Queen’s Knight (Invitation to Eden) Read Online Free

time.”
    “No, mama, you just caught me at a bad time.” If Dani had known the caller was her mother, she wouldn’t have answered. As much as she loved her mother, Ava Knight didn’t always see eye to eye with her daughter. Dani wasn’t in the mood for lectures, but having answered the phone like that guaranteed at least a few minutes of regular conversation. Yay, the power of guilt. “So, what’s new with you?”
    “Well, yesterday I got a wedding invitation in the mail from David. I guess he’s finally getting married to that girlfriend of his.”
    Silence fell over the line as Ava awaited her daughter’s response, but Dani didn’t know what to say, let alone feel. She took a ragged breath as her mother continued. “They’ve been together almost two years, probably met not long after you...well, afterwards. They look really happy in the pictures.” Another pause. “I’m sorry, baby.”
    Ah, there it was. The old familiar pain. “I’m happy for him,” she murmured, but the words rang hollow. David Blake had been Dani’s friend for as far back as she could remember, the son of family friends. They’d grown up together, dated all through middle and high school. He’d been her brother James’ best friend; everyone had assumed that the two of them would get married.
    Then that dream had shattered in a million pieces and everything had gone to pot.
    “Your father’s out working on the boat,” Ava continued quickly, as if only just realizing she probably shouldn’t have opened with that tidbit of news. “I can go get him if you’d like, he’d love to talk to you.”
    “No, I, I need to get back to work.” She swallowed thickly, and then took a deep breath. “If you see David, can you please tell him I’m happy for him? Really, I am.”
    “You know, it’s not too late for college.”
    Dani’s shoulders slumped. “Mom...” she started, already knowing where the conversation was going.
    “Plenty of folks start later these days. I know you missed out on the whole college experience...”
    “Mom, you do remember I did almost two years of college. Believe me, I didn’t miss out on anything.”
    “I’m just saying that, baby, you’re not too old to go back to school.”
    Dani blinked. “I’m twenty-four years old, ma,” she said, frowning at the phone. Had her own mother just called her old? “And I’ve already decided college isn’t for me, you know this.”
    “Oh honey, I just wish you lived closer. I miss seeing you, and your grandmother is getting older.”
    From somewhere behind her mother’s words, Dani heard an older voice squawk, “I’m fit as a fiddle, and you can tell her I said that too.”
    Dani grinned, recognizing her grandmother’s voice, but Ava wasn’t finished. “I just worry about you. All those dangerous countries on that motorcycle of yours.” Her voice grew more distressed with each word. “I don’t hear from you for weeks at a time, and I worry that, that...”
    “Mom.” Dani readied herself for a battle, but surprisingly her mother immediately subsided. Dani thought a moment about what to say, then sighed. “I love you.”
    Silence fell on the other end, and Dani knew her mother had finally gotten the hint. “I love you too, honey. Please, please stay safe.”
    “I will, promise.”
    Dani knew her mother never believed those promises, but they were all she could give. She hung up the phone, and looked around the garage.
    Ten years ago—heck, even just five—she never would have believed she’d be here. This kind of scene had been James’ territory; he’d been the mechanic in the family, the daredevil, the adventurous one. Dani had been the good girl, the one who did what was expected, the one who’d hung on her brother’s every word when he recounted his adventures. She wondered again what he would think of her now.
    He’d probably want to give me a high-five. That thought of her brother made her smile.
    Sighing, Dani took a step