Page 12 of The Prez’s Daughter

“Yeah, I think it is.”

“But?” Maeve asked, with a raised brow. “Don’t give me that look. I can see a ‘but’ in there somewhere. Tell me.”

“But I don’t see myself getting on a plane and flying all over the world. I think there would be a lot of work for me around here.”

“It is a great base, and when the salon opens up again, customers will come.” Maeve nodded her head. “All women deserve to feel beautiful. Makeup helps with that. It enhances their natural beauty, and of course can cover up as well.”

Charlotte couldn’t help but laugh as she recalled the nightmare smokey eye she had done on herself. “You’re right.”

“So, tell me, Charlotte. You’re young. Nearly nineteen. Is there a special guy in your life? A special girl?” Maeve asked.

She groaned. “We don’t have to do this.”

“Do what?”

“Where you play the role of stepparent. I don’t know what my dad has told you to ask—”

“Nothing,” Maeve said. “He hasn’t asked me to ask you anything. I was just curious about Savage. Doc said he was already on the scene before him. I also heard through the channels that he was the one to alert Sheriff Hayes.”

“It was good of him to respond,” Charlotte said.

“How did he find out?” Maeve asked. “I know I didn’t get to alert him. I don’t think anyone did.”

“Fine, fine, fine. I was able to text him and send him the alert to what happened. That is all.”

“So, are you and Savage a thing?” Maeve asked.

She looked toward her friend, and it didn’t feel right to lie to her. “No, we’re not a thing. I guess you can say we’re friends.”

“Friends?”

Charlotte nodded.

“Just friends?”

“I know it’s crazy, but yes, we’re just friends.”

“And do you want to tell me how that happened?” Maeve asked.

“Are you, like, wearing a wire? Has my dad put you up to this?”

“I care about you, Charlotte, and Savage is a little older than you.”

“My dad is older than you,” Charlotte pointed out. There was a bigger difference between her dad and Maeve, than there was between her and Savage.

He had let it slip that he was thirty years old, and that wasn’t old. Charlotte didn’t even think her father was that old. It was why it didn’t gross her out, hearing he was now in a committed relationship with Maeve. She hoped one day her mother might find what she was looking for, but she had a feeling that was not going to happen anytime soon.

“Okay, fine. Fine. I can’t argue with that one. Your dad is older than me. But do you want to know the difference?” Maeve asked.

“What?”

“I had a life before I knew your father. I was in relationships. Admittedly, not very good ones, and not ones I would recommend.”

Charlotte frowned. “Are you trying to encourage me to find someone else?”

“I’m encouraging you to live. If Savage is who you want, then go for it, but also understand that your dad is going to be pissed. I don’t know enough about club life, but I do know enough about life, to know that any relationship with you is going to come with bad consequences for Savage.”

She knew the consequences. “There is nothing going on between Savage and I. Honestly, we’re just friends.” Even though there have been a few times she had looked at his lips and thought about kissing him. Only, she didn’t cross that boundary. She was her father’s daughter. She was off limits.