Read Online Close to Her Heart by C. J. Carmichael - Free Book Online

of Eliot’s low opinion of her relationship with Adrian. But she’d had no idea he saw her as such a—pitiful figure. “Adrian and I have a real connection . You don’t have a clue .”
    “Maybe I don’t. But I’m not the only clueless one here.”
    The stubborn, angry expression on his face was one she didn’t even recognize. What had happened to the man that she’d thought was her friend?
    “So now I’m clueless, huh? Great. Thanks for the free assessment. You’ll understand if I don’t hang around for any more of your analysis today. In fact, I’m not sure if I ever want to talk to you, again. You should try sticking to the law, Eliot. Something you’re actually trained to do.”
    She took off running then, more surprised than relieved when Eliot didn’t try to follow. And then, when she was almost at the front door, a sob choked out of her throat, and suddenly she was crying.
    That idiot. She fumbled with the key, then hurried inside the lobby. Just for a second she glanced back out at the street, but she couldn’t see Eliot anymore. She had no idea where he’d disappeared to, and she told herself she didn’t care.
    *
    The day didn’t get better. Adrian had to put off their plans for a Thai dinner when Ava came down with a spring cold. And on Friday night, after turning down Miriam’s invitation to join her and Eliot for a movie, Dani felt more alone than ever.
    Perhaps, she should have agreed to go to that movie. But she still hadn’t forgiven Eliot for what he’d said after their run. Frankly, she’d been expecting an apology and could hardly believe he still hadn’t offered her one.
    She ordered a pizza for dinner, assuaging her guilt by eating it with a glass of milk and handful of baby carrots. When she was done, she tried phoning the Circle C, hoping to speak to Callan. But she’d forgotten her baby sister’s penchant for hanging out at Grey’s Saloon on Friday nights and got her father instead.
    “Hi Dad. How are you? It’s Dani,” she added, because she knew that she and Callan sounded similar on the phone.
    “Good. You?”
    If she’d had a different kind of father, Dani might have broken down right then and confessed everything. But as a little girl she’d learned it didn’t pay to take her troubles to her father. “I’m good, too. Has the snow melted yet?”
    Spring arrived a lot later in Montana than it did in Seattle. From experience she knew the trees wouldn’t even start budding for another week or two.
    “Still lots up in the mountains.”
    “How’s calving going?”
    “Pretty much done now.”
    The line went silent as she ran out of questions.
    “I’ll tell your sister you called,” Hawksley said. And then he hung up.
    She tried calling Sage next, but ended up leaving a message. Of course, she was probably busy with the cowboy who’d come courting her at the Copper Mountain Rodeo last fall. Dawson O’Dell was now a Deputy Sheriff in Marietta, living in a cute house on Bramble Lane with his young daughter Savannah. Dani didn’t expect it would be much longer until Sage was living there, too.
    When she thought about all the things Dawson had done in order to win Sage’s heart—he’d untangled himself from an unhealthy marriage, given up the rodeo, taken community college classes and moved to Marietta—she felt even worse about her relationship with Adrian.
    Despite their six months as lovers, she’d never been invited to his home or introduced to his daughter. At work they had to pretend they were only colleagues. And even when she suggested introducing him to Miriam and Eliot, he’d balked.
    It was like he’d relegated their relationship to a glass bubble that existed within his world but wasn’t really a part of it.
    Only now, she was pregnant. And this baby—if she kept it—was going to cause that glass bubble to break.
    Dani stared morosely out the window, but since it was now dark all she saw was her reflection gazing back at her. She had no