“Will do. Thanks for checking on me. And the flowers.”
“I’d buy out the whole shop for you if you wanted that.”
She rolled her eyes, smiling indulgently. “Off you go, you ridiculous man.”
I blew her a kiss and headed out.
That evening, I sat with the girls on the couch, waiting for Lila to come down.
“You look good,” Mia said to me. “I like the vibe.”
“What vibe is this?” I glanced down at my cotton trousers paired with a linen blazer over a cream colored button down.
“Kind of beach old school. You look great.”
“You’re very handsome, Papa,” Margot said.
We all turned as Lila walked down the stairs. She wore a little black dress, sleeveless and fitted, showing off her strong, sculpted arms and legs. Her black pumps gave her petite frame some height, and her hair was swept into a classic chignon that made her cheekbones stand out. She looked timeless, elegant, breathtaking.
My pulse kicked up a notch.
“Mom, you look like a movie star,” Mia said.
“The most beautiful movie star in the world,” Margot echoed.
Her eyes met mine briefly, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. “Thank you, girls. That’s very sweet.”
Mia grinned like a kid at Christmas. “Told you, Mom.”
“Don’t be a show-off,” Lila said, with an indulgent glance in her daughter’s direction, then turning to me, “She picked out the dress.”
“You did very well,” I said, winking at Mia.
“Delphine just got here,” Lila said. “Looks like she has pizzas.”
“Yay,” Margot said.
“Lock the doors tonight,” I said. “And keep the shades down.”
They agreed just as Delphine and Annie knocked on the door.
“Have fun, guys,” Mia called. “We won’t wait up.”
We were seated in a candlelit corner booth at the Tidewater Grill. The low lighting flickered against the polished wood and crisp white linens. A string quartet played softly near thebar, and the ocean breeze drifted through the open windows, bringing its briny scent.
I ordered oysters and a bottle of white wine while Lila settled into the plush leather seat across from me.
We’d just ordered our entrees when I saw Kenzie and Beau. I cursed under my breath.
“What is it?” Lila asked.
“Look who’s here.”
“Oh no,” Lila whispered.
What were they up to? Had we said where we were going tonight? Yes, we had. And now here they were, breezing through the entrance like a pair of high-rollers. Beau had traded his tool belt for a designer Henley and too-tight jeans. Kenzie wore a slinky halter dress and heels that looked engineered for maximum attention.
Beau’s eyes locked on Lila like a missile.
