Forbidden Heat

“But, at least once, you loved a man.”

Anger shot through him, but he tamped it down. “Look, Danielle, I don’t know why you’re on about this, but Jake and I have moved on, that’s all. We’re friends now.”

“I think we both know that you two are way more than friends. After all the weekends we’ve spent together, are you seriously going to classify him as a friend?”

“No . . . I . . . It doesn’t matter. Jake is fine with our relationship as it is.”

“Well, I’m not. I don’t think it’s fair to leave him out in the cold because you can’t admit to your family what truly makes you happy.”

He hesitated.

“I can’t tell,” she continued, “if you chose to be with me because it’s what your heart wants, or it’s simply what you believe your family wants. And I’m sorry, Trey, but that’s not good enough for me.”

“My family has nothing to do with this.”

“So you’re fine with telling them that you also enjoy being with men?”

“There’s no reason to tell them. My sexual preference is immaterial to my relationship with my sisters.”

“Unless hiding it gets in the way of being who you are.”

“And who do you think I am?” he bit out.

“A man who loves a man and is afraid to admit it . . . even to himself.”

“You’re wrong, Danielle. It’s you I love.”

Danielle shook her head and drew her hands from his. He caught her wrist and drew her back.

“Look me right in the eye and tell me you don’t love me,” he demanded.

She gazed at him, her eyes glimmering in the morning light. She shook her head. “I can’t.”

He smiled triumphantly.

“I feel it—the same thing you do—but I know it’s not real. The strong feelings I have for you . . . that I could so easily mistake for love . . . are just me wanting to be a part of a family. Your family. But it wouldn’t be fair to pretend I love you, just to get what I want. Just because it’s the easy choice.”

She stood up and pulled on her robe.

“I can’t stay here, Trey. You can tell your sisters I had to get home, that something came up. Probably easiest just to say I had a deadline come up with work.”

“Don’t go, Danielle.”

She met his gaze. His chest tightened when he saw how incredibly sad she looked.

“Thank you for this time with your family, Trey. It has meant a lot to me.” She stepped into the bathroom and closed the door.

Danielle showered and dressed. When she returned to the bedroom, Trey was dressed and waiting for her.

“Please don’t leave, Dani.”

She stepped toward him and took his hands—mostly to stop him from embracing her—and kissed him lightly on the lips.

“Goodbye, Trey.” She walked from the room without looking back.

“Danielle?” Suzie said as Danielle stepped into the living room. Her gaze locked on the suitcase in her hand.

“Honey, I’m sorry.” Suzie gazed at Danielle with wide eyes. “I didn’t mean to upset you last night. Me and my stupid questions.”