Page 31 of Dancing With Doubt

“Yes, please. I’ve become used to it,” Roxie said with a wobble of her head. “I’d probably lose my mind trying to get used to being called Chloe again.”

“It’s fine. I just wanted to ask.”

“Thanks for that.” Roxie put her hand on June’s shoulder and squeezed.

Dinner came and everybody focused on their individual dishes for a while. Roxie had a steak that melted in her mouth and would have asked for another, it tasted so good, but she was about to burst. All she had room left for was a piece of cake, and Kai brought that out with his staff in tow. There were sparklers and balloons around the large round cake decorated with whipped cream swirls and lemons.

“Is that?” Roxie started to ask Lincoln, but he nodded before she could finish.

“Your favorite lemon baked cheesecake from Mama’s Bakery. The one back home.” He smiled tentatively, as if worried it might not be her favorite anymore.

“My goodness, you are full of wonders today.” She leaned over to kiss him in thanks and waited for the cake to be brought to her. She blew out the candles while she made her wish, for the love to never end, and then took the first piece when June had sliced the cake.

They were ordering coffee to go with the cake when Lincoln leaned over to tell her he’d left his phone in the car. “I won’t be long.”

“Okay. Hurry back.” She leaned over to kiss him without a second thought and went back to talking to her friends.

“So, tell me what happened with you and Lincoln,” June asked once Lincoln was gone.

“I don’t know, really.” Roxie tried to think of how to explain it all. “That night of the fire, well, he took me home and we saw the blaze. There were some men there that had been at the house before, do you remember that?”

“Yeah, I do. They were there that night? Those Italian-looking guys?” June asked, frowning.

“I guess they could have been Italians, yeah.” Roxie nodded. “Well, he took me out of town, and well, something happened that night, but I left the next morning. I didn’t want to involve any of you in that mess if those guys were after me too. I ran, came here, built up my life.”

“Okay. I guess he found you finally?” June asked, but they both knew the answer to that.

“Yeah. I can’t believe he was looking for me all that time.” Roxie sighed and leaned on her elbows, head in her hands, on the table. “I still can’t believe it.”

June looked at her in a weird way, making Roxie frown. “What?”

“Maybe I was wrong about him.” June finally answered after another long speculative look at Roxie.

“What do you mean?” Roxie asked, wondering if her friend had the same suspicions she did.

“Maybe it wasn’t that he was incapable of love. What if the only woman he’s ever loved is you?” June continued to look at Roxie, her eyes searching. “Are you prepared for that?”

“I wasn’t when he first came back into my life. I didn’t want love at all. I still don’t. But I care about him a lot more than I should. I’m opening up all these doors now, doors that should probably stay shut to keep you all safe, but he just makes me want to fling them all open, consequences be damned.”

“Even if that means you get hurt in the end?” June asked, and Roxie realized that June was being protective of her brother. In an odd way, that pleased Roxie greatly.

Lincoln needed someone in his corner and June was a great person for that job.

“I promise, I’m not going to be the one that hurts him, June.” She touched her friend’s elbow. “I know what he’s putting at risk, and I respect him too much to just throw that away like it doesn’t matter. And listen, I know the reputation that women in my line of work have, but I’m not after him for his money.”

“I didn’t think you were. I just wasn’t sure if you knew how fragile he really is. He’s never had a long-term girlfriend that I know of, and it’s clear what he feels for you. I can see it in his eyes when he looks at you.”

“Do you see that same look in my eyes, June?” Roxie asked, knowing she did.

“I do. And I’m worried for you too. What if we’re wrong?” June looked tortured, her lips pursed and her eyes stormy. “I’m happy for you both, if you’re both happy, but I’m worried about you both. You’re both such stubborn assholes sometimes.”

Roxie laughed at that and hugged her friend close. “Oh, that hurts. I’m not nearly the asshole he is.”

“You are too. Remember when I wouldn’t buy a pink and purple tutu just because you wanted mine to match yours? You put pink and purple dye in my hair when I was asleep at your house.” June reminded Roxie of the one time June had tried to go blonde, and Roxie had ruined it.

“Hey, that look is in now.” Roxie grinned but sighed. “Sorry about that. Yeah, I was an asshole when I wanted to be.”

“I forgave you a long time ago,” June said, and gladly took the cup of coffee the waiter brought. “I’m so tired. At least I have the next few days off. I put in for some vacation time.”