Page 51 of The Daddy’s Girl

And just like that, our double date comes to an end. The four of us split off, and Matis and I are left alone in front of the club, watching the other two walk away.

Rule #14: Take the long way home.

Matis

The moment the siblings are out of sight, the smile fades from my face and my concern for Amelia returns. Looking at her now, she seems mostly calm and settled. I know that being outside helps. I’ve seen her have these fits before. I know from experience that cool air and space do the trick to bring her back down.

“Are you sure you’re okay?” I place my hands softly on her arms, and she doesn’t flinch or pull away.

“I’m fine,” she says, wiping her bangs from her forehead. At the start of our evening, her hair was perfectly straight and flawless, but after time on the dance floor and in that crowd, it’s now tousled and dried in messy waves.

“Something is wrong, Trouble,” I say. It’s mostly the way she won’t look into my eyes. She’s lost in her mind, dwelling on something she doesn’t need to.

With a sigh, she finally meets my gaze. “It’s just…I wasn’t ready for the night to be over. I feel like I’ve ruined it.”

My heart aches for her. Carrying so much burden. Worrying all the time with everything on her shoulders.

Let me carry it.

Holding my arms out, I look up at the cloudless night sky. “It’s early, Trouble. The night is still young. You didn’t ruin anything.”

She chuckles and glances down at the cobblestones. “Our dates are gone.”

“Who needs dates? Let’s take the long way home. I’ll show you my Paris. We’ll make this night last forever.” Putting my arm out for her, I look at her with soft hope.

Reluctantly, she seems to surrender with a smile. “Okay.” Then she loops her arm through mine and nestles into my side.

It’s half past eleven when we start our walk home. In any other city, a midnight walk would probably be strange or dangerous, but Paris is alive at night, especially in the summer. The sun doesn’t even set until almost ten, and people need time to live in the dark before going to sleep.

So when we start our trek from the 4th arrondissement, the streets are still bustling. Right away, our pace is leisurely. She wants to make tonight count, so that’s what I will do.

We stroll through the Latin Quarter, the sound of a busker playing in the distance, and I glance down at the woman on my arm. I cannot get the vision of her with that boy out of my head. He’s not right for her, and she seems to think he is. I’m supposed to be helping her find a good man, and I can’t bring myself to do it.

I am her perfect man.

But that is ridiculous. It can’t be me. I’m a deviant for even thinking such a thing.

So I have to get these thoughts out of my head—for good.

“Can I ask you something?” I murmur as I squeeze her arm gently.

She glances up at me with those doe eyes. “Of course.”

“What do you really want to do with your life? Is your dream truly to work at the club?”

Her eyes linger on my face, her expression flickering before she looks straight ahead. I’ve struck a nerve.

“I’m blessed to have my portion of the club.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

She glances back up at me, hesitation on her lips before she replies. “Is it bad if I say no?”

“Not at all. Why would it be bad?”

She releases her arm from mine, putting space between us so she can angle her body toward me. We halt our walk, the Notre-Dame de Paris hovering in the skyline behind her as she gets a look of both frustration and exhilaration in her eyes.

“Because it makes me ungrateful.”