Forbidden Heat

“Oh. Are you visiting from out of town?”

Danielle wasn’t used to being badgered for answers and didn’t really know how to handle it. She didn’t want to answer this inquisitive unknown woman’s questions but wasn’t quite sure how to avoid it, other than just holding her silence . . . or hanging up. Both seemed rude. It was just easier to answer.

“Yes, I am.”

“Do you know Jake, too?”

“Uh . . . yes.” Had this woman known Trey for a long time? The thought sent a pang of jealousy through her . . . which was ridiculous. Danielle didn’t have

any designs on Trey. She wanted Jake and Trey to wind up together. Enjoying the journey was simply a bonus.

“Jake’s a great guy, isn’t he?”

Was that a subtle hint? Danielle wondered. In other words, was she saying Keep your hands off my man.

“Where do you live, Danielle?”

“I live in Phoenicia.”

“Is that a long way from Carleton Falls?”

So the woman didn’t live in Carleton Falls; otherwise she’d know where Phoenicia was.

Trey walked into the room.

“Um . . . Trey’s back. I’ll put him on.”

She handed the phone to Trey. “It’s someone named Suzie.”

Immediately, Trey’s face lit up. He took the phone.

“Hey, Suzie, how are you?”

His broad smile and glittering eyes told her this Suzie was someone very special to him. Again, jealousy niggled through her.

“Yes . . . Danielle. Yes . . . she’s a friend.”

Not a girlfriend. Of course she wasn’t, but at that moment she wished she were.

Shock catapulted through her.

Damn it. She wasn’t supposed to feel that way. Jake would be heartbroken.

Trey wandered into the kitchen and his voice became a low mumble through the door.

Curiosity zinged through Danielle. Who was this Suzie woman?

A few minutes later, Trey stepped back into the room, sipping a glass of ice water.

“Yes, honey. Okay.” He placed the glass on the table and sat beside Danielle on the couch. “Sure, we can talk tomorrow.” He winked at Danielle. “Okay. Yes, I love you, too.” He pressed the End button and set the phone on the table.

He turned to Danielle and slid his arms around her. “Now . . . where were we?”

She remained stiff in his arms. “You are kidding, right?”

His brown eyes narrowed in puzzlement. “Is something wrong?”

“You mean besides the fact that you just told a woman you love her . . . right before you try to make out with me?”