Page 69 of The Paid Wife: A Lesbian Romance

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it. Plus, if you stood out there and had a few drinks, you’re

likely to wobble right through the railing, and it’s at least ten

feet down. That would be a nasty fall.”

Emily took a faltering step in like she was entering a bear’s

den. She glanced around warily. The thick swoop of her lashes

and the way her eyes filled up with tears made Dani’s chest

ache. My brain. There’s something wrong with my brain.

Were brain fevers actually a thing? She hadn’t had one

before. She’d never known anyone who had one. She’d heard

the term somewhere. Maybe she should get her head looked at,

because Dani didn’t just let people into her house. She didn’t

tidy up and she didn’t change her outfits. She didn’t do girly

things like that. She let people take her how she was. Take her

or leave her. She was used to being left, so that didn’t matter to

her. She was tough.

Emily felt like a squishy spot, a bruise, that Dani didn’t

know she had.

“I like it,” Emily mused, brushing at her eyes with her

fingertips. She forced a watery smile that Dani didn’t find so

grating. It was actually a relief to see Emily not looking so

sad. “The kitchen’s yellow. I like that. A yellow kitchen. And I

like that you have lace curtains at the windows.”

“The view isn’t pretty. It just overlooks the back alley.”

“Still. I like it.”

Dani didn’t like the warm glow in her chest.

“And you have one of those diner tables. Like from the

fifties. It’s yellow too! And the chrome! Wow!” Emily was

impressed. Over thrift store furniture. She wandered around

the corner, into the living room, and she let out a squeal. “Oh,

my goodness! I love your couch! Green flowers! And an

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