Total pages in book: 58
Estimated words: 54055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 54055 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 270(@200wpm)___ 216(@250wpm)___ 180(@300wpm)
“Lucy knows when dinner is, and if she wanted to join us, she would.”
Lena pouted. “Not after you yelled at her. Again.” My adorable little girl glared at me like I was the enemy. “Daddy,” she whined.
“Okay, okay. If that’s what you want, then I’ll go up and invite her to dinner.” Because apparently we issue formal invitations to employees now.
“I do. Thank you, Daddy.”
I resisted the urge to roll my eyes before I turned away and then turned back. “No more cookies until after dinner.” I pointed a finger at Lena’s smiling face.
“I promise.”
“Okay.” I inhaled deeply and released it slowly as I climbed the stairs towards the nanny suite. I didn’t want to do it, but I promised Lena so I raised my fist and knocked hard on the door. I leaned in close and listened, but there was no noise on the other side of the door so I knocked again.
Again there was no answer.
“Lucy,” I growled and knocked a third time, even harder than the first two times.
Nearly a full minute—because I stared at my watch—passed before the door opened and Lucy appeared. “Yes, Mr. Rush, what can I do for you?” She wore a completely innocent expression as if she hadn’t heard me knocking. The suite was nice and large, but it wasn’t that damn big.
“I wanted to see if you wanted to have dinner with me and with Lena.” The words were pushed out through clenched teeth, and though I knew it wouldn’t win me any awards, I tried for a smile.
Lucy’s eyes widened with alarm and she took a step back. “Was that a smile?”
“Yes.”
She tossed her head back and laughed. The sound was deep, lyrical and beautiful, and I wanted it to last forever. “It’s good to know you have a few flaws.”
I blinked at her words. “I have flaws.”
She laughed again. “It’s even better than you know that you have flaws.”
How in the hell did this turn back to me? “I’m well aware of my shortcomings, thank you. Will you or won’t you have dinner with us?”
“I mean, who could possibly turn down such a charming invite?” She shook her head, a smile still on her face. “It’s almost as if you don’t really want me to attend dinner.”
“I asked, didn’t I?”
She shrugged. “People ask all kinds of things they don’t really want answers for. Like how’s it going, when you don’t really give a damn. Or asking about people’s kids when you don’t want to know about their latest lost tooth or potty training escapade.”
“What the hell is your point?”
“That you don’t actually want me at dinner but you’re here asking because you’re a good father and you want to make Lena happy.”
I blinked in confusion. “You think I’m a good dad?”
Lucy shrugged. “I think you love your kid a lot, and you show up for her, and that’s more than half the battle. You could stand to be a bit more present, but parents without your high powered careers have the same problem.”
“Is that so?”
She blinked and then patted my chest. “I already said you’re a good father, Dante. You want me to write it on a post-it note for you?”
“That would be great, actually.”
My words stunned her for several long seconds and then another laugh spilled out of her. “Funny.”
My scowl darkened and she laughed even harder. “Is that a yes to dinner?”
Her expression changed, her smile faded and the laughter in her blue eyes turned serious. “I’m sorry, but I’m going to have to decline your dinner invitation tonight.”
“Why?”
She arched a brow. “You really need to work on your tone, Mr. Rush.”
“I would like an answer.”
She rolled her blue eyes as her mouth tugged into a wide grin. “The answer is no, and the why is because I clearly ruined my appetite by eating one whole cooking before dinner.”
I stared at her, and her impish smile didn’t wither or wilt, instead Lucy stood a little taller, her shoulders squared and her spine straight, ready to take me on if I wanted to fight. “You’re a pain in the ass.”
She stepped in close, smelling like sugar and vanilla and something I was afraid was uniquely Lucy, and whispered in my ear. “Takes one to know one.” Then she erupted in a fit of giggles worthy of any adolescent slumber party.
Her mouth curved up into an exaggerated smile, the corners swung up to sharp points and her toothy smile was fucking gorgeous. My fingers itched to reach out and sift her hair through my fingers, run my palms down her spine, cup her ass and pull her flush up against me again. I wanted my mouth on hers once more too.
Lucy looked up at me and must have read something in my expression, because her laughter stopped abruptly. She pointed at me and took a step back. “Go away. Don’t take even one more step forward.” Her blue eyes widened almost comically and I couldn’t help but laugh.