Page 59 of Secret Love

Chapter 19

Fox

Now

“Pancakes, please.”

Dani’s eyes grow wide as she says it, displaying a powerful desire hidden behind her shades.

“Coming right up.” The waitress flashes a strategic, tip-bait smile and walks away to put our order in.

I take a long sip of coffee, relishing in the caffeine boost. “Pancakes, eh?”

Dani slides her sunglasses down to the tip of her nose so she can see me over them. “I might as well have them while I can, right?”

I lean back in the booth and sigh. “Bennett still has you on a tight leash, huh?”

Her eyes fall. She doesn’t answer.

“Dani, you have more than enough means to cut him off now. It’s not like either of you will be on the street if you do.”

“I just…” Her teeth scratch her bottom lip. “Never mind. It’s stupid.”

“We both know that’s not gonna fly,” I say. She breathes a laugh. “Tell me.”

Dani takes her time. Her elbows bend and move as she slides her palms along her thighs beneath the table. “I don’t know anything else,” she answers. “After you left, he was all I had, and he’s done a pretty good job at reminding me of that fact.”

Classic Bennett. What better way is there to keep a leash on her than to give her no other alternative than to follow?

“You’ll adapt,” I say. “The world isn’t as scary as you think it is.”

“Says the contract killer.”

“You know what I mean.”

“That’s the thing, though, isn’t it? I really don’t.” She pushes her sagging sunglasses back up her nose. “I was born in LA. If I ever make it back, I’ll probably die there, too.”

“There are worse ways to die. Trust me.”

“You’re right.” She nods softly as she runs a fingertip along the edge of her coffee mug. “I just wish my life didn’t feel so manufactured. And it’s not like I can complain about it. If I even try to express an ounce of negativity, people just brush me off. What the hell does she have to complain about? Look at her.” She lets out a hard exhale. “They forget there’s an actual person beneath that spotlight.”

“You have a good life, Dani,” I whisper, grasping for ways to comfort her.

She tilts her head. “Is it really a life when someone else makes all your decisions for you? Honestly, the choice between pancakes or waffles was the biggest decision I’ve made since… ever. I almost asked for your opinion.”

“I would have gone with waffles.”

She smiles and little dimples cave on her chin. “Well, shit…”

“Forget about all that stuff.” I smile back without thinking. “We’re in the middle of nowhere. You don’t have to be anyone but Dani out here. Especially not with me.”

She scoffs. “Don’t pretend like you don’t see Roxie Roberts staring back every time you look over here.”

“You’ve never been Roxie to me. You know that.”

I bite my tongue, feeling like I’ve gone too far. Her eyes flick up at me over the tops of her shades and her cheeks turn red.

Definitely too far.

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