Page 40 of The Library on Plum Island
Alex Blackwell, the man whose name was synonymous with fleeting romances and high-profile escapades, had just proposed marriage?Daniella couldn’t quite believe it.
If she wasn’t the object of attention from four pairs of eyes, she’d have pinched herself to ensure she wasn’t dreaming. The shock had rendered her speechless. Her voice had been lost somewhere between her accelerating heartbeat and the tightness constricting her chest. But she knew everyone was expecting her to say something.
All Daniella could muster was, “Excuse me?”Great, Daniella. That showed them you were all together.The tension in the room seemed to get heavier.
Alex’s nervous laughter kept the room from falling into silence. “That wasn’t the reaction I thought I’d get when I proposed for the second time in my life,” he joked, trying to lighten the mood.
But his attempt at humor only seemed to deepen the awkwardness. Daniella had already seen the glint of hurt and heard the underlying tension in his voice.
Why would he be hurt?Daniella gave herself a mental shake.Snap out of it. You’re overthinking this. Alex only asked you to marry him because it’s his insane way of trying to help.Her heart lurched at the thought of marrying Alex.It would help me feel less vulnerable to Doctor Jackson!She gave herself another mental shake.Wait! No! You don’t need a marriage to make you feel secure and face that arrogant jerk!She drew in a breath.Stop overthinking this and breathe.She glanced at Alex.I knew he had a heart beneath that playboy exterior.She swallowed. Her throat felt raspy and dry.
“Wait! What?” Harley’s voice cut through the air, switching the attention to him. “You’ve actually proposed to someone before?” He looked at Alex in disbelief.
Daniella barely heard the question. Her mind felt like a dryer filled with hot air, turning mindless thoughts over and over.
“Yes. It was a long time ago,” Alex answered Harley.
“Huh!” Harley pursed his lips, nodding as he looked impressed. “Who knew!”
“Me!” Jennifer put up her hand and glanced at Alex apologetically. “I knew.”
“Of course.” Alex rolled his eyes. “Let me guess, Dawn and Harriet told you?”
“No.” Jennifer shook her head. “It was Brad.”
“That snitch!” Alex breathed in disgust.
“In all fairness to Brad,” Jennifer stuck up for her best friend’s new husband, who also happened to be one of Alex’s lifelong best friends. “He was standing up for you.”
“By telling everyone that I was engaged and the woman left me?” Alex’s brows rose. “How is that protecting me?”
“He was trying to convince us that you had a heart.” Jennifer pulled a face. “Sorry. That was before I started to get to know you.” She stepped closer to Harley. “Although we weren’t convinced.” She took another step closer to Harley. “But, this… this is such a nice thing to do for someone.”
“It is,” Harley agreed. “Not many men would do what you’re doing.”
“What are you saying?” Jennifer looked at Harley suspiciously. “That you wouldn’t do the same for me?”
“Thatisnotwhat I meant,“ Harley pointed out. “You know I’d move mountains for you. I love you.”
“Aw,” Jennifer cooed, going on tiptoes and kissing his cheek. “I love you too.”
“Can we get back to Daniella and Alex?” Sam looked at Jennifer and Harley.
Daniella tried to concentrate on what they were saying as the shock slowly started to wear off. The reality of what Alex had proposed started sinking in, and her mind conjured a pros and cons list of marrying Alex in order to flush Doctor Jackson out and keep Emily safe.
“While it might be a little crazy,” Jennifer drew Daniella’s attention out of her deep thoughts, “I think this might just work.” Her eyes met Daniella’s. “Think about it, Daniella. A marriage to Alex Blackwell will spark nationwide media attention, and it’s bound to rile Doctor Creepo into making his move.”
“Or it will send him to ground,” Daniella finally found her voice, and reason started to flood back into her mind. “Although he also won’t like the idea that I was able to get the better of him by getting away and hiding.” She glanced at Alex, her heart slamming into her ribs as their eyes. “I also found someone else in the interim. Someone he’ll think I wanted to marry and have a relationship with.” She broke eye contact with Alex and looked at Jennifer, Harley, and Uncle Sam. “Doctor Jackson does not like to lose anything.”
“Agreed,” Sam said, nodding. “If you do decide to do this, the two of you will have to go to Boston to get married in court there. We’ll all be there with you, of course.”
“We’ll need to let the rest of our family and friends know,” Harley stated. “We can’t leave any loose ends as Doctor Jackson is very smart, cunning, and calculating. This means while the two of you are out in public, if you’re going to make this work, you need to look like you’re head over heels in love with each other.”
That won’t be too hard to do, a little voice whispered from deep in her heart. Shut up!Daniella berated the little voice.Good grief. This has driven me mad! I’m now talking to myself and, worse, having an argument with myself.
“What do you think about the idea, Daniella?” Alex asked, his voice gentle, urging her to consider the plan seriously and drawing her attention back to him.
Her eyes once again locked with his, and she knew that this was a sure path to heartache, but it could also be the path to salvation—to finally be free from the shadow of her past.
