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Her lips pulled into a crooked smile as she sat bad, admiration burning through her golden gaze. “And her Royal Highness really save y’all?”
I couldn’t help the small laugh that popped out at the memory. “She was one of the first women in the country to join the military so she was more than handy with a gun, but what no one knew that was that Queen Hashmi was also a skilled martial artists. A very impressive woman over all.”
Lacey let out a wistful sigh that gave me more insight into her as a woman and a journalist. “And you’re really going to be satisfied here writing up wedding announcement and gossip?”
I nodded. It was a question to be expected after the exciting life I’d led.
“Writing stories about high school sports and college prospects? Community events?”
“Don’t forget the write-ups for The Olde Country House.” Sure, it wasn’t how I pictured the tail end of my career but I also hadn’t imagined a world when I would be so estranged from my daughter. “Plans change, besides it’s not about the gravity of the story you tell, it’s about how you tell it.” I took another bite of the burger, healthy and juicy, and figured out to make her understand. “Michelle needed help with Mickey so she could finish medical school and she called me, which is a miracle on its own. I wasn’t around for her a lot, not even when I was around and she still turned out great. This is a huge accomplishment for her and I want to do everything I can to make sure she achieves her dreams.”
She flashed a genuine smile, the first one aimed at me in the month since I relocated to Carson Creek. It was a beautiful smile, stunning really because Lacey wasn’t classically beautiful. Thick blond hair hung casually around her shoulders, almond shaped blue eyes gave her a slightly exotic look against her girl next door beauty. But her bombshell curves pulled the whole package together perfectly. Too bad she hates me. Maybe she did hate me, but the smile was preferable to the scowl she’d reserved for me. “You’re a good father, Levi.”
I let out a loud bark of laughter. “Does that mean you like me now?”
She stiffened at my question. “I don’t dislike you Levi. I don’t know where you got that from.”
“Okay so it’s not dislike but it is resentment.”
Lacey let out a frustrated sigh and I wondered if this would be another question in my life I would live to regret. “I don’t dislike you or resent you, Levi. I think you’re a very talented writer and journalist, what I resent is that you were hired without my knowledge or consent or even my input. That’s all.”
That was news to me. “GG said you were too much of a fan to be objective during the interview.”
“He did not,” she shot back without any eat and a swift eyeroll. “Of course that’s what he said to soothe his own conscience.”
“SO you’re not a fan?”
That question earned me another smile. “Of course I am. You tell wonderful stories in a thought-provoking way. But that’s not the only consideration.”
“I get it, I really do. It’s just that I would rather us be friends and allies, not enemies and not people who simply just tolerate each other.”
Lacey nodded. “That sounds nice, and I am truly sorry if I made you feel disliked or resented, Levi. That wasn’t my intention.”
My arm stretched across the table. “Apology accepted.” A zing of something snaked from her hand to mine and I pulled back, shocked at exactly what that was. Attraction. “To new friends.”
“I like the sound of that,” she said in that adorable southern twang.
One of the many alarms set on my phone rang, a reminder that I had things in my life other than work these days. “Time to get Mickey from daycare.”
“Thanks for the company Levi.”
“My pleasure,” I told her sincerely and slid from the booth, paying both bills before I left and made my way to the ranch house that held the town’s daycare facility.
It took just a few minutes before the brick building with pink siding and roof came into view. At first glance the place looked like it belonged to some eccentric woman with a flair for drama, but as I drew closer and closer, the sounds of children’s laughter and squeals grew louder. After a quick sign-in at the front desk, I made my way down a narrow hall that made me feel like a giant and turned into the room meant that held the four to six year old kids.
“Hey Grandpa, over here!”
I scanned the room until I spotted my grandson who jumped up and down excitedly as if this bundle of energy could be ignored. His green eyes sparkled with the kind of happiness only small children could possess. The room was so small I crossed it three strides. “Hey kiddo, did you have a good day at school?”
