Read Online Seven Nights by Jess Michaels - Free Book Online

life.”
    Leah flinched. She tried unsuccessfully to forget that fact on a regular basis. Hearing it only brought all the feelings back.
    “He was the love of my life.” The warm air brushed her skin, raising goose bumps that had nothing to do with the air temperature. “Past tense.”
    With a sigh, Danny stood up and headed toward the villas in the distance. “Keep on telling yourself that, Leah. Maybe someday it will magically become the truth. Night.”
    Leah didn’t answer, only watched her friend walk slowly away. Then she turned back to the surging ocean and wondered if there were any courses in magic available at the resort.

 
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Five
     
    “I think you can guess why you’re here,” Sean said as he leaned back to allow the server better access to his coffee cup.
    Daniel Anderson sipped his own coffee, but didn’t turn away from Sean’s intense stare. It was surprising. Most men were made uncomfortable by the command he’d taken so many years to achieve.
    “Well, I’d love to say that it was because you found me irresistible, but that would be wishful thinking, wouldn’t it?” Anderson shrugged. “It’s obvious you invited me here this morning because of Leah.”
    “Right.” Sean tried to shut out the images of her, the ones that had haunted his insomnia-filled night. Of her arching under his touch, whispering pleas as he entered her body inch by pleasurable inch.
    “I’m not sure how much I can help you,” Danny said with a shrug. “You know Leah. She keeps her emotions pretty close to her chest, even with friends.”
    Sean winced. “Yeah, I remember more than well how easily she can shut a person out.”
    Danny’s stare narrowed over the edge of his cup. Obviously he didn’t appreciate Sean’s observation. But the other man hadn’t lived through Leah’s desertion either.
    “Of course, even if I did know something, you never know if I’d tell you. Leah is one of my best friends and the only thing I know about you is that you make her cry.”
    Sean froze. “She cried?” The thought started a spiral of sharp pain around his heart. Pain that slowly eased its way through his entire body.
    Danny folded his arms. “I’m not saying anything more. What is it you do want, Mr. Dalton? Because I can tell you right now I’m not going to be your confidante or spy when it comes to her.”
    “I would never ask you to betray her like that,” Sean rose to his feet and took a step to the dining room’s veranda barrier. He watched the crystal blue ocean waves crash over the rocks in the distance. “But I do want something from you.”
    “Which is?”
    He turned back and looked at Danny with an appraising stare. Despite his initial rush of jealousy, Sean actually liked the photographer. He’d done some research into the man. Over the years, he’d been Leah’s loyal friend and was a talented photojournalist. At one point, he’d actually helped Leah get out of a sticky situation during a shoot in Bali. For that, Sean was eternally grateful.
    “I don’t trust many people, especially ones I’ve only known a few days,” Sean began.
    Danny nodded.
    “But I respect your work.” He drew in a short breath. “And that you’re Leah’s friend, so I’m going to be honest with you even though I might regret it later.”
    The other man drew back with a look of cautious surprise. “Well, that’s an unexpected beginning to your explanation. I can hardly wait to hear what it is you want from me.”
    “I want you to leave.”
    Danny’s eyes grew impossibly wide and he nearly choked on his sip of coffee. “What?”
    “You heard me. I want you to leave the island. If you’re here, Leah is going to use you like she used you last night. You’re going to be her buffer, her excuse. She’ll never give in to me completely if she has you to run to when her buttons get pushed.”
    Danny let out a long laugh. “And you think I’m going to leave her with you, totally