I laugh. “Not the puppy conversation again.”
“I want a puppy. But I want Poppy more.”
I turn on the dishwasher, trying to come up with something to say.
Something besides,I want Poppy as well. Because I do. But I can’t risk another tabloid scandal if I start dating “the nanny” again. Claire made it clear that keeping scandal-free was a requirement of our arrangement continuing uncontested.
“Belle, Poppy lives in Snowflake Harbor. Her life is there. And we live in LA. She wouldn’t want to be taken away from her family. She loves her town.” And that part is true. Our lives couldn’t be more different. She would hate Hollywood. Even if I could figure out a way to get around Claire and the tabloids, what we had was always meant to be temporary.
Plus, it’s a stretch just to be enough for my daughter, risking my heart day in and day out. How do I risk it for two?
“But, Daddy, everyone says you’re like a superhero. That you can do anything,” she says with such simple faith. “And Poppy told me that when we love people, we try to help them be happy.”
“She’s right, honey.”
“Well, I know you love me. And I know you love Poppy. And I know she loves both of us. I could tell when we said goodbye how sad she was we weren’t going to be together. If you’re a superhero, can’t you do something so we can all be happy together?” she asks. “When I was scared to make new friends, Poppy said you have to face your fears and do what’s right in your heart. And I just don’t think being apart is what’s right.”
I’m just a single dad, with a kitchen towel in one hand and a child’s apron in the other, at a loss for words because of a seven-year-old girl’s wisdom.
Damn.
She has me there.
I’m not a superhero. Not really. But I am Ronan Masters, movie star. I don’t often think of myself in that way. I like to pretend I’m normal, living as quietly and regularly as possible. I don’t surround myself with models and mansions or have a team of people to do my every bidding or suck up to my every whim.
I’ve spent my life honing and then sheathing my power. Even before I was famous, I was always big. I never needed to flaunt my ability to kick ass. It was just there. If anything, I downplayed it.
Maybe now is the time to acknowledge my strength.
I’m rich, a little less than I was before paying off Belle’s mom, but I’m still disgustingly rich.
I’m famous as hell.
I know a lot of people in high places who would love to do me favors. And so, yes, I have a lot of power.
And Belle nailed it. I’m afraid. After what happened with the tabloids, I’m gun-shy. I’m afraid to take another chance and lose Belle.
But there’s more.
I’m afraid to risk my heart with Poppy. I know she wanted a night with me and a week with me. I know her soft heart fell for Belle. But after she’s been splashed across the tabloids, does she really want more than just temporary with us?
She’s so much better than I am. I’m taciturn. I’m grumpy. I’m quiet. I’m less of all that with Poppy, but I’ll never be the fun, outgoing guy. That’s okay. I’m fine with who I am. But that doesn’t mean I’m the easiest person to live with.
I never thought of myself as a relationship guy.
But things change. And I’ve never shied away from a challenge before.
I get Belle ready for bed, read her a bedtime story, and then read her stuffed corgi a bedtime story. Finally, we say good night. She says good night to me. She says good night to her stuffed corgi. And she says good night to Poppy, wherever she is.
And throughout it all, my mind is only half there.
If I were my character inThe Wanderers, this is the time that I’d be hatching the big heist to save the day and win the girl.
CHAPTER34
2 DAYS TO CHRISTMAS
Poppy
