Second Thoughts by Cara Bertrand Read Free Book Online

and not yet enough forme to take seriously. My aunt couldn’t really be
attracted
to a man who looked just like my father. Could she?
    â€œThank you, Senator,” Aunt Tessa said. Her smile was absolutely radiant. “Just Tessa will be fine. ‘Ms. Espinosa’ makes me feel like my mother.” She laughed lightly. “And it’s certainly my pleasure to meet you and also to introduce my niece, Lainey. I understand you haven’t met in person before?”
    I fixed my smile in place as Daniel Astor focused his gaze on me. “No, not before now, though I’ve heard so many wonderful things about her, and, of course, will forever owe her a debt of gratitude. Lainey, how do you do?” He shook my hand and held it. “And let me take this opportunity to thank you again for your bravery in saving my daughter.”
    There wasn’t much I could really say to that, especially considering the true nature of my “saving” Jill. “Thank you, Senator. I hope Jill’s doing well, and it’s nice to finally meet you.” I did my best to sound
actually
pleased to meet him, instead of panicked. I thought I succeeded.
    He held my gaze and didn’t release my hand for what felt like an eternity. “You as well, Lainey. And please call me Dan. Both of you. I insist.” He nodded to my aunt. “Unfortunately, my late arrival caused me to miss your introduction. Would you mind repeating the story? I’m fascinated by what you’ve done here…”
    Aunt Tessa gladly complied and she and Senator Astor became absorbed in discussion while I lingered nearby. Headmaster Stewart also lingered in the vicinity, growing visibly more annoyed the longer the senator—Dan, I reminded myself—worked his magic on a woman other than her. I was half listening to my aunt and half trying to figure out what to do about my new knowledge, when strong arms circled my waist from behind.
    I almost screamed before I heard Carter’s familiar voice in my ear. “Hey gorgeous,” he said, kissing me on the cheek. “I’d ask what I missed, but I can see most of it, and it’s incredible.” Lower, he added, “Speaking of incredible, love the pants,” and my skin flushed, only partly out of surprise.
    â€œHi!” I squeaked. I cleared my throat and turned, unable to hide my smile as I took him in. He looked great, as he usually did, but he’d changed out of his typical daily uniform of comfortable jeans and a simple T-shirt into a blue dress shirt with a tailored jacket and slacks in a color like steel or gunmetal. The combination made his already pretty blue eyes nearly arresting and somehow enhanced the handsome angles of his features. “You surprised me,” I tried again and I was relieved that I sounded more like myself this time.
    He returned my smile. “I know,” he said. “You looked like your body was here but your brain was in another room, or like you’d just seen a ghost. I even waved at you when I came in.”
    I swallowed an inappropriate laugh or, possibly, a sob. He was more right than he knew and I was suddenly glad he
hadn’t
been here earlier. “Sorry. I…guess I was daydreaming. And listening to my aunt talk about the installation. I didn’t hear the whole story the first time.”
    â€œIt’s incredible,” he repeated. “I should have been here.” He glanced over my shoulder and nodded in the direction of Aunt Tessa and the senator. “And it looks like your aunt and my uncle have hit it off well. Did you meet him already?”
    â€œYes!” I said, too quickly and far too brightly. I mentally reminded myself to relax and Act. Freaking. Natural. I would have plenty of time to worry over what to do about my newly discovered relation. For now, I
had
to pretend that everything was perfectly fine.
    But Carter confused my over-eager response for something much more