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“What? It’s a legitimate question.” He dramatically threw up his hands, and I chuckled.
“No. Not a soul hiding in the closet or under the bed.” I smirked. Then I motioned him in so I could close the door. “But I might have a hot date with Mr. Hanes.”
He chuckled. “He still invites you to watch those game shows?”
“He does.”
“Should I be worried? He’s never tried anything weird?” Protective Dad was coming out.
I chuckled. “No, Dad. Absolutely not. He’s a perfect gentleman, as always. He said I remind him of his granddaughter.”
“You can never be too careful these days,” he said defensively, and I snorted a laugh.
“He’s perfectly harmless. I promise. Besides, you’ve met him, and you’re probably the best judge of character I’ve ever met.”
His hazel eyes held mine, and I knew we were both thinking about Darren. He’d tried to warn me about him, but I was “so in love” that I refused to listen. I had to find out the hard way.
“I’m only in town for a few hours before I have to catch my plane to London. I thought we could have an early dinner,” he explained. “If you have time.”
Knowing my dad could’ve flown directly out of Houston, it was obvious he’d intentionally flown here first to see me. I glanced at my laptop and my open books. The teeniest scrap of guilt nipped at my heels, but I kicked that shit away. “Of course! I obviously need to change, though.”
My dad gave me his crooked smile. “Luna, I don’t care if we go eat at Whataburger. I just want to spend some time with my little girl.”
“Phbt! You’re gonna eat Whataburger in a five-thousand-dollar suit?” I held my stomach and chortled.
He glanced down and straightened his custom jacket with a frown. “I think this one was only about three.”
My deadpan stare locked on him as my hands dropped to my side. “Dad.”
“What?” He looked up at me with honest-to-goodness confusion.
“Let’s go to the little Italian place you like.” We’d stumbled upon the family-owned restaurant that was the best I’d ever had in the US. It was like being back in Italy, where my dad had taken me for my eighteenth birthday. He would still be overdressed, but it was a cozier environment where no one would really look twice.
“Sounds good,” he agreed.
I hurried into my room and pulled on a pair of black leggings and a long red sweater that I paired with matching booties. After running a brush through my hair, I swiped a bit of lip gloss on and grabbed my purse.
“Ready!” I announced as I went back into the room.
My father was talking quietly on the phone and quickly ended the call as I approached. His expression looked… guilty. A smile curved his lips, but it seemed forced. “That was quick.”
Brushing it off as my imagination, I nodded. “Lead the way.”
We took the elevator down to the lobby. Then we went out into the cool evening and into the car he had waiting. The restaurant was in downtown Austin, not too far from my apartment.
My one-bedroom apartment in The Catherine was actually leased in my father’s company’s name, but it was mine until I graduated in May. I was eternally grateful for my father’s generosity because I could’ve never afforded it on my own. And the thought of living in the dorms and having someone find out my father was the richest man in Houston held no appeal whatsoever.
“School’s going okay? Are you ready for your exams?” he asked as we traveled.
“Yes, Dad. My grades are all good enough that I could probably fail all my tests and be fine.” That earned me a sharp glare that had me snickering. “Kidding. I would never fail my exams. I’ve been studying. I promise.”
“And are you sure you’re going to be okay with me being gone over Thanksgiving?” he asked. “If I could’ve scheduled this trip at any other time, I would’ve, but it was the only time all the board members would be available to discuss this merger.”
“It’s okay, I promise. My friend and I will probably have a little get together.” Since my mom died my senior year of high school, Dad and I had made sure to spend every major holiday together.
Because we never knew if it would be our last.
No way would I lie and say that I didn’t get some anxiety about him traveling around a holiday. Which was why I chose to keep my mouth shut and not acknowledge that fact.
