Dani nodded, then turned away, focusing her attention on the roses. Would Harper really let her leave, knowing her stalker was still out there, following her? Would she be on her own to face this? Fear—and something else—nearly choked the breath from her. She heard a phone ring, heard Harper answer, heard her murmured “we’ll be right back,” but Dani never turned. She was afraid Harper would see her tears.

Chapter Thirty-Four

Harper sat in the lone chair, trying to keep her eyes on the TV and not Dani. Dani was on the bed, propped up against the pillows. Things had been rather strained between them, so much so that Harper had invited both Reid and Hernandez to their room to share dinner, just to keep the conversation going. She wasn’t sure if Dani’s silence was the result of them “clearing the air” or the prospect of her having to leave Dallas soon.

Once again, Harper glanced at Dani, finding Dani’s attention on the TV. Harper wasn’t even sure what they were watching. A sitcom with bratty young kids was all she’d gotten out of it. There had been no reaction from Dani during the entire episode. She simply couldn’t stand the silence any longer.

“Do you want to talk?”

Dani gave her a weak smile. “I’m okay, Harper. I just…well, it’s been an emotional few days. I guess it’s caught up with me.”

“I’m sorry, Dani.”

“What are you sorry for?”

“This silence between us, for one. It’s my fault.”

“It’s not your fault. I appreciate you being honest with me, Harper. Someone else, they may have…I don’t know, taken advantage of the situation. Thank you for not…pretending.”

Harper stood up, pacing in the small space between the bed and the door. She didn’t know what to say to Dani to make it right. She stopped pacing, turning to face Dani.

“I…I liked the hug.” She swallowed. “That was the first contact I’ve had with anyone since…well, in over three years.” She swallowed again. “I liked it.” Dani didn’t say anything, she simply stared at her. Harper took a deep breath, wondering how to continue. “I’m having a hard time holding on to my guilt,” she admitted truthfully. “And that scares me because guilt is all I have left of Jan.”

“Oh, Harper, the guilt is something you’ve forced on yourself. That’s not all you have left. Jan is in your heart, in your mind. You said yourself, she always would be.”

“I feel like she’s slipping away from me,” she admitted.

Dani tilted her head, her eyes gentle. “Is it…is it my fault?”

Harper nodded. “Yes. I think it is.”