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A few minutes later, Ali saw a similar baby doll. The best part was, it came in white. She held it up to Cassie. “What about this one?”
“Oh, that’s pretty.” Cassie looked over at Ali with a sheepish look on her face. “I think Jesse would like me in this one.”
Ali was thinking if Jesse was anything like Daniel and the other men she knew at the club, he’d like it a lot. Unlike the first baby doll Cassie found, this one had lace cups and a hook in the front. “I’m sure he would like you in anything.” She paused and then added, “Or nothing at all.”
“True.” Cassie giggled. “Nothing I wear to bed stays on very long.”
It was then Ali noticed Cassie’s bracelet. It was a silver band with a heart, but inside the heart was a keyhole. “That’s a unique bracelet.”
Cassie blushed. “Thanks. Jesse gave it to me.”
“May I?” Ali asked, motioning toward the bracelet.
Lifting her arm, Cassie showed Ali the bracelet.
Trying not to be too obvious, she inspected the metal ring around Cassie’s wrist. There was no clasp, which meant it unhooked at the heart. She was willing to bet Jesse had the key.
Keeping in mind who she was talking to, Ali smiled and removed her hand. “Did you want to look for anything else while we’re here?”
They ended up spending another hour in the store. Cassie found three more outfits for her honeymoon, although these weren’t quite as sweet and innocent-looking as the first.
After loading their things in the back of the car, Ali headed toward the house.
“I hope Dad and Jesse haven’t killed each other while we were gone.”
Ali chuckled. “Are you worried?”
“Dad can be...”
When she didn’t go on, Ali chimed in, “Protective?”
“Yeah.” Cassie sighed. “And I love him for it, but Jesse’s good to me. He takes care of me.”
“Your dad wants the best for you. If that’s Jesse, then there’s nothing to worry about.”
“Speaking of Dad.” Cassie shifted in her seat again to look at Ali. “James said you and Dad met at a club.”
Ali nodded, not sure if she was going to like the direction the conversation was going. She and Daniel had discussed what they’d tell his children if they asked for more details on how they’d met. They’d both agreed to be as honest as possible without violating the privacy of the club or its members. “That’s right.”
“Did he approach you, or did you approach him?”
This, she could answer. “I work one night a week at the club and we met while I was working the coat check.”
“Oooo. That sounds fancy. What kind of club is it?” She paused. “I mean, James made it sound like a dance club, but that doesn’t sound like a place Dad would go. And most dance clubs don’t have a coat check.”
Ali was counting down the minutes until they reached the house. “It’s a private club.”
Cassie scrunched her nose up. “Like a stuffy cigar club or something?”
Instead of answering, Ali laughed.
Luckily, Cassie changed the subject. “He seems happy. It's been a long time since I’ve seen him smile so much.”
Ali glanced over at her, not sure what to say.
“It was hard on him when he and Mom split up. He’d try to put on a good face when we came to visit, but I knew he was lonely.” She sighed. “I know Bradley was worried about you being too young for him, but I just want him to be happy.”
They pulled up to the gate and Ali put in her code. “He makes me happy, too.”
