Nice work, Lightning Strike.You nearly got yourself killed again.
And all because he’d been too swept up thinking about Isabella.
Just like the day he’d got on that horse.
Why couldn’t he let her go?
Why couldn’t he simply forget?Simply not care?
He’d once shoved Isabella into his past, but she had a way of leaking back into his present.If he let her, would she flood his heart and soul again?Because right now, just the thought of paps hounding her like they’d hounded him churned his stomach.
And if the rumors about Hunter’s wife being on her way to London were true, the media would go to town.Did Hunter know people were onto them?Was he doing anything about it?He must be!
But just in case, Dan had to warn Isabella.
Because obviously he still cared about the woman he’d once loved enough to marry.
And there was nothing wrong with that.
Chapter 28
Thatnight,LibbyandKarim joined Dan for his mom and Malek’s last dinner on the island.They would be flying home tomorrow evening.
As the waitress cleared their empty plates, and while Dan and Malek were deep in conversation, his mom leaned across the table to squeeze Libby’s hand.
“I owe you so much,” Carina said.“I haven’t seen Dan this happy in—god, I don’t know.I can’t remember.”
Libby forced herself to smile, like she’d been doing all day ever since she’d told Dan about Juliana’s email and he’d lied so easily to her.Maybe if they’d had a chance to talk more today, she would’ve felt better.But it had been clear from the way Dan had dashed off to the beach that he’d wanted to be alone.She’d then taken Karim out for a walk to the grocery store, and when they’d gotten back to the hut, there was a note from Dan on the table saying he’d gone to Avarua, gift shopping for his sisters with Carina.By the time he came back with Carina and Malek, it was time to go out again to the restaurant.They wouldn’t be alone again until after dinner.
“It’s been a tough six months for him,” Libby said, keeping her voice even and diplomatic.
“But even before that, I’d noticed for a few months that Dan hadn’t smiled much.Not properly, anyway.He was always so busy.We barely saw him in person, and when we did, he always looked distracted and tired.”
“I guess he must’ve been happy doing what he was doing,” Libby said.“Otherwise, he wouldn’t have done it.”That was one thing Libby knew about him, at least.Dan wasn’t a sheep.Under what circumstances would he let himself be led to do something against his will?
Then the memory of what he’d said to the children on Atiu, about how he’d gotten on that horse to impress Isabella, tightened her stomach.
A man madly in love would let himself be led.
Then the reason for his lie struck her.As did that protective, guarded look in his eyes at the mention of Isabella’s name.
He was still in love with his ex.Of course he was!
Nausea curdled in Libby’s gut again.The roller coaster ride had ended, and now she was green in the face and ready to puke into a bush.
“Anyway,” Carina said beside her now, “if it wasn’t for you, Libby, Dan would never have got his act together to do what he’s doing now.To do what you’re both doing.And your photography is amazing.I just love your website.”
“Thank you.”Libby’s gaze shifted to Dan and Malek, still talking at the bar on the sand.The lagoon behind them loomed dark, and the white froth of waves out past the reef caught the pale moonlight.
Why did he have to lie?
It was beyond disappointing.Sure, she hadn’t been expecting every detail about Isabella’s affair, but couldn’t he have said,Yeah, I know, but I can’t talk about it?
Evading was one thing, but to pretend—so smoothly and easily—that he didn’t know anything about those rumors was unsettling.
“What’s on your mind, hon?”
Libby blinked at Carina’s question.There was no way she could tell Dan’s mom what she’d been thinking, nor how she was feeling.Not when her heart felt so fragile and she was afraid of sounding like that needy, begging girl she’d been at Elliot’s feet.
