truth about her.

  Annalisa sighed. “Well, he didn’t lie exactly, but he didn’t tell the whole truth, either. I’m glad he’s one of my lawyers. He’s damn good.” Annalisa gave Dani a quick hug before she rose. “I’ve got to call my agent. Suddenly playing a colorful aunt has some appeal.”

  Sara jumped up and ran for her cell phone. “Awesome. This means I have a get-out-of-jail-free pass for tonight. Dani, let’s do girls’ night tomorrow. I’ve got a date. Mom and Grandma, are you guys in?”

  “Sure,” they said in unison. Her mom and grandmother exchanged a glance before her mom said to Eva, “I’m going be here to keep you in line, Mother, so get that unholy gleam out of your eyes. There are some things the girls need to learn about men all on their own.”

  Dani forced a smile and glanced at her watch. “Sara, you’ve been here for half a day and you already have a date?”

  Her sister beamed a mischievous grin. “Remember geeky Rick Johnson who always had a crush on me?”

  Dani conjured up a pimply kid with braces and glasses. “Yeah?”

  “He grew out of the geeky part. He now owns his own software company, and he ditched the glasses. He’s almost as cute as Michael.” She turned to their mother. “Hey, Mom. I saw a kick-ass Porsche in the garage. Can I borrow it? I’m supposed to meet Rick for drinks in an hour.”

  “You have to ask your sister. The Porsche belongs to her. But what happened to the days when young men picked young women up at their front door?”

  Sara rolled her eyes. “What? Are you kidding? What guy wants to come here and have his mind read by some crime-committing aging celebrity fortune-teller?” Sara grinned and kissed Annalisa’s cheek before their mother could reply.

  Eva snorted out a laugh, and Annalisa turned on her. “They both get their bad attitudes from you. Now, if you’ll all excuse me, I have to call my plastic surgeon, too. Sara has given me a complex.” She marched out the door, and Sara turned her big puppy dog eyes on Dani. “So, can I use the car?”

  “The car doesn’t belong—oh, whatever. Yes, you can borrow it.”

  “Thanks, and don’t wait up. Night, Grandma.” Sara streaked out the door.

  Her grandmother wrapped her arm around Dani’s shoulder and remained silent while Dani sent a text message to Michael to thank him for the press conference.

  After Dani laid the phone on the coffee table, Grandma said, “I wish I could tell you things between you and Michael will get better honey, but I can’t.”

  Dani blinked back her tears. “Yeah. But you and mom must’ve known about Michael. Both of you practically shoved me into bed with him so I could see the scar.”

  “We only saw snippets of things we knew must’ve been slated to happen soon. But we were hoping.” Her grandmother sighed. “I think it’s supposed to be this way, sweetheart. I mean, there has to be a limit to how far in the future we can see. Who’d want to know o
n their wedding day that they’d be getting a divorce in a few years? Like you and Jake? Or worse, who’d want to know the day they were supposed to die? I think God made it all work this way on purpose, for those like us.”

  Dani glanced at the phone on the table, wishing for a response from Michael. “Probably.”

  But it sucked sometimes.

  Her grandmother was quiet for a moment, seemingly deep in thought. “Well, I guess it’s just you and me tonight, kiddo. Want to watch a movie with your old grandmother?”

  “Yep. But we’re not watching anything romantic and sappy. It’ll just depress me more. I need some action. Maybe a classic like Die Hard, Indiana Jones, or Rambo?”

  “Definitely Rambo. It reminds me of Jerry. Where is that hot bodyguard of yours anyway?”

  Dani shook her head and flipped through her DVDs. “He’s taken, hotty69. You’ll have to settle for the movie.”

  Michael turned the six o’clock news off and walked to the kitchen, thankful the whole ordeal was finally behind him. Before he made it to the freezer to pick out his dinner selection for the evening, his phone chirped, indicating a text message. Maybe it’d be Julia, telling him she found the key to Ron’s apartment.

  Ron always played golf on Friday mornings, so Michael hoped they could go to the apartment, find the computer and passwords he used, and transfer the funds back to the new account his mom had just opened. And even more, he hoped he’d be around to see Ron’s face when he figured it all out.

  He opened the message, but it wasn’t from Julia. It was from Dani, and it simply said, Thanks.

  Before he could figure out how he felt about that, his phone chirped again. The new message was from Jake. I guess you’re not a prick. Just narrow-minded.

  He smiled. That was as close to an apology as he’d get from Jake.

  Michael turned his attention to the freezer and chose a garlic chicken and pasta dinner. After programming the time into the microwave, he stared at his phone, pondering if he should reply to Dani’s message.

  Probably not.

  The microwave beeped, pulling him out of his trance, and he quickly yanked his meal out, tossing it onto the counter before it could burn his fingers. He gingerly pulled the plastic off, careful to avoid the hot steam, and then poured himself a glass of milk. With nothing to do until his meal cooled off, he picked up his phone and replied to Dani’s message. You’re welcome. Take care.

  Then he tossed his phone aside and stared at his uninviting meal.

  He lifted his fork and forced himself to take a bite. The food tasted like crap, but he needed to eat something, so it’d have to do. Between the hospital food and his freezer, he hadn’t had a decent meal all week. It wasn’t hard to ignore the meal and let his mind wander back to Dani.

  She’d told him it had hurt her to be around him when they were in their teens. It made sense. It’d be miserable to know someone you loved was going to marry someone else before it happened.

  Shaking his head, he shoved another bite into his mouth, trying to block the sound of Dani’s low, smoky voice telling him that she loved him. She’d loved him for over twenty years. But was it true? Could he trust her not to leave him again?

  Once a liar, always a liar?

  He was so deep in thought that when his phone chirped again, he jumped. This time it was Julia.

  Found key. When do u want to go?

  Michael smiled in anticipation. He felt like kicking someone’s ass, and it might as well be Ron’s. 9:00 a.m. tomorrow?

  He finished off his dinner, looking forward to Julia’s reply. When the phone sounded, he snatched it up.

  Miss u.

  The sender’s name showed “Dani”—not that he hadn’t figured that out already—and his stomach had sudden thoughts about rejecting his lousy dinner.

  Nope, he wasn’t going to do it. He’d leave things as they were and just ignore her. Ending things for good was best.

  Another text came in, this time from Julia. Gr8, see u then.

  After dinner, Michael tried to watch a movie, but Dani’s message kept him from enjoying it. He spent the whole time convincing himself that it was right to make a clean break. And in time he’d forget about her and move on. Just as he’d done before.

  He finally switched to a book on his e-reader, but then ended up tossing it aside. After a glance at his watch, he was thankful it was nearly nine thirty, and he could justify going to bed since he was supposed to be recovering.

  After flopping from side to side in his tangled sheets for two hours, he stomped to his darkened kitchen and yanked his phone from the charger cord. When he pressed the keys, the light created a halo of blue around his hand, illuminating the keyboard as he replied to Dani’s message.

  It was a mistake, but his fingers typed the two lines his heart told him to write.

  When he was done, he slid under the covers, instantly falling asleep.

  Dani was awoken by the ringing of her cell phone. She reached out to find it, hoping it’d be Michael, disappointed when it wasn’t. “Hi, Julia.”

  “Hey, Dani. I saw that crap about you guys on the news last night. God, the press will report anything no matter how ridiculous it is, just to get ratings. But I’m sorry about you and Michael. I thought when Emma said, ‘Dani cry,’ she meant when we left, but she was talking about before that, wasn’t she?”

  Dani cleared the lump from her throat. Emma saw more that she let on, evidently. “Yeah. Michael and I had a misunderstanding.”

  “Well, it just so happens I’m supposed to meet Michael at nine at the apartment Ron meets all of his women. I’m going to let Michael in so he can check out Ron’s computer and hopefully transfer the money back. Do you want to do it instead? Would it give you guys a chance to clear things up?”

  She could have kissed Julia. “Thanks. That’d be great. Give me the address, and I’ll meet you at eight forty-five.”

  Dani scribbled the address down, then hung up. As she was about to lay her phone down, she noticed a text message waiting. It was from Michael.

  Her heart lurched before she pressed the button to summon it on the screen. Can’t deal with this now. Then she read the next line. Maybe I’ll call you in a few weeks and we’ll talk.

  Maybe? In a few weeks? That wasn’t especially encouraging, but at least he hadn’t ignored her completely. She was going to have to take the initiative and make the most of her time with him at Ron’s apartment.

  Something Mrs. Wilson said the day before had her racing to her mother’s kitchen. One thing Dani could make better than anyone else, even Mrs. Wilson, was stuffed cinnamon rolls, and she had just enough time to make a batch. Hopefully, they’d still be warm when she met Michael.

  They were his favorite, and while it might not do any good, she was desperate and willing to try anything.

  As she grabbed the items from the pantry, thankful her secret ingredient was there, too, she mentally chose an outfit that would make any man with a pulse sit up and beg. If that didn’t work, one thing was for certain: Michael always enjoyed a good fight, and she was going to give him one.

  Michael’s stomach sank when Dani strode across the parking lot at Ron’s apartment with an overly bright smile, a silky shirt that showed an intriguing amount of cleavage, and a suspicious bag in her hand. “What are you doing here?”

  Dani thrust the bag toward him. “It seems Julia has a matchmaker’s heart. She wants us to make up.”

  He glanced at the bag but knew by the sweet aroma what was in it before he opened it. Memories of munching on the delectable treats he used to beg Dani to make for him rushed back and hit him in the gut. His hungry gut. Tearing the bag open, he took a huge bite of one of the decadent sweet rolls and moaned. “God, I used to love these.”

  “You used to love me, too,” Dani murmured.

  He studied her as he finished off the first roll, then plunged his hand into the bag for another. He wasn’t going to be bought by a bag of rolls, no matter how damn good they were
. And he wasn’t going to be manipulated by two scheming women. “I appreciate the rolls, Dani, but do you have the key? I’m in a hurry.”

  Instead of handing it over, she ignored him and led the way to the stairs.

  Resigned to the fact that she wasn’t leaving, he followed her. He’d just ignore the sinful scent Dani’s perfume left in her wake. And why the hell did she have to wear a tight skirt that made her ass look so tempting? If she was trying to kick his butt, she was doing a damn good job of it.

  She obviously wanted to play games, and that was fine with him. He could give as good as he got. As she slid the key into the lock, he leaned close and whispered, “You look nice. Got a hot date later?”

  Dani scowled at him before she violently kicked the door open. “No. Work.” She lifted her chin in that snotty way of hers that he adored, then marched inside.

  Score a point for him. “You really should’ve rung the doorbell. How did you know Ron wasn’t here?”

  She turned and crossed her arms under her impressive cleavage. “I’m a freak, remember?”

  He’d been messing with her for showing up uninvited with a bribe; he hadn’t meant to hurt her. “I don’t think you’re a freak, Dani. Let’s get on with this.”

  Dani shook her head. “I called his secretary and found out he was playing golf.”

  “Yeah. He usually does on Fridays.” They crossed through the living room, decorated in dark leathers and glass, toward the hallway. Dani followed close behind as he turned into a bedroom. It was the master, and it held an enormous bed with a mirrored ceiling above it. Across the room hung a huge flat screen television with a video camera perched along its side, presumably to make his own movies. Michael turned and met Dani’s gaze.

  She slowly shook her head. “He’s a frickin’ perv.”

  “Yep.” Repulsed, especially on his mom’s behalf, Michael turned and crossed the hall to the second bedroom. Dani didn’t follow. The sounds of drawers opening and closing in the master drifted his way.

  The second bedroom held file cabinets and a desk with a computer on it. He slid into the leather chair, hit the “Power” button on the computer, then called out, “Would you stop snooping and get in here? I might need help with these passwords.”