Chapter Seventeen
Michael paced back and forth in his mother’s driveway as he waited for Dani. Finally, a long black limo pulled up, and three very drunk Botelli women stumbled out before their driver could open the door for them.
“Let me help you there, Eva.” He grabbed Dani’s grandmother’s elbow before she landed on her ass. Then he turned to Annalisa. “Thanks for coming. I called the police, but they said without any signs of a struggle they couldn’t do anything for forty-eight hours.”
Dani weaved drunkenly to the front door. “That’s because you’re too stubborn to ask Jake for help.”
He followed Dani, balancing Eva at his side. “I tried. But they said he was in the field and couldn’t be reached.”
Dani patted a few pockets, searching for something. When she spotted the phone in her hand, she laughed. “Oh, there it is.”
She was totally shitfaced. That was all he needed.
Dani closed one eye to focus before she pecked at the keypad. Her phone was in speaker mode, and it rang a few times before Jake answered, “Hey, babe. What’s up?”
Dani grimaced at the babe remark and stumbled out of earshot to talk to him.
Before Michael could follow her, Annalisa hooked her arm through his and, along with Eva, proceeded to walk him through all the rooms of the house, searching for clues. When they were in the kitchen, Annalisa closed her eyes. “The answer’s in here.”
Eva nodded and closed her eyes, too.
He didn’t know what he was supposed to do, so he stood there holding them both up, feeling foolish.
Dani tripped through the door. “Jake’s going to start the paperwork, and he’s put an ADD—no, an APP? You know, one of those things on Maeve’s and Ron’s cars? We’re supposed to call if we figure anything else out.” Dani cocked her head. “What are you two doing?”
Annalisa opened an eye. “There’s a vague signal here. Be quiet.”
Dani rolled her eyes and began riffling through the paperwork on the little desk by the phone. She lifted the receiver. “Let’s see who Maeve called last.” Dani hit “Redial” and giggled. “Oh, it was me. That doesn’t help.”
“Quiet!” Eva and Annalisa both said in unison.
Dani lifted both hands in defense before she started snooping again. She picked up a pad of paper triumphantly. “It has something to do with this! I can practically feel the energy calling my name.” Dani closed her eyes and winced before she opened them and stared at him. “I’m getting a purple dinosaur. Does that mean anything to you, Michael?”
He shook his head, totally baffled. “No.”
Annalisa crossed the room and held the pad in her hands. She was quiet for a moment before she announced, “I’m getting pine trees and a stream.”
Eva huffed out a breath and snatched up the pad. “Amateurs, both of you. Give it here.” She did the same routine as the others, then a smile tilted her lips. “Michael, your mother is at their cabin in the woods. It has a red tin roof and a big wraparound porch, right?”
The vision thing was weird but useful. He’d forgotten about that place. His mom and Ron had owned it for less than a year, and he’d only been there once. “Yes, that’s right. I think I can remember how to get there. It’s about an hour and a half away. They never installed a phone, as far as I know, and there’s no cell service. I’ll go check it out.”
Dani crossed her arms. “We’ll all go in case you can’t find it. If you can get us close enough, we’ll be able to help you find her.”
He didn’t want to be trapped in a car with three drunken women, but Dani was right. He might need their help. “Okay, let’s go. I’ll drive.”
“Just like a guy. Why do men always have to drive?” Dani muttered as she slipped in the seat beside him while Eva and Annalisa settled in the back.
“First of all, if any of you three drove right now, you’d get a DUI. Second, I don’t want to attract the unwanted attention that big limo might.”
She shrugged. “I guess that kinda makes sense.” Then Dani crossed her arms and stared out the opposite window.
It was going to be a long, painful journey.
Michael wasn’t worth talking to at the moment, and besides, Dani wasn’t entirely sure she wasn’t slurring her words. She did her best to ignore him as they entered the freeway heading west. After a few minutes, his voice broke into her buzzed brain. “What did you do with Zoe?”
Dani turned and sent him her best death stare. She was not making small talk with a man who had the gall to button up her blouse.
After a long, uncomfortable moment, her mom answered from the back seat. “She and Sara are passed out at Dani’s house.”
“Oh.” His lips tilted into a slow grin before he whispered, “Nice shirt, babe.”
Dani glanced down and grimaced. Her jacket was unzipped, displaying his jersey. She’d forgotten she’d had it on. He probably thought she’d been wearing it while she pined for him.
Which was true—and totally embarrassing. “Thanks. I found it at the bottom of the bargain bin. They were having a sale on it because the guy is a jerk and no one else wanted it.”
He chuckled as he stared at the long road ahead.
Michael was so weird that way. He should retaliate. Instead, he seemed to enjoy her comeback as much as she loved to zing it at him. He didn’t fight like anyone she’d ever known, and that was annoying, too.
She was still trying to gauge his mood when he whispered, e was wewird that way. he seemed o He“Can we please call a truce, Drunk Girl? At least until we find my mom?”
Drunk Girl?
Good one. Now he was fighting properly.
“No. What we need to do is settle this. I find it interesting that it’s suddenly fine that we can help—when it suits your needs.”
He glanced in the rearview mirror. “Why do you always insist on fighting in front of our mothers?”
“Don’t mind us back here, go right ahead,” her mom said before hiccupping.
Dani laid a hand on his arm. “Look, I understand this has all been a shock, but can’t we just move on now?”
“You’ve lied to me for twenty years, Dani. That’s not an easy thing to forgive.”
“Fine.” She threw her hands up in the air. “Yes, I lied to you, Michael. Don’t you realize that beyond the fact that I was told not to tell anyone, I always knew—and not by using any special powers—that you would react this way? Don’t you see? I didn’t want to—” She cut herself off. She wasn’t ready to tell him that part. It was the alcohol’s fault that she’d almost let it slip.
His forehead creased. “What?”
“Nothing. Never mind. Maybe your truce idea is a good one.” She crossed her arms and stared straight ahead. Things were getting serious, and as much as she hated to admit it, she was a drunk girl.
She needed to watch her step.
“Finish what you started, Dani.”
Her mom called out from the rear, “I think what Dani—”
Grandma shushed her. “Stay out of this, honey.”
Dani turned and stared at the two stooges in the back seat. Something was up, but neither was willing to let her in on it.
Suddenly Dani was tossed against her seat belt when Michael pulled off the highway.
He tilted her chin, forcing her to look him in the eye. “Focus, Dani. What were you going to say?”
“I forget.”
“Tell me.”
She stared into his eyes for a moment, debating. Should she tell him? It was her last defense, and she’d been saving it up. If it didn’t work, she was afraid nothing would.
She cleared her throat and forced her mind to stay on track. She needed it to come out right.
“When you asked me in your office if I had any secrets, it killed me to lie to you. But I’m a coward. I was afraid if you found out, you’d leave me, and I can’t imagine the rest of my life without you in it. I love you, Michael.”
His shoulders slumped; then he shook his head and pulled back onto the freeway. When she attempted to say something, he lifted a hand to cut her off again. “Let’s find my mother. We’ll talk about the rest after. When you’re sober.”
Dani’s eyelids, along with her heart, were too heavy. She couldn’t think about things anymore, so she laid her head back, instantly falling sound asleep.
Later, the sound of Michael’s voice woke her. “This is the town, but I can’t remember which gas station we turn at. Let’s keep going. Maybe I’ll recognize it.” Then he glanced at her, and a small grin tilted the corners of his sexy mouth. “Welcome back.”
She had a sudden need to tell him the urgent thought floating in her mind. Threatening tears had her clearing her throat before she whispered, “In case I forgot earlier, I meant to tell you that I’m sorry I lied to you, Michael. I’ll never do it again.”
His jaw clenched before he turned and studied the road ahead, but he didn’t respond. When they’d almost reached the end of the small town, another gas station appeared. Its logo had a cute purple dinosaur on it.
Michael murmured, “Well of course. Here’s where we turn.” Then he whispered, “You’re damn good, Botelli.”
It made her heart swell. Hope that they could get past the lies she’d told him made her smile.
Feeling a burden lift from her shoulders, like a phoenix rising from the fire, Dani turned and met her grandmother’s amused gaze. “Amateur, my butt.”
That drew smiles from the back seat as they made their way up a bumpy gravel lane.
Dani peered into the dense forest lit only by the moon and stars as they navigated the long winding road. Finally, they spotted the cabin, and it was just as her grandmother had described it. A few lights were on, and Maeve’s car stood out front.
Michael killed the headlights and let the moon guide them near the front door. “You ladies stay here.” He opened his door, then let it quietly close behind him.
Dani squinted into the darkness. What if Ron was there and had Maeve inside? What if he’d hurt her? What if Michael got hurt?
She was just about to open her door when a bank of bright lights illuminated the front porch. Maeve, smiling, waved them inside.
As they slid out of the car, Dani almost missed her mom’s quiet whisper to her grandmother, “It’s showtime.”
After a much-needed bathroom break, they were all directed to the cozy living room and instructed to sit in front of a blazing fire. Dani drank deeply from the mug of coffee Michael’s mom insisted she accept before she asked, “So how come you didn’t let Michael know where you’d be, Maeve? He was worried sick. We all were.”
She waved a hand impatiently. “I meant to leave a note on his door. I figured he’d see it when he got home. But in my rush to leave town before Ron got home, I forgot.”
So that’s why the notepad was so hot with information: she’d used that to write the note. But it still didn’t make sense. Who’d leave a note in this day and age?
Then Dani recalled her mother and grandmother standing with their eyes closed in Maeve’s kitchen. That had been strange, too. They usually had to hold something to read its energy.
She glanced up in time to see a smug look pass between Maeve and her mom, and it all became clear.
“Oh my God.” She turned and faced Michael. “You need to know I had nothing to do with this.” Then she leaned into her mom’s personal space. “You guys cooked this whole thing up, didn’t you? We’re not sixteen, Mother.”
Dani turned and met Michael’s confused expression. “You’ve figured out by now that I’m not a charlatan, haven’t you?”
He nodded. “Yeah, but I still don’t understand. What’s going on?”
“You should ask our mothers.”
Michael crossed the room and stood in front of Maeve. “What is Dani so upset about?”
Maeve sighed and took Michael’s hand, tugging him onto the couch beside her. “Annalisa and I thought you’d better understand the wonder of Dani’s powers if you had a need for them yourself. We knew you’d be worried when I didn’t call, and we planned this little escapade to show you just how pigheaded you’re being about Dani.”
“You knew?” His faced turned five shades of red before he launched himself off the couch. “And you didn’t tell me? How long have you known?”
Maeve lifted her hands, then let them drop. “For years. Annalisa and I are good friends, and she needed someone to talk to about it, just as Dani needed Zoe. And as you can see, Dani just figured that out, which proves she can’t dip into my mind. A little trust goes a long way, Michael.” Maeve stood and drilled a finger into his chest. “Dani isn’t a liar like Heather is. Dani had valid reasons for not sharing every part of her life with you.” She poked him again, even harder. “I’ve watched you stew for days over this, and, frankly, I’m getting tired of it. You need to get over yourself and accept Dani for what she is. You love her!”
Dani was tempted to scream “Amen” after that sermon.
Michael grunted and ran his hands down his face. “I can’t believe you two did this.” Then he stalked out the front door, slamming it shut behind him.
Dani dropped her head into her hands and moaned. “That was about the most stupid, idiotic idea ever. I had it under control—”
Before she could finish, Michael strode back inside, heading straight for her. Dani stood and crossed her arms, prepared for the battle.
He pointed to the door. “Outside. Now!”
“If you can’t speak to me in a civil—”
“Just once could you do as I ask?” She didn’t have time for a retort before Michael picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. “What I’ve got to say I’m not saying in front of our mothers.”
She’d never been thrown over a man’s shoulder before. It was kind of exciting and . . . sexy. But for form, she pounded on his back. “Put me down, you baboon.”
The world did a quick flip, and Dani found herself on the front porch, staring into the angriest set of green eyes she’d ever seen.
“I’ve had all I can take. Touch me or something so you can know for sure what I feel for you.”
That was the last thing she wanted to do when it looked like he was going to hit something. “No, thank you.” Unlike her random dreams and visions, to read people she had to touch them and then open her mind. She’d never done that before because she’d been respecting his privacy.
He leaned closer, and his tone turned the corner to dangerous. “Do it.”
“Oh, for God’s sake.” Dani laid her hand on his arm and stared into his eyes for a moment before she blinked in confusion. The prettiest kaleidoscope of colors she’d ever seen swirled from her head and then moved straight to her heart. He still loved her.
Sensing victory, she stood on her tiptoes and whispered in his ear, “So does this mean I’m forgiven, and you’re done being difficult?”
He glanced at the stars and shook his head. “Why do I know that’s not the last time I’ll hear that?”
He was bossy even when he was sort of telling her that he loved her. The funny part was she kinda liked that cranky, stick-up-the-butt side of him. So maybe she’d do him a favor and keep that fine sorry ass of his. Forever.
“You’re sure you still love me? Even after all I’ve put you through?” She needed him to confirm it out loud.
“Yes.” He cupped her face with his big hands. “God help me, I can’t seem to make it go away. I do love you, Dani Botelli.” Then he kissed her.
Michael’s sweet, gentle touch sent a wave of warmth through her veins like a shot of old Irish whiskey. He was definitely going to be worth all the fights they’d surely have in the future.
When his lips left hers, she leaned back and asked, “When did you change your mind about us? Did the cinnamon rolls do the trick?”
“No. But I hope you’ll make them for me again soon.” He took her hand, leading her toward the front door. “It was right after you gave me the finger. It’s when I realized I’d miss you and that attitude of yours way too much if I let you go. You’re stuck with me forever, Botelli.”
“Well, if flipping you off made you realize how you really feel, then that makes my sudden attraction to being thrown over your shoulder not quite so weird, I guess.”
He started to open the door for her but stopped. “Instead of my shoulder, why don’t we try my knee next time? You deserve a good spanking.” His hand connected with her rear end, giving her a sharp pat.
“Mmmm, might be fun. But not in front of our mothers.” She gave him a quick kiss.
God, she loved him.
After he kissed her back, he whispered, “So is that a yes?”
“To kinky sex? I guess I could give it a try.” He’d been referring to his earlier comment about being stuck with him forever, but she couldn’t resist teasing him.
He slipped his hands on either side of her face and gently lifted it up. “I’ll only have kinky sex if it’s with my wife. So what do you say? Will you marry me, Dani?”
She chewed her bottom lip, pretending to think about it, when inside she was finding it hard to contain the urge to jump up and down.
Her heart swelled so big with love for Michael sometimes, but the thought of always being with him made everything else inside melt, too. She’d never loved anyone like she loved him. “We’ll drive each other crazy, you know. Daily.”
His lips tilted into a slow, sexy smile. “Daily makeup sex sounds pretty good to me.”
Yeah, because that was the thing about them. They were opposites in so many ways, and they’d surely disagree on about half of everything, but in the end, their love for each other always won. They’d both taken little detours with others that had only made them both see more clearly that there was no one else better suited to be together than they were. “Okay. I’ll marry you. But don’t forget. You asked for this.”
He tucked a stray hair behind her ear and whispered, “How could I ever regret even a single moment with you, Dani?”
That made her knees literally grow weak.
Before her whole body threatened to turn into a big, sentimental glob of mush, he picked her up and threw her over his shoulder. “My mom can give them a ride home. Let’s go back to my place. You’ve got a lot a making up with me to do, Dani.”
“Can’t wait.” She smiled at the thought of the making up as she admired his fine rear end.
He flipped her back to her feet and then helped her into his car. When he slid into the seat beside her, he held out a hand. “I haven’t had dinner. Hand one over please.”
He must’ve seen the snack cakes she’d stuffed into her jacket pocket as she’d run out the door in her drunken state. “Seriously? You want this lovely, sweet, delicious, fun but extremely-bad-for-you treat?” She slowly unpeeled the wrapper, like a sexy strip tease. “Eating these on a regular basis might even take ten years off your life.” She leaned over and hand-fed the decadent treat into his mouth.
He took a big bite and grinned. “I figure being married to you will probably have about the same risks, so why not?” He took her hand and whispered, “Thanks for bringing the life back to my life, Dani.”
She gave his hand a squeeze. “Thanks for bringing the Michael back to mine.” She kissed him softly, then whispered, “So can we forgo that spanking you talked about earlier? I have an aversion to pain.”
“Me too.” Michael grinned as he started the car. “But I still want to marry you anyway.”
“Very funny.” She swatted his arm for form but smiled as they drove home. She had her best friend back.
They’d figure out the rest.