Read Just Deserts for Free Online Page B

they should.
    He gave a mental shrug, wondering exactly what that did for him. Well, for one thing, it made him feel needed, because she knew that he would always be there for her. It would always be that way between them, although deep down a part of him wanted more.
    Her body shifted and as he continued to watch, she opened her eyes and looked up into his. He felt his gut tighten when she moistened her lips.
    “I guess you’re wondering what I’m doing in here,” she said softly.
    Her words, Danielle noted, had been met with silence. The other thing she noticed was the intensity of Tristan’s gaze. She felt her heartbeat speed up and wondered for a moment why that was. What was making her suddenly feel that she was the object of his desire? And why was her body responding to that very thought?
    She frowned, finding such a thought confusing, as well as downright ridiculous. Alex and Renée’s false assumptions were getting to her, messing with her mind at a time when she needed to keep things together.
    “So since you’re the one who brought it up, do you want to tell me why you’re in my bed?”
    She briefly looked away, mainly because his dark eyes were unwavering and caused parts of her body to stir in a way they hadn’t stirred before. She reflected on that for a moment and then shrugged, thinking she was misinterpreting things.
    This was Tristan. The man who had always been a part of her life. The man who had been her brother’s best friend. The man who was her best friend now. The last thing she wanted was to become some hopeless case. She’d be damned if she’d let her need for more in her life, her hunger for the same kind of love, affection and attention Alex and Renée were receiving, cause her to ruin her and Tristan’s very special friendship.
    “Dani?”
    Determined not to let a sudden case of deprived hormones wreck what they shared, she forced a smile. “Would you believe I had a bad dream?”
    He smiled. “I’ll believe whatever you tell me. But remember, I can catch you in a lie even on my bad days.”
    Yes, he could. Although she didn’t want to admit the truth to him, she knew she had to. She couldn’t hold inside the emotions tearing at her. So she pulled herself up in bed and looked over at him. It took all her willpower not to study the wide expanse of his chest somewhat exposed by the tight muscle shirt he’d changed into when he’d returned to his room. And she’d thought his abs had looked fine in the T-shirt he’d worn at the pool.
    She gave herself a mental shake and brought her attention back to the matter at hand. She had told him that she would enjoy this time away and not think about Marc and what he had done. But she had thought of those things. Tristan wasn’t going to like it. Clearing her throat, she began. “I talked to Alex and Renée.”
    His eyes didn’t blink when he asked, “When?”
    “Um, about an hour or so ago.”
    “And what they said made you come and climb into bed with me?”
    She broke eye contact with him. “Yes. What they said bothered me.”
    He didn’t say anything for a few seconds. Then he spoke in a calm voice. “I thought you were not going to let Marc stop you from having a good time.”
    She met his gaze. “Oh, Tristan, honestly I tried. But I won’t be able to move on until there’s closure.” She paused and then said, “They told me about Marc’s apartment and what Chris found.”
    When he didn’t appear the least interested in knowing what Chris had found, she could make only one assumption. “You knew, didn’t you?” she asked in a soft yet accusing voice. “Chris told you.”
    “Yes, he told me.”
    Danielle frowned. “That’s just great!” she said sarcastically. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
    He pulled himself up in bed, as well. “I told you all you needed to know for the time being. You would have learned about the rest when we met with Chris next week. By then you would have enjoyed a few days without