Page 117 of Dex

“Only a few months.”She tells me how it came to be, and in the telling of her story, I find out about the tragic news about her mom, and how this flower shop came to be.

“I’m so sorry about your mom.”I want to throw my arms around her and comfort her, like I would Raquel, but I don’t feel that we have that type of relationship.Not yet.Though I can already see that Cari is lovely and warm, and loyal.I’m glad she’s here.Not just because it’s good to have another woman in the Knight world, but because I could do with a friend.

“You okay?”she asks, when I fall silent.

I smile, keeping my voice light.“I’m fine.Actually, Cari, there’s ...there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Oh?”

It’s been weighing on my mind for a while now.Now that I’m a part of this family, whatever that means, I feel I owe Cari an explanation.“It’s about ...the alliance” I say, tentatively.“This marriage of convenience.”

She looks immediately concerned.“Things are okay, aren’t they?Between you and Dex?”

I flap my hand dismissively.“Yes, yes.”I feel like I’m starting to blush.

“Because that kiss, after that dance, at your wedding reception ...”Cari fans her face with her hand, signaling heat.“It was scorching hot!It lookedso real.You’re both such good actors.”She lowers her voice and looks.“Because everyone in that room bought it.The romance, the sizzle, the passion.Even I did, and I know the truth.”

I blink a few times, remembering that night.The memories come flooding back, but I push them away.It’s not good to dwell on things that can never be.“I wanted to talk about Jett,” I say.Cari looks puzzled.“Nothing ever happened.We never even got talking.We were never in touch.You’ve been so kind to me, so graceful, and many women in similar positions wouldn’t have been, and I just wanted to explain things.”

Cari’s expression turns soft, her eyes fill with understanding.“You don’t have to explain, Dani.May I call you Dani, or do you prefer Daniela?”

I smile.“Dani.”I lean in.“I want to explain.I just need to say it.It wasneverromantic.It never even got off the ground.I never knew, neither did my father, that Jett and you were together—”

“It’s not your fault,” she rushes to console me.“Paul Knight pushed for that deal.Not Jett.”

“Even so, with his father pushing, I just want you to know that Jett and I have never communicated.You both make such a lovely couple, and such a lovely family.”

She tucks her hair behind her ear, blushing.“Thank you.He makes me so happy.And Brooke.It all feels so natural, like it was meant to be.Please don’t stress about the alliance.I know you had nothing to do with it.”She smiles at me.“How are things working out with you and Dex?”

How do I answer such a question?I don’t even try.I flash a smile.“He’s been working a lot, so ...I don’t see him much.”

I catch a faint glimpse of surprise on her face, before she hides it.“They’re Knights.They like their legacy.But how areyou?It must be daunting being away from everything you’re used to.”

“It’s not easy leaving my family and friends and my way of life as I knew it.”

“It’s a brave thing you’re doing.”She looks at me, but doesn’t push.

“I’m doing it for my family …” I hesitate.

She reaches for my hand.“You don’t have to tell me anything.”

I nod.We talk about the wedding, about my life in Brazil, and, because it’s so obvious, and hanging in the air, I tell her a little about the honeymoon.I mention how Dexter was busy working, and I was busy reading and relaxing.I don’t talk about the kiss, or the hot tub, or how he’s put distance between us now that we’re back.

“Dex doesn’t bite, even if he acts like he might,” she says.“He can come across as rough around the edges, almost as if he doesn’t care.I thought he was like that, but he’s got such a good heart.”

I don’t know why she’s telling me this, why she thinks I need to hear it.But I appreciate it.

“I should go,” I tell her.“I have something to finish before we wrap up for the weekend.”

“You’re working?”

“Yes.I deal with brand and strategy.Communications and all that, and luckily, I can work remotely.We can have meetings online.It hasn’t proved to be a great disruption, so far.”

“We’ll have to get together again,” she says, when I get up to leave.

“We will.I could do with a friend in this corner of the world.”

She takes both my hands in hers and presses them lightly.“You’re not alone.If you need anything, or want to talk about anything, you just call me.”

---