“Maybe you should give him a chance,” Dr. Mayes said.
“Would you be able to give a man a chance to be a part of your life if he hurt you by keeping secrets?”
“He’s trying, Scarlett. He only came tonight to try to talk to you, knowing you would shut him down anywhere else. I wasn’t going to allow him to join group even when he threw around his name. But he really just wants to get to know his daughter in any way that he can. He’ll keep coming until you give him a chance.”
“He doesn’t deserve a chance,” I said. “He can hold the entire family over my head, but I won’t change my mind.”
“I won’t hold them over your head,” Caesar said from behind me. “They will never be used against you.”
I clamped my mouth shut so I didn’t say something I knew I’d regret later.
“I know I won’t ever be like a father to you, Scarlett. I’ve accepted that,” he went on, making sure to keep his distance. I didn’t turn to face him. “I can’t fix things unless you let me try. Maybe I’m botching what I’m trying to say.”
“What if you two go out to eat together. An hour, that’s it. Then if Scarlett still feels the same way, you can say you at least tried,” Dr. Mayes said, always full of reason.
“Fine,” I hissed.
“I’m coming with her,” Sawyer said, “and don’t tell me I can’t. It’s either that or he comes to our place. I won’t leave you alone with a man you can’t even look at.”
“This is a nice little town,” Caesar commented as he looked over the menu. I knew I wouldn’t be able to eat, so I sat in the booth, fingers fiddling with the hem of my shirt.
“You know this works better when you answer,” he muttered.
I nearly wanted to say something about how I didn’t want to talk to him, period, but I wisely kept my mouth shut. This man still terrified me, even though I wished he didn’t. Just him sitting across from me made my body itch with nerves. I wanted to move as far away as I possibly could.
“What do you do, Mr. Vicci?” Sawyer asked from beside me. “Other than stalk your daughter.”
“I didn’t stalk her. I knew exactly where she was,” Caesar answered. “I’m a businessman.”
“It’s one of those things you don’t want to know,” I muttered towards my friend. “The less, the better.”
“Well, do you know what he does exactly?”
“Nope.” I was good pretending what he did was legal.
“I manage the sales of goods all over the world. It’s one of the biggest trades known everywhere.”
“Why are you trying so hard?” I asked finally, quickly meeting his eyes.
“Because you are my daughter. My own flesh and blood,” he answered, leaning forward with his forearms on the table. “I have the right to try to get to know you. I missed out on a lot of stuff over the years, and I just want to make sure you really are okay. If after tonight, you want nothing to do with me, then I’ll leave it be.”
“I don’t believe you.”
“I know that. God do I know,” he muttered. “I want the chance to prove to you that I’ll keep my word. I always do.”
“Does anyone else know you’re here?” I asked.
He waited until the waitress took our orders, and he wasn’t happy that I didn’t order anything to eat. “Your mom knows. It was her idea, actually. She doesn’t want me scaring you off. Not sure her idea was for the best, but I’m trying. For both your sakes.”
“Why?”
“Because she doesn’t want my lack of trying to interfere with whatever you two have.”
“Oh.”
“And for myself, like I said earlier.”
“You have to understand my side,” I said, dropping my gaze.
