“Oh no, mister. You stay right there.” She winks as if that’s supposed to mean something, then turns her attention back to Mia.
“I’ve been dying to meet you, girl. I was so jeal’ of April partying with you in London. But now you’re here, so I don’t have to”—she grabs a blunt knife from the table and lightly presses it to Mia’s ribs—“break into your house atnight and steal her back.” Mia’s eyes flick to April, alarmed, but April just winks back. “We can all hang out together.”
“Yay?” Mia echoes weakly.
Callie, clearly unsatisfied with the lack of enthusiasm, jumps in place—like the kid she’ll never stop being—still gripping Mia’s hands until Mia has no choice but to bounce too.
I glance at Liam and mutter, “I attract crazy women. That’s it. I’m the problem. I see it now.”
Liam, for once, actually laughs, then leans in, voice dropping to a wicked hush. “Yeah, I get why you drink now.”
April slaps him again, harder this time, and I can’t decide if I’m laughing at his pain or at my own damn life.
Against all odds, the night goes smoothly after Callie arrives. But after April yawns twice, Liam lifts two fingers for the check. The second it lands, I reach for it, only for him to thunder, “The fuck you are, Preston.”
“Fuck you, Gunn. Don’t be an ass. We’re splitting.”
“You’re my guest, and this is Mia’s welcome dinner. Your money’s no good here.”
“Or anywhere you go, it seems,” I clip back.
“Oh good, you’re finally catching on. Can we stop measuring dicks now?”
April hurls, then gags for good measure.“That man is like my father,” she says, pointing at me. “Can we not talk about the metrics of his genitals? I’d love to keep dinner in my stomach. Thanks.”
* **
The bill is settled, but we’re not done eating our desserts. Oh, and would you look at that? After Mia ordered hers, Liam went ahead and ordered her the other two in the menu. She just blushed and smiled, as if that was perfectly normal. First of all, that’s ludicrous.
Who the hell eats three desserts? Mia, that’s who. Second? That level of attention felt way too intimate for a boss and an ex-assistant. Isn’t April finding this strange too?
Apparently, she’s too tired to pay attention, yawning nonstop. Before they excuse themselves, Liam looks straight at my new nanny. “Would anyone like a ride? Mia?”
I stare point-blank at the asshole. Didn’t he just suggest we stop measuring dicks? Why is he offering Mia a ride home if she came with me? If she’s coming back tomyplace?
“Actually, Mia is coming with me.” My head whips to Callie, and the words “Excuse me” fly from my mouth before I give it a second thought.
“What,Daddy? Is it a school night?” Calista lays it on thick in that syrupy tone she knows I loathe and uses every damn time she wants to rattle me. April chokes on the final sip of her champagne. It trickles down her nose and onto her blouse.
Good, I hope it burned on its way out.
Schooling my features the best I can, I stare her down the same way I do when Lily says something out of place. It’s not nearly as often as Callie or my hair would be totally gray by now. “Do we need permission to stay late,Dada?” I set my glass down so hard Callista’s smile slips, and mywater spills. “Fine,” she huffs, her voice back to normal. “Butexcuse you, I’m taking her out.”
“Did you ask her if she’d like that? She just arrived today. She must be tired.”
“It’d actually be really nice if both of you stopped talking as if I wasn’t here.” Mia smiles sweetly, but her eyes are all sass—wide, ironic, and lit with something that I shouldn’t be drawn to.
Liam smirks and says, “Missed you, kid.”
She winks at him. “Good night, boss.”
Placing that warm, misleading hand on my thigh again—and making me consider only wearing shorts for the rest of her stay here—she tells me, “Yes, she did in fact ask me if I’d like to do some night sightseeing.”
Callie cuts in, addressing April, who’s putting on her coat. Correction, Liam is putting her coat on for her. “Aw, she’s cute. I said bar hopping with skyline views and eligible eye candy. I pride myself on being the best wingwoman a single hottie like you could ask for in New York. Ask anyone who survived it.”
“Oh, shut up, you.” Mia brushes off the compliment, and I can’t tell if she’s being modest or if she’s genuinely that oblivious.
“Please, Mia, do whatever you like. I just know Callie can be pushy and wanted to give you an out if you were tired.” The half-truth rolls off my tongue too easily.
