Read Online Cross My Heart by Carly Phillips - Free Book Online

time.
    She’d packed for herself and Ty had thrown a bag of dog food into his car for Digger. All typical things people did before taking a short trip, except nothing about Lacey’s situation could remotely be construed as normal.
    Dreading the final phone call she’d have to make, she waited until the last minute to call and give Alex the news. While Ty watched television in the other room, Lacey dialed Alex’s apartment, a phone number she knew by heart.
    â€œDuncan,” he said, answering the phone on the first ring.
    â€œIt’s me.” She gripped her fingers tight around the receiver.
    â€œHey, babe. How are you? I didn’t expect to hear from you until tonight,” he said, pleasure warming his voice.
    She didn’t usually call him during the day because he was busy and she was rarely in one place for too long.
    â€œI’m fine.” Lacey drew a deep breath that failed to calm her nerves. “Actually, that’s not true. I had a visitor last night. Someone from my hometown and I need to go back for a little while and settle some things. I know it’s last minute but I’m sure you understand.”
    â€œI can’t say that I do because I don’t know a damn thing about your past, but hopefully you’ll fill me in on the details when you get back. Because keeping secrets isn’t good for a relationship and there’s too much I don’t know.” He cleared his throat. “And I can’t help you get past whatever’s keeping you from saying yes if you don’t open up.”
    She swallowed hard. “I know. And I’ll tell you everything,” she promised. What better time to share her history than once she’d faced it down?
    â€œGood.” He sounded relieved. “This visitor you mentioned. Is it anyone I know about?” he asked, obviously fishing for something before she left.
    They both knew there wasn’t anybody she’d ever mentioned by name. “No. I never told you about—him.” She shut her eyes, hoping he wouldn’t ask for more of an explanation.
    She’d never told Alex about Ty because her feelings for him were too close to her heart. Too personal to share with anyone, especially another man.
    â€œA him you’ve never mentioned.” Alex’s voice dropped lower, taking on an angry tone she’d never heard before. “Is he anyone I need to worry about?” he bit out.
    â€œNo.” Lilly shook her suddenly pounding head. “Nobody you need to concern yourself with. He’s just an old friend.” She knew in her heart that last statement was a bald-faced lie.
    She was worried about Ty and her renewed feelings. But how could she say that to Alex over the phone and then take off on him?
    Lacey glanced up and saw Ty waiting in the doorway. Nausea swept through her as she realized what he’d overheard. In one day, her life had become overwhelmingly complicated.
    He held up a hand and she covered the phone.
    â€œThe car’s illegally parked out front,” he reminded her.
    She nodded. “I’ll be off in a sec.”
    Ty turned and walked out, leaving her with his dark, hurt expression in her mind.
    â€œLacey?” Alex called for her attention, his irritation clear.
    â€œYes. I’m here.”
    â€œWhen you come home, we’ll go to Nick’s,” he said of his favorite Italian restaurant. “And then maybe we’ll check out Peaches,” he said of his sister’s dessert place in the Village.
    â€œThat sounds…nice.” A bland word, she thought but it described how she was feeling—in direct contrast to the anticipation she felt about climbing into Ty’s car and heading on an adventure with him by her side.
    Oh God.
    â€œAlex?”
    â€œWhat, babe?”
    She didn’t want to leave him with the wrong impression and yet she didn’t know what the right one would be. “When I get home,