Faux Vows, True Desires

Chapter 510

If it were any other night, Darlene would have made some excuse about

maintaining her figure and skipped out on a late-night snack with her sister. But tonight, she was throwing caution to the wind.

If she didn't join in, acting as the proverbial third wheel, who knew how long Belinda and Ike would keep at it over their midnight feast? Those two could whisper sweet nothings to each other until dawn if left to their own devices.

Darlene had plans for later, so she was determined to put up with being the third wheel just this once.

As expected, with Darlene there, Ike and Belinda's conversation stayed on business topics, though they occasionally exchanged meaningful glances that spoke volumes.

"Darlene, don't eat too much, or you'll be up half the night wandering around the yard," Belinda teased. She knew her sister well enough to know that a full stomach meant a restless night.

"Weren't you at dinner?" Belinda asked, surprised. It wasn't like Darlene to join her for late-night snacks.

"Oh, I ate," Darlene replied. "But eating alone just isn't the same, and I didn't eat much."

Belinda felt a pang of guilt. It had been ages since she'd been home to have dinner with her sister.

"Belinda, you shouldn't feel guilty. You're the rock of the Bishop family. Because of you, I have the peace and security I enjoy. We're both daughters of the Bishop family, but I can't help you as much as I'd like. I'm the one who should feel guilty."

Darlene knew her sister would start blaming herself, so she quickly offered some

reassurance.

suggested, "If you're ever feeling lonely at dinner, why not

take care of myself. When I'm bored, I just paint or hang out at

feeling reassured. She was glad her sister had friends like Lucinda and Cecilia, both of whom

so let's not hear any more

was a whiz at finding information, and her quick, accurate results

their late-night meal, Belinda checked the time and reluctantly nudged Ike. "It's

got to his feet, saying, "Alright, I'll head out. I'll come by

the door. "I'd rather you get

looking for a place closer to your home so I can see you more often," Ike insisted. "After all, I am

grinned, "Okay, then. Are you renting or

for now. When we decide to settle down, we'll choose something together. You can pick the style and

far from his sister's store, so he could keep an eye on things and lend a hand when needed. But now that his sister had moved back to Skywatch and had her own guardian

who he'd watched grow up, was now being cared for by someone else. Stefan, that sly fox, had swooped in and married her before Ike even knew

a spot for him in the groomsmen lineup ke had wanted to throttle Stefan. Accepting Stefan was one thing, but losing his sister to him without so much as a heads-up was another.

can find a good rental

"Sounds good."

beside it. Ike gently adjusted her blazer and cradled her face in his hands, his

warmly, "You

But couldn't you kiss me somewhere else?"

her arms around

she opened the car door

of coming