Page 73 of Planned Seduction
A steel band closed around her lungs, squeezing the air out. She prayed her bland expression hid the turmoil churning inside her. “When will it be published?” If she could carry on with the small talk for another few minutes, she could then make an excuse about having to leave. She could go home and throw herself on her bed and scream and sob and shout and cry. Because Daniel was back and he hadn’t phoned.
“I’m not sure. Why don’t you ask him?”
“Uh, yeah…maybe I will.” Or not.
“How have you been?”
Amy thought she detected a note of concern in Sarah’s voice.
“I’m fine,” she lied.
“Ben, give me a minute, please.” Ben was tugging on Sarah’s sleeve. She looked at Amy again. “You’re looking…thinner.”
Amy guessed it was not the word Sarah had wanted to use. Haggard, pissed off, gaunt, confused, drawn, miserable…any one of those would have been more suitable. “I guess I’ve lost a bit of weight.”
Sarah turned to her son. “Will you please stop pulling my arm.”
“But, Mummy—”
“Honey, I’m talking to Amy. Give me a minute.”
“But, Mum? Mummy?”
Sarah cast a long-suffering glance at Amy and turned to her son with a fond smile. “Yes, Ben?”
Ben stared wide-eyed at Amy. “I don’t think Amy hath a pig head.”
Sarah’s cheeks turned crimson. “Excuse me?”
“I don’t think Amy hath a pig head,” he lisped with all the innocence of a three-year-old.
“How can you say such a thing?” She shot Amy a desperate look.
“Well, Uncle Danny thaid he’d athk Amy to marry him if she’d thtop being pigheaded. But I don’t think she hath a pig head.”
Somehow, Amy managed to finish her conversation with Sarah before stumbling home and collapsing into a chair in stunned disbelief.
Had she not been so astounded by Ben’s comment, she would have thought it hilarious. As it was, Sarah had almost crawled out of the shop in embarrassment. She’d cringed as she apologized for her son’s tactlessness and then beaten a hasty retreat before he could say anything more.
Amy was left to figure out for herself what had preceded Ben’s astounding disclosure. A whirlwind of unanswered questions spun through her head.
Maggie thought Daniel might have genuine feelings for her. Leona was involved in a same-sex relationship and was therefore not interested in him. Ben said Daniel wanted to marry her.
Immobile with incredulity, she took stock of the extraordinary lineup of events in her life over the last few months and finally saw them for what they really were.
The kisses, the sudden flare of desire, the irrepressible lust…none of it was coincidental. It must have all been part of his carefully masterminded plan to make his best friend fall in love with him…because he loved her.
It was a stupid, infuriating, irritating, ridiculous plan—and it had worked. Amy had fallen head over heels in love with Daniel. Crazy, madly in love.
Finally, she understood what Maggie had been trying to tell her all along. Her fears about Daniel had been misplaced. Because of Simon and because of her father, she was afraid Daniel would leave her. She was terrified he wouldn’t feel strongly enough about her to want to remain with her. When he’d told her he loved her, she’d dismissed his emotions as the lustful yearnings of an adult man. When he’d spoken about wanting to be with her for always, she’d told him he was talking rubbish.
She’d been wrong. Her logic was flawed and faulty. How else could she put it?
Ah, right. She’d fucked up.
If anything, she was the one who’d been disloyal to Daniel. Her lack of trust and faith were the ultimate betrayal. She should have known better. He was the single most honest person she knew. If he said he loved her, he loved her. Period. She should have accepted that as fact.
Forget the noes and the what-ifs and the fear. Taking Daniel at his word would have been the best possible basis for building a long-term relationship.
Instead, she’d panicked. The idea of him being away for a month and possibly wishing for his freedom had posed such a threat that she’d run away from the best thing that had ever happened to her. From her best friend and lover and future.
Darkness approached; the last remaining patch of sunlight ebbed, shadowed, and vanished. A dim glow was cast over the walls and chairs from the few streetlights twinkling outside. The near-complete blackness surrounding her reflected the emotion churning inside.
For hours, Amy replayed the chain of events that had brought her to her current situation until only two thoughts echoed through her mind. All Daniel had ever given her was his love, and all she’d ever done in response was screw him over.
She’d failed him.
