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“No,” she immediately tells me. “He may be the King of Bad, but he’s a guy who looks like he’s falling for you, too.”
“Really?”
“Totally.”
* * *
Getting to the restaurant, I find Maddox already seated, and the host takes me to our table. There are a couple of glasses of water at the table, and as I take my seat, I look up at the host.
“Oh, can we get one more chair, please?”
He nods and hurries away to get one.
Maddox smirks. “Are we getting a third wheel tonight? Or a new double date you’re surprising me with?”
I try to match his humor, but I have to shake my head. With a slight frown, I let out a small sigh. “No, sorry. Um … my father is joining us?”
“Seriously?”
“He called me an hour ago and said he wanted to apologize.”
“He did,” Maddox says, but it’s not really a question. There’s more apprehension to his voice.
“I told him we were going out tonight and that maybe we could meet up for lunch or something tomorrow, but he insisted on meeting with us tonight. I’m sorry. He seemed really interested in offering an apology.”
I fight off the apprehension because as awkward as it will be to have my father with us on this date, I am touched that he’s putting forth this effort. I’ve gone out with guys, and he’s never taken an interest in them. Granted, he’s incredibly busy, but my words must’ve gotten through to him at the pool party.
Maddox seems more hesitant than I expected him to be. I know there’s that whole Daddy’s little girl and the boyfriend thing that I’m sure other guys deal with, but Maddox seems more than affected than that. He takes a drink of his glass of water, and scans the small restaurant, seeming to look around in nervousness.
“Maddox, it’s gonna be okay.” I reach over the table, taking his hand. “I know you guys probably won’t be best friends or anything like that. Can you imagine my father at one of your concerts?” A giggle floats out, but he doesn’t react the same. “I really want him to know we’re …” Glancing down at the table, I gather the courage to say what I was feeling and thinking during my talk with Stephanie. “I mean, we’re serious, right?”
My words seem to break through his apprehension. Taking my hand, he gives it a squeeze. “Of course. And I’m not nervous about this, it’s just …” Pausing, he pulls his hand back and examines the table between us. The white tablecloth, the lone peony flower in a crystal vase, and the set of silverware. He scans them all, apparently searching for words. “Cece, I think there’s something—”
“Ah, good evening, you two,” my father says, breaking up whatever Maddox’s thought was. “Sorry I’m late.”
Standing up from the table, I lean over and give him a hug and kiss on the cheek. “Hi, Daddy.”
Maddox gets to his feet, and my father extends his hand toward him. “Mr. Barkley.”
Before taking his hand, Maddox eyes it carefully. Then his gaze floats back up, meeting my father’s eye line. “Yeah,” he says, but it sounds funny. He almost elongates the word. I quirk an eyebrow, smirking at the peculiar exchange.
“Please, let’s sit.” My father motions to the table. Maddox lingers on his feet, still watching my father with suspicion. I know Daddy was completely rude to him at the meeting and hardly said anything to him at Sebastian’s party, but I don’t understand why he’s so on guard.
“Maddox?” I whisper to him. He looks over at me, then nods as if he finally realizes what he’s doing.
A waiter comes over to the table, standing between my father and me. “Would you like to start off your visit tonight with—”
“Actually, the filet mignon with the brandy peppercorn sauce on the side would be perfect,” Daddy says, looking over at us. “If you two don’t mind?”
I nod in agreement, but Maddox lifts his shoulders, still staring at my father in what I can only describe as distrust. When the waiter leaves the table, my father takes a drink of his water. “Maddox … Can I call you Maddox? I understand you’re in a band, is that correct?”
Maddox’s eyes dart over toward me. I know they aren’t going to suddenly find much in common with one another, but I’m happy my father’s making this effort. Maddox, on the other hand, almost rolls his eyes.
“Yes,” he replies in the same tone and demeanor that he had earlier. Only this time, there’s a small smirk.
“The Kings of Karmichael have had some of the biggest hits the last couple of years, Daddy,” I offer the brag, grinning at Maddox. “They’re terrific and have fans all over the world.”
Maddox’s mood seems to shift finally, and he gives me a small smile.
