“And now you’re here.” His eyes move from Hallie and back to me. “And you’re kissing my daughter on my front doorstep.”
“Dad!” Hallie scoffs, pressing a hand to her forehead. “You weren’t meant to see that until I’d had a chance to talk to you.”
“Well, I did see,” he grumbles.
Garth’s eyes remain fixed on me as Hallie speaks. As much as I’m ready to jump in and aid her, she doesn’t need me to. She wanted to be the one to tell them. I’m only here to support her.
“Yes, Sterling was my client. And neither of us expected this. But it happened and here we are.”
“Here we are,” Julie says, her brow furrowing. “Forgive me, but, how old are you?”
“I’m fifty, Mrs. Burton.”
Garth snorts, and Julie jabs her elbow into his thigh.
“How well does your business do?” he asks, setting a penetrating look on me like a spotlight in an interrogation room.
“It does well.”
“My daughter is a very successful woman. She was employed by a royal family only last year.”
His gaze drops over my suit again, and he narrows his eyes at my Italian handmade shoes.
“I’m aware. She’s an incredible businesswoman, and I can see you’re very proud of her.”
“Dad,” Hallie interjects. “Sterling has his own money. He’s not interested in mine.”
“That true?” Garth hitches a brow, his gaze suspicious.
“It is,” I reply simply.
“What are we talking?”
“Dad!” Hallie says, exasperated, as Julie knocks his thigh again.
“My businesses do well, Mr. Burton. My interest in your daughter is not for financial gain, I can assure you.”
Her father snorts. “Your idea of well and mine might differ.”
“Dad, please.” Hallie sighs. “I appreciate your concern, but?—”
“I’m your father, I have to protect?—”
“Sterling ranks twenty-first on Forbes’s rich list. He’s a billionaire. We flew here on a private jet,” Hallie announces.
I wince internally at how pompous that makes me sound, but I keep my eyes on her father’s. He’s looking out for his daughter, and I commend him for it. I’d do the exact same thing with Sinclair if she were to meet someone.
Garth nods. “Number twenty-one, huh?”
“I got pushed out of the top twenty by the family who owns Walmart.”
“More people need affordable food than they do diamond jewelry,” Garth clips.
“I agree. The carats we sell don’t really bake so well.”
A tiny hint of a chuckle graces Garth’s throat before he clears it and rearranges his expression back to a serious one.
“And you have a daughter?” Julie asks.
