"I don't care."
His fist slam onto the table. "You can’t see him anymore, Bree."
I stare at him. "Why not?"
"I just told you why! I forbid it."
"You forbid it? Well, I'm sorry, that’s just not good enough."
He narrows his gaze. "You’re telling me you won't stop seeing him?"
"I won't."
He’s quiet for a long time. Then he sighs, the grooves bracketing his mouth deepening. "Then bring him here."
"What?"
"Enough sneaking around. It’s turning my stomach. Invite him to dinner. Tomorrow."
I leap out of my chair. "T-Tomorrow? Really? Daddy!"
He nods, and I throw my arms around him but he doesn't hug me back. When I pull away, his expression is still troubled.
"Just… know this. Men from powerful families like that—they may notmeanto hurt you. But they will hurt you."
I roll my eyes. "Jordan would never hurt me, Daddy."
And that belief feels as solid and unshakeable as the ground beneath my feet.
10
"I'mjustsaying,ifyou're not going to lock that down permanently, at least share the wealth." Molly leans against the counter, eyeing me over her phone. "There are starving women in this town, Bree."
I roll my eyes, wiping down the last booth. "Jordan is not a meal."
"He is when you’ve been starving, babe." She grins. "And you're hogging the buffet."
Madeline pokes her head out from the kitchen, blonde hair pulled back tight. "Looks like the prince has arrived to collect his Cinderella." Her eyes roll so hard I’m surprised they don’t get stuck.
I say nothing. Just fold my cleaning rag and toss it in the bin.
It's getting exhausting, this constant harping by coworkers. Jordan and I barely go out anymore. We steal time — those few minutes when he picks me up, the quiet weekends at his place, the rare kitchen table rendezvous when the house is empty. I suppose this is the price of dating one of the richest men in town.
"Bree, your shift ends at nine," Murphy says as he saunters in, his scowl locked in place. He jerks his chin at the clock. "Fifteen more minutes. And the front hall’s backing up. So go take some orders."
"Oh, it's fine," Molly pipes up. "I can cover for her. Bree needs to get ready for her hot date."
Murphy practically roars. "Unless you're willing to have it come out of your paycheck, Molly, Bree finishes her entire shift!"
I raise my hands. "It’s alright, Murphy, I wasn't leaving anyway. Jordan knows I don’t get off before nine. He’ll wait."
"Oooh, what do you know — rich, sexy, and a gentleman to boot. Hat trick," Molly says with a dreamy sigh.
"Get to work!" Murphy snaps, heading to the cash register.
"Somebody is jealous," Molly sing-songs to his retreating back.
Thirty minutes later, I grab my jacket. Molly, to no one's surprise, has hung back.
