The Favor

“Yes, it’s become a familiar state of mind.”

“But you have no doubts about Dane, do you?”

“None at all. I just struggle to keep up with the speed at which he moves. He’s like this in every area of his life. So, how’s your job going?”

“Fine, fine.” He went on to tell me about his new manager.

I’d just finished my last forkful of food when I noticed that he’d pulled his legs up onto his chair and had rested his chin on his knees. Grimacing, he pushed aside his plate. “How do you eat this stuff?” he asked, his voice lighter and childlike. “Meatballs are yucky.” He stuck out his tongue, as if the air would clean it.

I felt my mouth curve. “How do you eat bags upon bags of beef-flavored chips in one setting?”

Freddie gave me an imperious look. “They’re made from potatoes. That means they’re good for you.”

I snorted. “If you say so. How are you doing, Freddie?”

“Okay.” He watched me from under his eyelashes. “Will you still come see us lots even now that you’re married?”

“Of course,” I replied.

“You won’t let Dane keep you from us?”

“Definitely not. Why would you think he’d want to do that?” I tilted my head, waiting for him to explain.

Freddie picked at the leg of his pants. “He looks at you like … I don’t know. Like he’d keep you all to himself if he could.”

No, Dane was just real good at acting. “I’m sorry you’ve been worrying about that, but you have no need to. He’d never try to keep me away from the people I love. I’d sock him in the mouth if he did.”

Freddie flashed me a boyish smile. But that smile faded. “Do you think he’d hit you back?”

It didn’t surprise me that he’d ask that. Freddie had taken the brunt of Simon’s childhood abuse; he knew that the people closest to you could often also be the ones that hurt you. “No, never. Do you worry that he would? Does he scare you?”

Freddie looked at the table, his expression pensive. “Yes and no. I think he’s like Deacon. Hard. Super serious. Unhappy deep inside.” His eyes met mine again. “Deacon doesn’t like it if you give other people attention when he’s around.”

“And so you think Dane won’t like it either.” I shook my head. “He’s not going to try to keep me away from you or anyone else I care for. And if he did try it, I wouldn’t want him anymore. You’re stuck with me, Freddie, whether you like it or not. Got it?”

His smile was shy. “Got it.” He wrinkled his nose. “Can I braid your hair again?”

“Sure. If you help me wash the dishes.”

He made a sulky sound. “That is so not a fair deal.”

Later, I took a cab back to Dane’s estate. The driver whistled at the sight of the large electronic gates and asked if I truly lived there. Apparently, I didn’t fit his idea of the kind of person who’d afford a place like this.

Hopping out of the taxi, I punched the security code into the intercom’s keypad, and waited for the gates to open. It took me a good minute to walk the length of the driveway. I was just thankful it was well-lit—the sounds of wildlife coming from outside the grounds might have otherwise made me a little paranoid that something was stalking me.

Strolling into the foyer, I rolled back my shoulders, tired and ready to collapse into bed. I’d only taken two steps toward the staircase when Dane breezed out of the hallway holding a crystal tumbler filled with amber liquid. “Hey,” I said simply.

Swirling his glass, he watched me. “Sam said he took you to Simon’s house. You didn’t say you intended to visit him.” His tone was neutral, but I got the feeling he wasn’t too happy that he’d heard about it secondhand.

I shrugged. “It wasn’t planned. He says hi, by the way.”

“Your hair is loose.”

Was that a note of suspicion in his voice? What did he think I’d been doing exactly? “Freddie likes to play with it.”

His shoulders lowered just a little. He sipped his drink. “I spoke to Travis and Hope. They both said they mentioned the trust fund to you but never tried to insinuate that I married you to access it. Travis was also again adamant that you’re simply trying to cause trouble between us.”

“And what did you say?”

“That I believe they’re full of shit.”

“Do I want to know how you’ll retaliate?”

“I’ve already done it. He’s barred from three more casinos, and she’s barred from her favorite clothing store.”

I gaped. “You can really arrange to have a shop refuse to serve a person?”

“If you have enough money and power, yes. Hopefully that will be enough to keep them from playing more mind games.”

Honestly, I doubted it would. They stood to gain a whole lot of financial goodness if they succeeded in separating Dane and me.