Total pages in book: 166
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 157273 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 786(@200wpm)___ 629(@250wpm)___ 524(@300wpm)
Her family had never let her take her foot off the fucking gas pedal.
“You’ll do this for me, Alessandra,” Anne reiterated, jarring me back to the conversation.
Holy fucking guilt trip.
Allie sighed. “Do you really think Caroline will ban us from seeing Juniper if we just tell her?” she asked me, rubbing Sadie behind her ears.
I curved the brim of my hat and thought it through. “I honestly don’t know. She’s been more than a little overprotective since Sean died, and I don’t see that changing. I hate to admit that Juniper is right in one regard. You have a better chance of Caroline accepting you if she gets to know you first.” If we survived when it blew up in our faces.
“So you think this is a good idea?” Allie asked. “You want me to slip into your family under false pretenses so I can worm my way into your sister’s good graces?”
“It’s pretty horrendous when you put it that way.” I slipped my hat backward. “I’m torn. If it was anybody but you, I’d say to get fucked. But it is you.” I swallowed the big-ass knot forming in my throat. “I think Juniper has a right to know where she comes from, and if Caroline realizes her biological family isn’t something to fear, it will take a massive weight off her shoulders. But I hate the thought of lying to my sister, and if your mother finds out . . .” My stomach pitched like I was still that eighteen-year-old kid.
“Mom’s too busy teaching to bother with us,” Anne interrupted, and Allie looked away. “She won’t interfere.” Anne’s voice quieted as she walked toward Allie. “Juniper’s the last—the only—piece we have of Lina, and this is our chance to know her.”
“Then you do it.” Allie stroked her hands down Sadie’s neck.
“No.” The word slipped out before I could stop it.
“Won’t work,” Anne agreed. “He doesn’t look at me the way he looks at you. It’s the only reason I think this rather . . . childish plan might work. He could carry the whole ruse just glancing your direction.”
Was I that transparent?
“And it’s foolish,” Anne continued, “but it’s all we’ve got, and Juniper isn’t wrong in thinking you can win Caroline over. You win everyone over with that heart of yours. And what’s the worst that happens? Caroline finds out and we’re right back where we started, barred from seeing Juniper. There’s nothing to lose and everything to gain. Go to the party, Allie. Please.”
“I’m not going to change her mind in a single day.” Allie didn’t bother even glancing up when Anne fell to her knees on the foyer floor before her.
“True.” I nodded. “Knowing my sister, it will take weeks, if not months.”
“Then you’ll do it for as long as it takes to convince her.” Anne set her hands on Allie’s feet, and her words started to tumble quickly. “We have to be sure Juniper is okay. We owe that to Lina. And if I can’t be the one asking the questions, making sure Lina’s little girl is thriving, then you’ll do it for me. You have to, Allie. Juniper asked you, and saying no would be like denying Lina—”
“That’s a low blow,” I interrupted when Allie drew in a sharp breath. “I’m not doing anything she’s not a hundred percent enthusiastic about.”
Anne bristled.
“What day is the party?” Allie asked, glancing my way.
“You don’t have to do this. I’m not even sure we should.” I searched her eyes for a hint of the fire I’d seen when I pulled her from the water, or when I’d prodded her at the bar, but found only grim determination. “Or if we can.”
“We can.” She tilted her pointed chin. “I’m here and Lina isn’t. This is the least of what I owe her. Will you help me or not?”
My jaw flexed once. Twice. I would have told her anything she wanted to bring the fire back into her eyes. God only knew what I would have done to see an actual smile, to know she was happy after everything she’d been through. Maybe getting out of this pressure cooker of a house, spending some time away from the studio with my weird but smotheringly close-knit family would provoke a little laughter. We’d be good for her, Juniper especially.
But faking a relationship with Allie? My chest tightened as she waited for my response. How the hell was I supposed to be that close to her without losing myself? Maybe I had to. Maybe that was my penance. There was no hope for any kind of actual future between us—she’d never forgive me for what I’d done if she knew the full truth—but maybe this was my chance to make even a small portion of it up to her. I could help her find that fire, even if she aimed it at me. “Saturday at noon. My parents’ place. It’s Caroline’s place now. Alessandra, we’ll have to be flawlessly convincing to pull it off. My family is disturbingly perceptive.”