Inner Core: (Stark, #2) Read Online Free PDF Page A

Her eyes shamelessly run the length of him, again. “Oh, and please call me Julie.” She flashes Daniel the sweetest smile and glances at me pointedly.
    Oh well, here goes … “This is Daniel, my boyfriend.”
    “Oh, then I’m even more glad to meet you now, Daniel, Hayley’s boyfriend.”
    Daniel rewards my mother with one of his hang-tight-you're-about-to-be-swooned smiles.
    “So you have a boyfriend now, Lely.” She frowns at me slightly, reaffirming what I've already gathered: I’ll have some explaining to do.
    “Are you from around here?” she asks as she gestures for us to come in, leading us to the living room.
    “No, I’m actually from San Francisco.”
    She glances over her shoulder at the both of us and I feel obliged to add some explanation.
    “Daniel flew in this morning. He was the one who brought the news about Steven.”
    “You flew all the way here to deliver firsthand news?” She raises an incredulous eyebrow, eyeing him for a short moment. “Which, by the way, I couldn’t thank you enough for.” She watches us with unconcealed curiosity.
    “No need, I’m glad I could help.” Daniel gives my mother a gentle smile and a nod. “Besides, I missed Hayley and wanted to be there for her.” He sends a downcast glance my way.
    Can she sense something wasn’t kosher between us? My mother smiles warmly and squeezes Daniel’s palm in silent gratitude before gesturing for us to be seated. For a space of a minute we lose her as she absently, almost inaudibly, murmurs, “Though I need to see my kid in the flesh before I can actually stop worrying”
    “Where’s Dad?” I ask, shaking her out of her short muse. We might as well get that second intro out of the way while we're at it .
    “With a patient. Some emergency.” She crooks her mouth as if to say again . “He should be back soon. What are you both drinking?” she asks. She's still gaping at Daniel while she waits for our replies.
    “Coffee would be great, thanks ma’am.”
    “Same here.”
    When she turns toward the kitchen, Daniel mutters, low enough just for me to hear, “Would have been better if they knew about me Lely , wouldn’t it?”
    I slightly twist my mouth, but have to agree he has a case.
    “You made your point.”
    He smiles at me but the smile stays on his lips. Let. It. Go .
    “Can I leave you here for a few minutes and go tell my mom about how amazing you are?” I give him my sweetest cajoling grin and a nudge. He sighs, his smile warmer now.
    “Sure.” He starts checking emails on his phone.
     
    “How long?” My mom asks with no preface as I enter the kitchen. She doesn’t look at me, but remains engaged with the four white ceramic mugs she fills with warm water from the kettle.
    “For a while now.”
    “Hmm, mmm.” She twists her mouth in a disappointed frown.
    “I just wasn’t sure how serious it was.” I try to wheedle, but she stops and turns to look me square in the eyes. Straightening an invisible wrinkle in her white cotton dress, she says, “Flying all the way here for less than a day seems quite serious on his part.” Her undertone doesn’t stir me much, as I'm too caught up in how his actions translate his feelings for me.
    “Well, you know what, Lely? As long as he puts this kind of happiness on your face I’m glad for you, and the rest doesn’t really matter.” She kisses my forehead and stirs the steaming coffee, sending its strong aromatic roast fragrance into the air. Confident I got this one smoothed, I return to join the man in question, who regards me with a tender stare.
    “You two will make such beautiful babies.”
    Holy Hell, where did that come from?
    My mom couldn’t look more confused and ashamed as she stares at us with big eyes from the corridor, tray in hand. I’m pretty sure she didn’t intend to say that one out loud. And if she weren't holding that tray, her hand would probably fly up to cover her mouth. Innocent or not, I could still strangle her.
    I