Anything for Her(84)



As his brain slowly revived, he became aware of how very thin she was. Damn it, he hadn’t been able to feel her ribs the last time he’d held her like this, had he? Her delicate vertebrae were definitely more prominent.

“You’re still losing weight.”

She didn’t move for a moment. He wasn’t sure she was even breathing. At last she sighed. “I do that when I’m worried or unhappy.”

“This time it’s my fault.”

“No. We couldn’t have gone on with me lying to you. I told you. It was tearing me apart. Mom refused to understand at all.” Allie went quiet. “That was the worst part,” she said finally. “She was...pressuring me to stay quiet.”

“Will you tell her?”

“That I opened my mouth and absolutely everything spilled out?”

“Yeah.”

“Yes,” Allie said softly. “She needs to know. Anyway, I’m not a good liar. Remember?”

“I remember.” He nuzzled her hair. “Will she be upset?”

He didn’t like the way she kept going quiet. He felt so good himself, he hated to think that all her worries were already building again inside her.

“Yes,” she said. “I think she will be.” She lifted her head to stare fiercely at him. “You have to promise me you won’t tell anyone. Not even Sean. Especially not Sean. He’s a teenager. Nobody can know. Nobody. Promise me.”

“I promise.” He couldn’t imagine what he’d tell Sean, but not this. Allie’s secrets, Nolan understood with some shock, had now become his. The man who insisted on complete honesty now knew things he’d never be able to tell another soul, even his sister. “I swear, Allie.”

Her eyes burned into his, but finally she nodded and laid her head down again. The way she snuggled closer as she relaxed felt like trust to him. His arms closed more firmly around her. God, he loved her.

In the peaceful time that followed, he tried to decide how uncomfortable he was about keeping Allie’s secret, but didn’t find as much uneasiness as he might have expected. Her safety and happiness had become the most important thing in the world to him. He would never do anything to endanger her or her mother.

Thank God, he thought suddenly, he’d stopped the P.I. when he did. What if the guy had succeeded in tracing the Nelsons to New York? Somehow identified Allie Wright as the talented young dancer Chloe Marr? A chill passed through him. No wonder the investigator’s visit had scared the crap out of Allie’s father!

Did Nelson have some way to get word to Allie’s mother that someone had come around asking questions? Nolan hoped not. Should he call the P.I. and emphasize that he should call it quits?

No. Better to pay the bill and let it go.

Guilt did a dip and roll in his gut. Did he have to tell Allie what he’d done?

He stared up at the ceiling. Yes. He’d demanded complete honesty from her, and he had to give it to her in turn. But...not yet. She’d had enough trauma for one day.

Tomorrow, he decided, ashamed of his relief. Or maybe the day after. Right now, he’d keep holding her close and revel in the knowledge that she loved him.

* * *

ALLIE HAD AWAKENED the next morning smiling. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d done that.

If only Nolan had been able to stay the night. Of course she’d understood; he had a teenage son and couldn’t not go home.

She wanted to wake up with him every morning. Go to bed with him every night.

He hadn’t said anything about the future. Given that he had Sean, Allie couldn’t see him suggesting she move in with them. No, a man of his rock-solid integrity would ask her to marry him. Maybe he thought they needed more time first, though, and maybe he was right.

I love him. She hugged herself in delight.

What she didn’t want to think about was the shadow that hung over her. She had to talk to her mother. Say, Mom, I told him everything. Soon.

Today. Better to get it over with.

Midmorning she called her mother’s mobile number and suggested they have lunch together. When she offered to pop out to the Pea Patch or the bakery and pick up the food, Mom insisted that she had a full hour off, she’d be glad to bring the meal.

By the time she ended the call, Allie felt horribly guilty. Her mother had sounded so relieved. She thought everything was fine now, that their little tiff was past. She wasn’t going to like what Allie had to say.

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