Would Harper give her that? One more time…would Harper give her that?

* * *

Harper came out of the bathroom, surprised to find Dani awake, the lights still on. The covers were pulled to her waist, and she was propped against pillows, her hands folded together in her lap. They hadn’t talked about anything, and Harper wasn’t sure what to do. Should she assume Dani wanted her to share her bed? Wasn’t that the reason Dani hadn’t wanted her own room in the first place? But still, she hesitated.

Dani, however, did not.

“Come to bed.”

Harper held her gaze. “I guess we should probably…probably talk.”

Dani shook her head. “Probably not. I don’t want to talk, Harper. Not now.”

If Harper went to her, what did that say? Before…it was an emotional need—and physical, yes—that Dani had. Wasn’t it? Her too. But now? The threat was over. The…the situation was over. They could relax. There was no need to offer each other emotional support. There was no need to hold each other…to kiss, to touch…to make love. If Harper went to her, there would be no excuse for it, no justification. They would make love because they wanted to. If she did that…if Harper went to her, then she feared Jan would be gone for good. Is that what she wanted? Did she want Jan to stop lurking around, stop haunting her nights…and her days? If she went to Dani, was she consciously pushing Jan away?

Dani was waiting, as if sensing the war going on inside her. Dani, not Danielle Stevens. No, she’d never been Danielle to her. Just Dani, a beautiful woman who harbored a secret she didn’t dare tell anyone…except Harper. A woman with her own demons, her own fears. A woman who just wanted to be…normal. And Harper could give her normal.

Harper could give her that.

She walked over to the door and turned out the light. The lamp beside the bed wasn’t obtrusive. It cast a soft glow around Dani—a halo. Harper stood beside the bed, then pulled her shirt off and tossed it down. Dani folded the covers back, inviting Harper in beside her. This time, Harper didn’t hesitate. It was with sure hands that she removed Dani’s shirt, tossing it aside without care. Their mouths met in an almost quiet kiss—gentle—lips moving slowly, deliciously so. A soft hand touched her breast, and Harper sucked in her breath as Dani’s thumb circled her nipple.

“Lay back,” Dani whispered. “Let me make love to you.”