Total pages in book: 161
Estimated words: 154882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 154882 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 774(@200wpm)___ 620(@250wpm)___ 516(@300wpm)
“It’s not that I think you’re bad people,” I heard myself say. “I can’t after Sunny told me all you’re doing to stop Luca and free the women under his hold. I just... I can’t get my life back if I’ve got a criminal record.”
“I understand.”
Funnily enough, I knew he did. We lapsed into a silence that was almost companionable for the rest of the ride. Well, almost silent. Elizabeth kept up a steady string of commentary for the entire trip.
La Belle’s rose from the end of the street. The ladies gifted me the most expensive gown to grace my skin, and I was still underdressed. Socialites, models, and trust-fund royalty poured out from the line of cars, each taking their turn at the valet. Liam rolled past it and parked the car himself.
Flicking to the rearview and the happy, excitable girl in the back seat, I forgave him his caution. A single father protecting his little girl. No wonder he was suspicious, and he wasn’t always nice about it.
Liam came around to open my car door. Elizabeth got there first. Her long ponytail brushed my wrist as she squeezed my hand, tugging me out. “We can be friends too,” she said.
“I’d like that.”
She peered around me. “Daddy doesn’t like it, but call me Tricky,” she whispered. “It’s a much better name than Elizabeth.”
“Tricky it is.”
“Do you have a nickname?”
“Everyone calls me Kenzie. It’s short for Mackenzie. Not as fun as a name like Tricky.”
“You can have a fun nickname too. How about... Angel?”
I blinked down at her, catching her mischievous grin clear as day.
Oh yeah, Tricky is the right name for you, Sunny’s niece.
“How old are you?” she asked.
“Twenty-three.” We stepped onto the velvet carpet. Heavenly smells wafted from the open doors, beckoning us inside.
“Is twenty-three too far from thirty-five?”
“Uhh. What do you mean?”
“Sienna said she can’t be my daddy’s girlfriend because twenty is too far from thirty-five.”
My eyes bugged. When did they have that conversation?
“But if you’re twenty-three, then—”
Liam scooped her up, dangling his squealing daughter off his shoulder. “You demanded to have dinner with me, and now you’re talking to everyone but me. Did I do something to upset you?”
“No,” she said, giggling. Tricky twisted up and smooched his cheek. “I love you, Daddy.”
I love you too, Daddy, I thought, for saving me from explaining age gaps to a six-year-old girl.
“You couldn’t have told her twenty-three is too young too?” I asked Sienna out of the corner of my mouth.
“I could, but you don’t really think so. You’ve been eye-boning that guy since you met.”
I strode away, leaving her laughing in my wake.
“—Hunt,” Liam told the hostess. “Private table, like we discussed.”
“Right this way, sir, mesdames.”
La Belle’s was elegance distilled in a bottle, then sprayed all over this place. Frescos depicted rolling countrysides and the lovers who made it their playground. A web of chandeliers connected to each other, weaving along the ceiling and lighting our way.
The host guided us to a table at the very back, concealed by two pillars and a half-wall. It cloaked us in privacy while letting the soft murmur of the diners wash over us. Liam tucked himself and Tricky on one side of the booth. My sister and I claimed the other. Leaning over the menus saved us another few minutes of forcing small talk.
I was glad Tricky screamed and fainted her way into an invitation. If I was lucky, she’d do all the talking and I wouldn’t have to think of something to say to this insightful, enigmatic man who lifted the veil into my life, saw the truth, and instead of judging me, called me the strongest person he knew. How could he see that in me... when I didn’t see it in myself?
“Oooh. Black truffle risotto sounds good.”
I had a heart attack reading the price tag. “How about two ice cubes and a lettuce leaf? There are two zeros behind that number, Si.”
“Please,” Liam sliced in. “Order anything you like. It’s my treat.”
Sienna handed over the menu, her meal decided. I stared at the list of delicious creations, struggling with the sense instilled in me after months on the streets. Beware of men with large watches and even larger wallets. They were trying to lure the homeless waif back to their place to do things their wives wouldn’t approve of.
Well, Liam isn’t married and he’s already gotten me to his place.
The waiter arrived with a bottle of wine for the table. You had to be a repeat, valued customer for the staff to have your preferences on hand.
“What can I get you?”
“Caesar salad, please,” I said, “and water with lemon.”
“Along with the grilled lamb chops and mint sauce,” Liam added. “For me as well.”
Sienna and Tricky gave their orders. He bowed, promising to return soon with our drinks.
“You know, women don’t actually like it when guys order for them.”