“I love you,” he said again.

He had placed her hand over his chest. Right now, under the stars, she could feel his heart hammering underneath her fingertips. She hadn’t even realized that he had never said the words to her. Probably because he had showed her every day with his actions that he loved her. He had made his feelings so obvious to her that she didn’t know that the words had never been said.

Dane looked down at her, his blue eyes piercing her right down to her soul. His gaze was hypnotic. It held her in place. Made her feel like she was the only woman on earth.

“Dane,” she finally breathed. “I love you, too.”

He brought her hand to his lips and kissed it tenderly. The kiss made her warm and tingly all over. “I know you do.”

She smiled. “Aren’t you cocky.”

“Would you love me if I wasn’t?” he asked with a grin.

She laughed. “I love you just the way you are.”

He released her hand. “You know, you were right. We do have to talk about some things.”

She nodded. “We do. But we can let it wait. Let’s think things through and set aside a day to talk everything out.”

“Right,” he said. “We can discuss things when our heads are clearer.”

Allyson stepped closer and snuggled against him. He held her tightly, his strong arms holding her fast to his hard body. Then, he tucked her head underneath his chin and they held each other under the stars.

* * *

Dane dropped her off at her apartment later that night. After he left, Allyson wandered into her room and dropped her bag onto her bed. She had wanted to spend the night with him but she knew work was going to be brutal tomorrow. Some executives were flying in from Argentina, and Nicholas Handel, Prescott Global’s interim CEO, was going to need her help.

Still, no matter how exhausted she was, Dane declaring his love filled her with a giddiness she had never felt before. Her mind was foggy, her body felt weightless. She was drunk on emotion and she never wanted to come back down

As she started to kick her high heels off, her cell phone rang. She grabbed it from her bag and answered it.

“Hey, you,” she said, fully expecting it to be Dane.

“Allyson! You’re home!” The excited voice of her sister-in-law, Holly, was unmistakable. “I’ve got some big news I just had to tell you!”

Even though she was a little disappointed that it wasn’t Dane, Allyson smiled. She got along well with her new sister-in-law, and it was good to hear from her. “Hi, Holly. What’s your big news?”

“I’m downstairs,” Holly said.

“What? I had no idea you were in the city,” Allyson said. Holly lived in Albany with James, Allyson’s younger brother.

“That’s part of the news!” Holly said excitedly. “I tried calling your phone a few times but you didn’t pick up. I got so excited and hoped you might be home.”

“Hang on,” Allyson said, fishing into her bag for her keys. “I can let you upstairs.”

“Okay, great—” Suddenly Holly’s shrieks filled her ears. “Get away from me!”

Terror gripped Allyson’s heart. “Holly!” The line went dead.

Scared out of her mind, Allyson reached into her closet for the Prescott Global-made baseball bat and raced out of her apartment. She was still in her high heels but she ran out of the building, where she was met by a crowd of paparazzi.

Cameras went off, the flashbulbs blinding her. Suddenly, the paparazzi all started shouting at once while they continued to snap photos.

“It’s her!” one of the reporters yelled. “What’s with the baseball bat? You come here to fight us off?”

“Hey, is it true that you and Dane Prescott are getting married for real this time?” another reporter demanded.

A huge, burly cameraman got in her face, making her shrink back in terror. “What’s the deal with you, anyway? You some gold-digger of something?” the burly cameraman asked with a grin.

“Buzz off!” She wanted nothing more than to kick the cameraman in the shin, but she held up her hand in front of her face. “Holly? Are you out here?”

“Yes!” came a hoarse cry from the crowd. “Get out of the way!”

Allyson lowered her hand, scanning the crowd for her sister-in-law. Then, she saw Holly shove her way through the crowd, her red hair disheveled like she’d just been through a fight. The awful reporters started bombarding her with questions, too.

“Hey, Red, why don’t you answer our questions?” The burly cameraman reached for poor Holly’s arm and dragged her towards him.

“Let her go!” Allyson reached for Holly’s other arm and tried to pull her out of the jerk’s grip.

The cameraman snarled and let Holly go, sending her flying. She slipped out of Allyson’s grasp and landed hard on the concrete sidewalk.

Her entire body shaking with fury, Allyson flung the baseball bat aside and crouched over her sister-in-law. “You need to get out of here! I’ve already called the cops.” That was a lie, but she was desperate to get rid of the reporters before they caused serious damage.

Grumbling, the paparazzi finally dispersed, leaving Allyson and Holly alone on the sidewalk. Allyson gingerly helped Holly to her feet.

“Are you okay?” Allyson looked Holly over, searching for any cuts and bruises. She breathed a sigh of relief when she didn’t see any. “You’re not bleeding or anything.”

Holly’s face blanched, her green eyes glazed over. Her hands settled on her stomach. “That’s just it, Allyson. I...I’m pregnant.”

* * *

An ambulance raced them to the hospital and Allyson watched helplessly as Holly was wheeled away from the hospital entrance. She had called James to let him know, and he had been distraught, in tears over what might be happening to his wife and their unborn child. That had terrified her. James hadn’t cried since they were children. Somehow, she had talked him into being calm enough to head to the hospital and she hoped he would arrive soon.

She had also sent a text to Dane, letting him know she was on her way to the hospital. He replied immediately that he was on his way, too. For some reason, it didn’t provide her much comfort. The guilt rising in her seemed to be crushing all the other emotions.

A member of the hospital staff directed Allyson to the waiting room and she sank down into a chair. She was still clutching her cell phone and she quickly sent a text to her brother.

We’re at the hospital. Holly has gone to take some tests. I’m in the waiting room.

She waited for what must have been fifteen minutes until Dane rushed into the waiting room with his parents. Allyson stared in confusion, but she quickly rose to her feet to greet them.

“Are you okay?” Dane placed his hands on her shoulders.

“Yes,” she replied, her voice shaky. “Of course, I am. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“You sent me that message about going to the hospital,” he said. He gave her a hard stare, like he didn’t believe she was really okay.

“I’m not the one who’s hurt.”

“Thank goodness.” He pulled her into a tight, desperate embrace. She stiffened. This wasn’t the time for affection. She didn’t deserve comfort after what had happened to Holly.

“It’s Holly, my sister-in-law,” Allyson continued in a hollow voice. “She had a nasty fall in front of my apartment.”

He pulled back to look at her. “Is she okay?”

“I don’t know. They took her away for some tests.” She stopped. Her lower lip trembled and a lump formed in her throat. It was like she was out of her body again. Floating above it all and looking down at the horror unfolding. “Holly’s pregnant. I think the fall might have hurt her baby.”

“I’m so sorry.” Concern was etched on his face. “How did she fall? Is there anything we can do?”

“Paparazzi showed up at my apartment and one of them tripped her.”

“I hate those vicious beasts,” Dane’s mother said with a frown. “How awful!”

“Why were they at your apartment?” Dane asked. “Hasn’t their interest in the scandal waned by now?”

“One of them seemed to believe we were getting married for real,” Allyson said coldly. “I wonder what gave them that idea.”

He gave her a strange look. “I don’t know how they found out, but right now you look like you could use a drink or something to eat. It’s going to be a long night and you need something.”

She sighed. “Coffee is fine.”

He nodded. “I’ll get us all some coffee.” With that, he headed out of the waiting room.

She turned to Dane’s parents. “Thank you for being here, Mr. and Mrs. Prescott. You didn’t have to come.”

“We thought something terrible had happened. When Dane got your message he almost panicked. I think my heart attack made him think the worst happened to you.” Alfred Prescott took a seat and his wife sat down beside him. He looked pale and shaky.

Allyson resumed her seat, beside Alfred. “It must be hard for you to be back in the hospital so soon after being discharged.”

“Yes, but Dane called us after he got your message and I thought it was best we come with him for moral support,” Alfred murmured.

Guilt gnawed at her. Poor Alfred should have been at home right now getting rest, not dealing with this stress. This was all her fault. “I’ll check and see if Dane can grab you a tea instead of coffee.” She stood and went out toward the cafeteria to find Dane. He wasn’t in sight so she assumed he’d headed back to the waiting area. She filled a cup with hot water and grabbed a few herbal tea bags. As she rounded the corner to the waiting room, she heard the Prescotts.

“If you don’t accept that Dane’s going to marry that poor girl, I will never forgive you,” Alfred said firmly to his wife.

“You’ll be sorry,” Dane’s mother hissed. “Look at what’s already happening. Dane is so wrapped up in this girl he thought she was sick or dying. He can’t think. He can’t work. He’s falling apart.”

“Give the boy some space. He’s not a child. If you don’t accept it, Liliana, I’ll leave you,” Alfred said flatly.

Liliana gasped.

“I mean it. I’ll divorce you,” Alfred continued harshly. “I’ll not accept you jeopardizing our son’s happiness.”

Allyson bit her lip, not knowing what to do. She didn’t want them to know she was eavesdropping, but if she heard any more of their private conversation the pain of hearing it might be too much.

“Hey! I said I’d grab us coffee.” Dane’s voice started her and she swung around.

“It’s tea. For your dad.” She raised the cup weakly as she followed him into the waiting area where his parents sat, awkwardly quiet. “And bags. I brought herbal tea bags.” Watching Dane practically ripped her heart out. He was so worried about her, he wasn’t seeing clearly. She was blinding him to everything important. Misery seeped into her. “You should go home.”

He frowned, his brow furrowed in confusion. “Why?”

“Because I can’t look at you.” Her eyes filled with tears. “I can’t look at you without feeling sad, and angry, and guilty.”

“Guilty...what do you mean?” His jaw clenched and something dark flashed in his eyes.

“This is our fault,” she said. “We were so scared of people getting in our way that we didn’t even see it. We’ve been so selfish that we don’t realize that we’ve been getting in everyone else’s way. Our relationship is literally destroying people’s lives.”

Pain pierced her very soul. Holly might lose her baby. His parents were contemplating a divorce. All because of them. Because of them and their selfish love. Nobody wanted them together. Not his mother. Not her sister. Not the press. The press, in its insatiable hunger for gossip, may very well have destroyed Holly.

“Look, tonight has been difficult,” he said. “You’re just upset.”

“Nobody wants us together. You can’t stop the masses,” she said, almost sounding emotionless. “Everyone but us seems to get that we shouldn’t be doing this.”

His face hardened. “What’re you saying?”

She pulled the gold chain out from under her dress and fingered the diamond ring that hung from it. With more determination than she had ever felt in her life, she grabbed hold of the ring and pulled. Hard. The chain broke off her neck. Hands shaking, she reached for Dane’s hand and placed the jewelry in it.

“I can’t do this anymore.” Tears slid down her face. “I’m sorry. This is over. We’re over. I’m quitting Prescott. And I can’t marry you.”

THE END

CAUGHT IN THE ACT