“She’ll be right with you.” Aston slams the door in Elliot’s face, and I turn on him.
“What the hell are you doing?”
“Who is that guy?” he hisses, aware that Zoey is in the next room.
I cross my arms, not liking his tone. “That’s none of your business.” I mean, I could tell him it’s my realtor, but I shouldn’t have to explain myself to him, and I’m not about to start now.
“It is when you bring strange men to the house where my daughter lives. That was one of our rules, remember?”
My eyes flash, but I settle for a small, dismissive laugh instead. “First of all, he’s not astrange man. Second, I didn’tbring him to the house. He’s picking me up. And third, I don’t owe you explanations about my personal life.”
Without waiting for him to reply, I push past him toward the closet, set my purse on the floor, and pull out a camel-colored cashmere coat and slip my hands through the sleeves.
“So, you’re dating again?” he asks, almost incredulous but with a very distinct edge I don’t like the sound of.
I pause, my back to him as I button my coat. “Would it matter if I were?”
“Yes. No. It’s just… it’s been, what, only seven weeks since Josh? That’s a bit fast, don’t you think?”
I whirl around, my eyes blazing. “Don’t you dare bring Josh or my past relationship into this. You don’t know anything about that, and you certainly have no right.”
“I’m just concerned?—”
“Oh?” I snort a laugh. “Is that what you are?”
“Yes,” he barks defiantly. “What else would I be? I don’t like you bringing strange men to our house, and I don’t want to see you make yet another mistake. Or is this simply some fun you’re trying to have? You know, see how many guys it takes to get you to the finish line for once.”
I gasp, my jaw dropping. “You son of a—” I cut myself off and settle for a glare. “You have no right to judge me or the things I do. You’re not my brother or my boyfriend.”
“Thank god for that.”
I point at him. “I seriously don’t like you.”
He chuckles. “The feeling’s mutual, Little Swan.”
“Don’t call me that.”
“Why not? We both know you like it.” He smirks. Bastard.
“You’re an ass, and I’m late for Elliot. Move!” I practically shove him out of the way of the door.
He grabs my arm. “Don’t go out with him.”
I jerk away from him. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t?”
He stares down at me, his jaw locked tight. That’s what I thought. No, thanks.
“Bye, Zoey,” I call out to her so my voice will carry across the first floor and into the kitchen. “See you later, babe.”
“Bye, Sky!” she chirps, oblivious to the standoff between me and her father since she’s focused on something on her iPad.
I pick up my purse and nudge past him, heading out the door to a waiting Elliot, who looks nothing short of perplexed and uneasy. Who can blame him?
“Everything okay?”
I plaster on my Fritz-Davenport smile. The one I’ve been trained to deliver since birth. Even if I’m silently fuming. “Perfect. Let’s go. I’m anxious to see the places you have lined up for me.”
“Great. Okay.” He pans his hand down the steps toward a waiting Mercedes SUV, but as he helps me up, I glance back upat the house and catch sight of the shutters snapping shut. Was Aston watching us? I don’t know what that was all about. All I know is I can’t make heads or tails of Aston Hughes, and I don’t want to. Men are officially bad for my health.
