Aiden spoke, “She’s my friend.”
Kelley Lynn swept a scornful gaze toward Aiden. “You’re friends with Dani because everyone knows about the O’Hara rift. You hate Julia because Bubba flirted with her when you two were having problems.”
“What?” Dani’s mouth fell open an inch.
Aiden narrowed her eyes. “Julia was a little too friendly, so yes, I’m not a fan. That’s not why Dani and I are friends. I like Dani because…”
“Because she’s a walking wounded,” Kelley Lynn finished for her. “Because she’s got what it takes to make your brother fall in love. You know that Jonah likes a challenge, and Dani’s the best challenge that came to Craigstown in a long time. That’s why you’re friends with her, and don’t even lie, Aiden. You told Katrina that the day that Dani got here. I know because she told me at our bar-b-que that night. She said you gushed how Bryant was going on and on about this ‘hot chick he saw driving a Mustang.’ You said that it would take someone incapable of life to make Jonah fall hard and fast.”
Aiden sucked in her breath.
Jonah remained quiet. He watched Dani.
Dani said slowly, “‘Incapable of life?’”
“It’s not…I didn’t mean…it’s not like that, Dani,” Aiden finally answered. “Yeah, that’s what I’d been hoping for at first, but I consider you a friend now.”
“Incapable of life?” Dani asked again.
Aiden frowned.
Kelley Lynn cut in, “It’s all over town that something happened to you. Everyone knows it. We can all see it. We don’t know what it is, but you are the walking wounded. You look like a lost little lamb begging for someone to bandage up your broken limbs.”
Whatever ‘broken limbs’ that Dani might’ve had healed in anger. She straightened. “Say that again?”
“Please. You know exactly what I’m talking about.” Kelley Lynn flushed, but moved back a step.
“I might have taken it before, but you’re right. Something did happen, and I’m not the same Dani O’Hara who left like a wounded puppy with her tail tucked between her legs.”
“I’m not saying you are.” Kelley Lynn shifted back a second step.
“You just did.”
“You kinda did,” Aiden said.
Kelley Lynn stuck a hand on her hip and lifted her chin up. “I’m not here to be on trial. I came to help out. If you don’t want my help, then…” She started to slide from the room.
Dani got in her way. “You started this. Don’t leave before the fireworks start.”
“I didn’t come here to be attacked.”
Dani straightened even farther, feeling Jonah watching her. “I’m not attacking you, but you don’t have to worry about being nice for Erica. For one, she’s dead, and two, I don’t want your sympathy vote. Not only do I not need it, but I don’t want it.”
The doorbell rang then, and Kelley Lynn heaved a sigh of surrender. “Those are the flowers that Katrina said she’d donate to the cause. I’ll let them in on my way out.” But before she did, she said, “We’re not the enemy, Dani. I’m not the enemy. I really was trying to be a friend today, and I didn’t mean anything bad when I said that you were the walking wounded. You just looked hurt when I saw you in the bank when you came back. Erica was always a brat. I know that. It’s why we were friends. We were childish, immature, and cruel when we were younger, but Erica was hurting, too, you know. We’re not the enemy.” Her head ducked down. “Not anymore.”
The room echoed as her footsteps sounded along the marbled floors.
Two Katrina’s Blooms employees brought in the vases of floral arrangements. They were quiet and quick as they placed six vases onto the dining room table.
Once they were gone, Aiden started. “Dani, I—”
“It’s okay.” Dani held a hand up, cutting off Aiden’s apology. “I knew from the beginning why you liked me. Kate wasn’t exactly quiet about her obvious delight that I was going to take Julia down a peg or two. I didn’t know that you and Bubba went through a rough period, though.”
Aiden blinked in shock. “It was about two years ago.” She laughed. “Well, that whole conversation kinda came out of nowhere.” Aiden glanced sideways to her brother. “I’m going to finish up, but I think we’re almost all done.” She placed a hand on his arm. “See you tonight?”
He was staring right at Dani when he answered, “Yeah. See you tonight.” There was a determined look in his eye, and Dani knew her afternoon of confrontations wasn’t done. They waited till Aiden left the room before he asked, “Can we go outside?”
She looked out the window. “I think it’s raining.”
He grabbed her arm. “Even better.” And he half-walked her, half-dragged her out the door. Once outside, he kept going, moving until they were under a veranda. Rain was pouring down on both sides of them, almost forming a complete wall that gave them some privacy.
She let out a soft breath. “Why are you angry with me? Shouldn’t I be the one mad at you?”
His hair was wet, and his eyes were stormy. He ignored the bait and slid his hands into his pockets. “How does it feel?”
“What do you mean?”
Jonah stepped closer. “You were Erica’s ghost. How does it feel?”