It had backfired royally. But it would have taken some of the sting out of knowing that it hadn’t been my father’s idea to disavow that he’d ever had an affair with my mother and that they’d created me.
“Yes, that was my idea. And I apologize to you for it, though it’s a little late.”
I studied him, the way he’d studied me so closely a moment ago.
The tiny swelling I’d had for a brief second thinking that my father—though he hadn’t stood up to this guy way back then, when he should have—hadn’t wanted to deny me sank as I realized the master manipulator I was dancing with was at it again.
“You’re lying,” I said. Before he could answer me, I continued, “You want me to believe that now so I’ll get all warm and fuzzy toward good ol’ Joe, but we both know it was his idea to deny the whole thing ever happened. Including me.Especiallyme. I’ll bet you even tried to talk him out of it at the time. Am I right?”
God, I desperately wanted to be wrong. How pathetic was that? Still hungry for crumbs of Daddy’s affection even after all these years of knowing I’d never have it.
But I knew I was right.
There was no pity in his eyes (thank God) when he answered me. “Yes.” He twirled me a little then—a showy move for someone who left the showy moves to others.
When we came to rest, he said, “You would make a great candidate someday, Jane. I only wish I’d still be in the game then.”
“Why? And more importantly, hell no.”
He smiled then, a real, genuine smile. It was kind of nice, in a dad sort of way. “Never say never. Especially with your bloodline and connections.”
“I don’t have any connections.”
“Look around you, Jane. This room is filled with your future connections.”
“Why do you think I’d be good at this backstabbing, all-for-show world?”
“Because you have your father’s charm and your mother’s scheming.” I recoiled from his words, but he held on to me. “I mean that as a compliment, Jane.”
“None taken.”
He smiled again.
I shook my head, wanting to shake his words off me.
“That deal you made? So Lily could go on seeing Lucas? That was ballsy and a stroke of genius.”
I shrugged. But yeah, I was a little flattered.
“I’d be even more impressed if you told me you’d played it that way from the beginning. If you had Lily make her deal with me, knowing you’d come back and counter with your deal, getting the outcome you wanted.”
He gave me too much credit. Plus… “You think this is the outcome I wanted?” I motioned with my chin to the proceedings around us, and down to the bridesmaid’s dress I was wearing.
“Perhaps not.”
“Besides, I was on board with Lily being away from Lucas. I didn’t know at the time…” I stopped. This wasn’t really my story to tell to Lily’s father.
“Know what?”
What the hell. Lily had taken Lucas home to meet her parents over the holidays, so Spaulding must have seen it too.
“How much he loves her.”
He stiffened, but not a flicker of emotion changed on his face. It was an okay face. Kind of average for a dad. Not movie-star handsome like my father, but…pleasant. It certainly didn’t show the barracuda of a man that he was.
“You did get that, right?” I asked. “That they’re crazy in love? And not just ‘teen angst, they’ll get over it in a week’ kind of love?”
He swallowed, took his time. “Yes. I got that.”
