Page 39 of Plight
I hugged her back. Tightly. “Congratulations, big sis! I’m so proud of you.”
“Don’t avoid the question,” she whispered into my ear.
“You never asked one,” I whispered back.
“Elliot, what is going on?”
I pulled back and held her at arm’s length, her dark hair so tightly pinned back that her blue eyes were as fierce as a white walker from the Game of Thrones.
Letting her go, because she looked scary, I secured Danielle to my side. “Danielle, you remember my sister, Laura, right?”
“Yes.” She extended her hand. “Hi, it’s been a while. Congratulations on your award this evening.”
Laura smirked and pulled Danielle into a hug, firing me a smartarse glare over her shoulder. “Yes, and thank you. But it seems congratulations are in order for you and Elliot as well.”
Danielle chuckled, nervously, so I butted in. “They sure are. Surprise!”
“Surprise indeed.” Laura stepped back and plastered on a fake smile for Danielle.
I didn’t like it.
“Shall we take a seat?” I suggested, pulling out a chair for Danielle to sit on.
She smiled, unease in her eyes as they silently spoke to me. “Thanks, but I need the lady’s room.”
“Good timing, honey, I need the men’s.” Linking my arm with hers, I excused us. “We’ll be right back.”
Mum smiled and took a seat while Laura narrowed her gaze. “Don’t be long. It’s about to start,” she warned.
“We won’t.” I led Danielle through the room, weaving in and out of large round tables covered in white damask cloth — very typical of a gala-type event.
“Elliot, slow down. If you yank me any harder my dress will rip.”
I was tempted to yank as hard as I fucking could.
“Sorry.”
“It’s okay. I get it. Your sister is on to us. She knows. She’s going to expose us,” she said in a panic, as we rounded the corner. “We can’t let her. Your mum will be devastated and mine will be so disappointed. It will ruin the garden rebuild. It will wreck everything. We can’t wreck everything. We need to fix the garden. We need to—”
“Hey, calm down.” I placed my hands on either side of her face and coaxed her to look me in the eyes. “She won’t find out because we won’t tell her. She can assume all she wants. If we stick to our guns, she can’t prove anything.”
Danielle blinked. “I … I guess so.”
“Not guess, know. Just take my lead, okay?”
As I was about to let her go, I noticed Laura standing by the entry of the ball room and foyer, watching us.
I needed to send her a clear message and I knew just how to do it.
“I’m going to kiss you.”
“What?” Danielle went to step back, but I pulled her to me.
“Laura is to our left, watching, so I’m going to kiss you. Are you ready?”
She stiffened, her eyes wide.
“This is me asking for permission, okay?” I gave her a cheeky smile, then gently rubbed my thumb over her lip.
