His Hush-Hush Baby - Holly Rayner Page 0,25
his head a hundred times, trying to figure out what Diane’s departure had really been about.
“She had a few reasons,” he said, “chief among them being that she doesn’t have the space for a relationship right now. Her mom needs constant care.”
“You can help with that.”
Kai smiled, appreciating that his friend knew he’d jump in and help any way he could.
“I told her that. More than once.”
“But she’s too proud to take the help? Not that there’s anything wrong with that.”
Kai ran his palm over his jaw. “I don’t know. I offered much more than her regular rate for the mural at my place, and she took it. She knew that I was paying that much to help her, and she didn’t mind. But then I came back from my trip, and everything was different.”
Damian cringed. “Maybe she met someone else.”
The idea froze Kai in place. Out of all the reasons that had run through his mind, for some reason that one hadn’t.
Because Diane seemed too mature and upfront to not be honest about something like that. She didn’t beat around the bush, and he couldn’t imagine her not doing the honor of just telling him she’d moved on to another man.
Yet, even with his feeling that she was generally a straightforward person, he still got the sense she hadn’t shared the whole truth with him. It was a perplexity that twisted his mind.
“I don’t think she’s telling me everything,” he said.
Damian could only thinly mask his pity. “Okay.”
“She’s not.”
“Which is why it’s probably another guy. Sorry, man, but she might be trying to spare your feelings. Or not get accused of dumping you for some fun.”
Kai pressed his fingers at the point between his eyes. Damian was only saying these things because he didn’t know Diane. If he’d spent the sort of time with her that Kai had, he’d see that none of that sounded like her at all.
“What if she’s in some kind of trouble and she doesn’t feel like she can tell me?” Kai pressed.
“Do you hear yourself right now?” Damian’s eyes were wide. “You’re freaking out.”
“Agh!” Throwing up his hands, Kai bolted from the chair and began pacing his office. “I need to call her.”
“And what? Accuse her of keeping secrets from you? Do you really think that’s the way to win a girl back?”
Kai deflated. “No. Of course I know better than that.”
“I’ve never seen you this torn up about a girl.”
“Diane’s not any girl.” He turned to face his friend. “I can’t explain it. She’s just…she’s right for me.”
“That sucks.”
“Yeah.” He closed his eyes and shook his head. “It does.”
“Hey, cheer up.” The leather chair creaked as Damian rose from it. “You remember what they say about loving something.”
Kai cracked one eyelid at a time. “Er, no. I don’t.”
“If you love something, let it go.”
“If it’s meant to be yours, it’ll come back to you,” Kai finished.
“Exactly. On that note, where should we go for lunch?”
Kai only pretended to pick the place, randomly saying “yes” when Damian rattled off a list of restaurants. His mind was still with Diane.
She was in need. He felt it deep in his gut. Something was going on with her, and he could help out.
But not unless she wanted him to.
In that case, he would wait around until she came back to him. All he had was time.
Chapter 12
Diane
Rocking back on her heels, Diane studied the wall in front of her. She’d finally finished the outline of Kai’s mural, and it was pretty darn good, if she said so herself.
Thick foliage covered the base, with vines winding their way up tree trunks and melding with the canopy above. Several tropical birds hung out on the branches, preening or stoically watching their jungle.
It was a little oasis in the middle of the city. She was sad that the day she finished the mural would be the last time she saw it.
Tears filled her eyes, and she rapidly brushed them away. There was no point dwelling on such things. This time next year, she’d be in Florida with her parents and baby son or daughter. Heck, maybe she’d be on the beach soaking in the sun.
The point being, life would get better. It was wasted energy to think about the things she didn’t have when she had so much coming her way.
For all the positive self-talk, though, she still cried at least once a day. The doctor’s appointment and then talking with Kai on the phone the week before hadn’t helped