Cross My Heart by Carly Phillips Page A

just didn’t feel for anyone else. Not even Alex.
    With that thought, Lacey decided she’d had enough of being surrounded by Ty—his scent, his things, him. A short walk would help clear her head. She whistled for Digger who jumped off the couch where she’d perched her lazy body and within minutes, Lacey started for the door, the dog at her feet.
    A loud knock startled her and she glanced at the door warily. Ty used his key and Hunter usually called to let her know he was stopping by. She looked through the small peephole and sucked in a startled breath.
    â€œUncle Marc,” she said under her breath. She wasn’t prepared to handle him but she refused to run away, either. Those days had passed.
    Drawing a deep breath, she opened the door to face him.
    â€œLilly,” her uncle said, disbelief in his voice.
    She folded her arms over her chest and nodded. In the silence that followed, Lacey took in his appearance. He’d aged. His hair had turned a silver-gray at the temples and he had deeper lines and creases in his slimmer, drawn face.
    Digger sniffed at his feet, her nose digging beneath his pant leg.
    â€œWould you please get that dog away?” He stepped back to get away from her pet, but each time he moved, Digger went with him, nudging him and begging for attention.
    Uncle Marc’s aversion to Digger didn’t say much about the man’s character. Then again, she’d always known he didn’t have much.
    She could have initiated conversation but a perverse part of her didn’t want to make this easy on him. She paused deliberately, watching the man squirm.
    He glanced at her, his eyes pleading.
    Lacey sighed. “Digger, come.” When the mutt didn’t move, Lacey pulled her collar so the dog had no choice but to get behind her. To prevent her from sniffing and further attempting to make her uncle’s acquaintance, Lacey blocked Digger’s way with both her body and the partially open apartment door.
    â€œThank you, Lilly.”
    â€œI’m Lacey now,” she said to her uncle, feeling more powerful in her new life than she’d been in her old one.
    Confusion colored his expression. “Well, whatever name you go by, I’m amazed. I simply can’t believe it. I know Molly said you were alive, but…” He shook his head, his face pale. “I had to see for myself.”
    â€œI’m sorry to disappoint you, but it’s true. Here I am, alive and well.” She deliberately remained in the doorway, leaving him outside looking in.
    He lowered his head. “I can understand why you’d think I’m disappointed, but it isn’t true. I’m glad you’re fine and I want to hear everything about where you’ve been for all these years.”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter now.” She gripped the door frame tightly. Polite conversation wasn’t on her agenda.
    â€œI’d like to talk. Can I come in?” he asked.
    â€œOnly if you want Digger in your lap. She’s a people dog,” Lacey said.
    He shook his head, resigned. “Okay, we’ll talk this way.”
    Just as she’d expected, Lacey thought, doing her best not to grin. She had no desire to be alone with the man. She didn’t care if her feelings were unreasonable or a holdover from childhood. She wasn’t taking any chances.
    â€œI’ve made a lot of mistakes in the past.” He reached a hand toward her, then dropped it again. “But I want you to know, I don’t drink anymore. I’m not blaming how badly things went between us on liquor, but it didn’t help. I didn’t know anything about being the guardian of a teenager.”
    She narrowed her gaze. “Any idiot could figure out that abuse wasn’t the way to go. Especially since you only wanted my money—”
    â€œThat was your perception. I never said that specifically.”
    â€œMaybe not to my face.” She pursed her lips.