Read Online Hardline by Meredith Wild - Free Book Online

settle for planning yours for now. Who knows when or if we’ll ever get around to it.”
       “Sounds like you two have actually talked about it though?”
She shrugged and leaned her hip against the counter. “A little, but that’s a huge step. We know we’re not quite ready for that. I do have some more good news for you though.”  
       “Oh?” My eyebrows lifted with curiosity.  
       “Heath and I found a new place. It’s pretty close, but I’m sure Blake will be psyched to have his apartment back. We’re going to start moving things over this week, so Mr. Broody won’t need to share you with me anymore.” She smiled and poked my shoulder.  
       I smiled, happy for her and for us. “You must be excited.”
       “I am. It’s the first time we’ll be getting a place together, that’s ours. It’s already vacant, so we should be moved over completely in a few days.”
       “That’s awesome. Let me know if I can help.”
       “Don’t worry about it. You focus on work. I know you have plenty to catch up on at the office, but pencil me in for dinner next week. Heath wants to invite the family over to see the new place. Plus I’m sure everyone will want to talk wedding details, so that will be fun.”
       “Okay,” I agreed weakly.
       The knot in my stomach grew at the mention of Blake’s family. I loved them, but they were a little overwhelming sometimes. Was there such a thing as being too nice, caring too much? Maybe by comparison to my family. The thought of inviting the Hathaways into my life to celebrate this occasion was unsettling at best. They’d done little more than shun my mother since the day she told them she was pregnant with me. Would they shun me now too, or feign interest and attend as if they’d cared at all my whole life? Either scenario seemed stressful, but I didn’t want to deprive Blake’s family of an occasion that might mean the world to them. Heaven help me, our two families could not be more different.  
       To avoid further inquisition, I pulled Alli back into the living room and we chatted away the rest of the evening with the guys. I relaxed into Blake’s side, grateful, in love, and determined to make the most of the last few hours of our break away from the world.  
       
       * * *
       
       The office had been quiet this week, save the quiet hum of machines and tapping of keyboards as people worked. I was doing some quick math when my phone rang. Daniel’s number lit up the screen. For the first time in weeks I considered answering. As soon as I reestablished contact with him, the battle to maintain a healthy separation between our lives and business affairs would begin. I hadn’t felt up to it, and after learning that two more advertisers would be closing their accounts with us since PinDeelz launched, I wasn’t sure why I would be now. Perhaps out of sheer desperation to occupy my mind with something other than the downward spiral of my business, I answered.  
       “Daniel, hi.”  
       “Hi. I wasn’t sure you’d answer.”  
       I wanted to be honest in my response, but I also didn’t want to piss him off. I’d really hoped this next chapter of our relationship wouldn’t be so contentious. I wasn’t sure if I could survive it if it was. Daniel Fitzgerald had proven himself to be both violent and dangerous, but I forced myself to believe I could harness the man behind the political machine, behind the layers of societal pressure to be all that he’d become. Despite all my misgivings, something inside me was committed to salvage what I could from our warped father-daughter relationship.  
       “I’ve been out of town,” I said, offering a half-truth. “How are you?”
       “The campaign has been doing well, so I can’t complain. How about you?”  
       “Um, good.”  
       His silence extended over the next few seconds, and I felt an odd pressure to fill it.  
       “Blake and I are