Page 47 of The Daddy’s Girl

Matis chuckles, opening his mouth to answer her request. But then his eyes find me, and I see the moment he notices my behavior.

His hand returns to my back, slightly distracted as he rubs small circles at the top of my spine.

“Sorry, what did you ask?” he says to Olivia.

She laughs and glances down at her drink. “Never mind.”

From the moment we met up with Jacob and Olivia, I’ve watched Matis for signs that Weston’s suspicions were true, but so far, he’s seemed the perfect gentleman focused only on Olivia. And I’ve tried. I really have tried to feel as if I’m on a date with Jacob, but I can’t seem to commit to it in my head. My thoughts are scattered in too many directions at once.

I’m focused on Matis’s tone and eyes. The noise in the bar. The way my skirt’s tag is itching my lower back. The heavy interest in Jacob’s gaze.

“Will you excuse me?” I ask, trying in vain to tuck my hair behind my ear again, only for it to fall back to its place framing my face.

Jacob nods, looking as overwhelmed as I feel. Then I jump up from my seat and scurry toward the bathroom. Normally, I’d head to the door, but I’m trying to toughen up. Putting myself through more than I have to…more than I’m capable of, which only irritates me more.

Inside the sleek and modern bathroom with gold-framed mirrors and silver-plated floor tiles, I splash water on my face, avoiding the mascara around my eyes. With cold hands, I hold my cheeks and try to settle my nerves.

This was a mistake. It’s too much.

Then the door of the bathroom opens, and Olivia walks in. To my surprise, her expression is genuine and concerned.

“Hey, you okay?” she asks in a motherly tone as she crowds me, placing her hands on my arms.

I nod, lying as the walls continue to close in. The music plays loudly in the bar, echoing in the bathroom like it’s pounding on the walls and trying to get in.

“I’m sorry for talking so much,” she says with a chuckle. Moving to the mirror, she fusses with her hair and cleans up the lines of her lipstick with her finger. “I do that when I get nervous. Your friend is so nice, and so are you.”

Forcing a tight grin, I try to appear casual and forgiving. “You’re not talking too much. You and your brother are really nice too.”

“He really likes you,” she says with a smirk like she’s telling me something she’s not supposed to.

“I like him too.” Which is true. Jacob is perfectly normal and nice and adequate for me. Exactly the guy I should be dating. He’d be the perfect boyfriend to get me over my life-stunting crush.

“You guys should dance or something. Get some time alone to just talk. So I can’t steal the show with my awkwardness anymore.”

When she laughs, it’s infectious enough to make me smile earnestly. Maybe she’s right. This night isn’t a total wash. I should get some time alone with Jacob. I’m fairly certain that if he kisses me tonight, it might be enough to distract me from Matis and this sensory overload.

“Yeah, you’re right. We should.”

“Yay,” she squeals, clapping her hands together with too much enthusiasm. I’m taking this as a sign that she’s a little drunk.

Then she wraps a hand around my shoulder and walks me back out the door of the bathroom like we’re suddenly old friends. I’m really trying my best here to like her, but for some reason, she’s making it difficult.

I’ve almost completely given up on Weston’s ideas about Matis. It feels more obvious to me now that I’m just his goddaughter.

When we reach the table, Matis is clearly carrying the conversation with vigor. Jacob’s face lights up when he sees me, but Matis does the opposite. His brows furrow and he watches me with focused concern.

“I was just telling Amelia that you two should go dance or get some time alone. Matis and I are totally hogging the conversation anyway. This way, you two could get to know each other,” Olivia says.

Jacob bursts out of his seat. “Sure!”

When he puts out his hand, I slide mine in it, palm to palm. Then I let him lead me out to the dance floor of the club. It’s nothing like our dance floor in Legacy, of course. But there is a small sitting area around it that we head to first.

“Maybe we can just talk alone for a second first,” he says in my ear, and I answer him with an acquiescent nod.

The strobe lights overhead are frazzling my brain a little, but I power through and try to focus only on Jacob. We find an empty tall table to stand around together. And he wastes no time to get a word in.

“You look so beautiful tonight.”