Page 11 of Playing With Forever

“Quinn, do you know Evan Sanders’s daughter, Lindy?” I asked.

“Oh my gosh, you’re Evan’s daughter.” Quinn beamed. “I’ve heard so much about you. You’re an artist, right?”

I ignored the prickle on the back of my neck. Evan was extremely close with Quinn’s brother Jason Walker, as was he with all of the men who worked at Triple Canopy, the company Quinn’s father and uncles started. How was it possible Quinn had never met Lindy? Actually, now that I thought about it, I’d been to a few barbecues hosted by TC, Evan had been there, but not Lindy. But Quinn knew she was an artist, so obviously, he wasn’t hiding the fact he had a child.

What in the world?

“Yeah, I paint.”

“Your dad is always bragging about how amazing your paintings are.”

Again, what in the world?

“He has to think they’re amazing, he’s my dad. Anyway, I could throw paint at a canvas, and my dad would brag.”

I had no doubt this was true. Evan very much loved his girl.

Quinn waved away Lindy’s self-deprecating comment.

“Don’t do that, girl. Sure, dads tell their kids they’re amazing no matter what, but if they didn’t truly believe it, they wouldn’t brag all over town about how talented their daughter is.”

If only Quinn were correct, there would be no need for the Hope Center. Unfortunately, there were plenty of children out there whose fathers didn’t tell them how amazing they were. The same went for children without mothers.

Lindy’s cheeks turned a pretty shade of pink when she smiled at Quinn.

“Since you’re busy, I’ll let you get back to it,” Lindy said. “But…um…”

I didn’t know Lindy, but from what I did know, the girl was not shy, so I didn’t understand why she was stumbling over her words now.

“Yes, lovely?”

“I was wondering if you’d like to come by the studio and see some of my paintings,” she rushed out.

The studio…

The studio in her father’s backyard.

The studio behind the house where I’d snuck out of her father’s bed.

Crap.

“That sounds lovely. But does your father know you’re here?”

She started to roll her lips inward but stopped herself.

“He won’t mind.”

He very much would.

“Please ask him. As long as he doesn’t mind, I would very much like to see your work.”

“Perfect. I’ll text you the address. If you’re not working tomorrow, I’ll be in my studio all day. I started that piece I told you about.”

I didn’t remind her she hadn’t spoken to her dad yet because I knew she hadn’t forgotten, she was simply choosing to ignore it. Which meant it would be up to me to call Evan and warn him his daughter invited me to his house.

And she’d be texting me with an address I didn’t need.

“Bye, Shiloh, it was great seeing you. Quinn, it was nice meeting you.”