“Thanks, but I gotta get goin’. Got a doctor’s appointment in a bit.”
Charli’s eyes widened as she grabbed his hand. “Daddy, is everything okay?”
“Everything’s fine, baby girl.” He smiled. “Just a routine check-up.”
She heaved a sigh and sank back against the counter at her back. “Thank goodness, you scared me.”
“Nothin’ to worry about.” He hauled himself off the stool. “I guess if I’m tellin’ you to quit worryin’ about me, I’ll have to learn to take my own advice someday, huh?” He put his arm around her neck when she rounded the corner to walk him to the door. “Let you do your own thing, like your own life…” He shot me a look. “Find your own boyfriends.”
She laughed, patting his round stomach. “The day you stop passing judgement on my boyfriends is the day I’ll check for a pulse.”
He laughed, reaching for the door handle. “Dade,” he said, raising his hand. “Good talk.”
“Yeah, see ya around, Chee.”
Chapter 7
Charli
Iwas still trying to process what I’d just witnessed. Was Daddy actually being civil to Dade or were my eyes playing tricks on me? They must be. Because Daddy hated my new boss. Like hated him with a passion.
“What was that about?” I asked, hooking my thumb over my shoulder after I’d closed the door.
He shrugged. “We talked. I can’t say I’m his favorite person, but at least he didn’t take a swing at me.” He smiled. “I guess that’s a good thing.”
“I’m sorry about my family,” I said, skirting around the island so I wouldn’t have to brush past him. Even in sweats, with bedhead, he was hard to resist. “They still treat me…”
“Like the baby of the family.” He popped a pod in the coffee maker before setting a mug in and pushing the button. “I can relate.”
“You’re the youngest too?” I asked, reaching into an overhead cabinet for plates. Weird, I’d been in his house less than twenty-four hours and already had the lay of the land.
“Yeah, an older brother and sister.” He made a second cup of coffee, before adding, “But my sister’s twelve years older than me so it’s almost like having a second mother, which believe me, I do not need. One is enough.”
I giggled, nodding in agreement. “I hear ya. Can you imagine two Aidy’s running around this world?” I shuddered dramatically. “Let’s hope they never clone Mama.”
He laughed as he brought the mugs to the table before returning for the cream and sugar.
“I’m just gonna pop this in the oven to warm it up,” I said. “I pre-heated the oven earlier, cause I wasn’t sure when you’d be down.” I popped four slices of bread into the toaster and retrieved the butter from the fridge while he set the table.
It was weird, working together, like a real couple, as if this was our home.
“Um, I hope you don’t mind me making myself at home like this,” I said, grimacing. “I tend to be like Mama that way, stomping all over boundaries.”
He was leaning against the island, watching me, when he said, “No worries, I like having you here, Charli. This is… nice.”
I hoped he still felt that way after a month ‘cause this just might be the sweetest gig I’d ever had. His home and grounds were stunning and I had no doubt the guest house would be just as nice.
“Thanks.” I stacked the toast on a plate and set it on the table before he snagged my wrist as I walked past him.
His eyes scanned my face, landing on my lips. I could have sworn he was gonna kiss me until he blurted, “Compensation. We, uh, didn’t talk about that last night.”
I hadn’t even considered that. But something told me Dade would be generous. “Um, right. Well, what do you think is fair, since you’re providing a place for me to stay?” I slipped out of his grasp and put an oven mitt on before taking the food out of the oven and setting it on a coiled placemat I’d left on the table.
He pulled my chair out, quietly instructing me to, “Have a seat.”
“So, does 1k a week sound fair?” he asked, reaching for the sugar and adding a teaspoon to his coffee. “And I have a small Cadillac that I keep here for my parents when they come to visit. I’d rather you drive that, if you don’t mind. Paps probably already have your license plate. Maybe ask your dad to put your car in the garage? Or leave it in the garage here, or at your sister’s place?”
He’d obviously gone to great lengths considering my safety, and I appreciated it, but I didn’t want to live in a bubble. Eventually I’d have to return to real life. Which for me meant an old Honda and a shoebox apartment. Not a huge estate and a Cadillac.
