The Fighter's Block by Hadley Quinn Read Free Book Online Page A

have been her.”
    “Her name is Dani. Or Danielle. You think that was her?”
    “Uh, I don’t know her name, but I saw her another time, too. Maybe last week.”
    “Has she been staying here?”
    The kid gave him a funny look, like he’d caught onto Brian’s snooping.
    “I’ve been out of town and she doesn’t like to stay at home alone,” Brian smiled. “I just forgot which friend lives here.”
    The kid seemed to accept that answer but shrugged his shoulders. “I really don’t know. I just saw her those two times. I mean if it was her.”
    Brian smiled another friendly smile and asked, “Well, did you see her with anyone else? Maybe you can describe the person so I know which of her friends lives here.”
    He shook his head. “No, she was by herself. Sorry. You can always ask Eddie,” he pointed to somewhere behin d him. “ He’s probably in the office— ”
    “Oh, nah, that’s okay,” Brian smiled casually. “I’ll just give her a call. Thanks, though .”
    The kid left out the front door and Brian stood there for a moment. He didn’t want to risk a run-in with Eddie, so he left a few seconds later and then sat in his car again.
    So Dani really was staying here. At least it seemed that way. Brian was uncomfortable with that, and he knew he needed to change his tactics. Maybe it was time to be a little more assertive .
     
                                                                         
     
    Dani was lounged across Van’s couch when she decided to check her messages. She was reluctant because she didn’t want to hear another message from her ex . But while Van was down the hall talking to Quincy, she decided to get it over with. She hated the fact that he called her all the time, and she seriously consid ered changing her phone number. But with Brian, she almost felt like it wouldn’t do any good.
    Van left Quincy’s with what he came for and re-entered his apartment. Dani was on the phone, so he set the movies by the television and returned to the couch to sit with her. But he’d already caught the look on her face before she tried to hide it, and when she hung up the phone and attempted to det er the moment right away, Van wasn’t fooled.
    “Uh, n o , I don’t care what we watch first,” he answered her. “I’ll let you pick.”
    “Chick flick?”
    He smiled. “I think all Q had was chick flicks. Take your pick,” he nodded to the pile.
    He watched her peruse through the movies until she chose one, and when she paused trying to figure out his entertainment system, Van got up to help her.
    “So what was the phone call?” he asked as he stuck the movie into the DVD player.
    Dani was caught off guard, thinking she had played it off just right. “Oh u h, just listening to my messages,” she shrugged as she sat on the couch.
    Van slightly nodded and then turned to face her. “And it was somethin g pretty serious. Anything I can help with ?”
    She didn’t know what to say. She actually wanted to tell him about it, but at the same time, she wasn’t sure what kind of conflict it would cause . She was so done with Brian and she didn’t even want to mention his name.
    “Dani, whatever it is you can tell me,” Van said gently , sitting down next to her. He put his arm on the back of the couch behind her . “You looked pretty worried, and even now, when you’re trying not to seem concerned, I can tell something is bothering you. What is it? Who called?”
    She hesitated, but finally sighed and said, “Brian.”
    Van wasn’t surprised. And he’d also gotten the feeling the guy had probably called before. It explained why she was so weird with her phone sometimes. She claimed she liked to turn it off so she could have the time alone with him without any distractions, but he never knew of any girl that went to those lengths. Sure they’d turn the ringer off, but not shut it off entirely.
    “H ow many times has