Page 71 of Fake it With Me

Because if this didn’t work out, Daisie wouldn’t just lose a girlfriend of her father’s. She’d lose someone who felt like family. Someone who understood her curiosity about the world and encouraged her to pursue science. Someone who listened like her opinions mattered.

She would lose another mother figure.

And I would be the one who let it happen.

“Daddy?” Daisie’s voice pulled me back to the present. “Are you okay? You look weird.”

“I’m fine, sweetheart. Just thinking.”

“About boats?”

“Something like that.”

Liza’s eyes met mine over Daisie’s head. I saw understanding there. She knew what I was thinking and knew what I was worried about. We were having the same internal debate, weighing the same risks.

The difference was, I had more to lose. Or at least, more that I was responsible for.

After breakfast, Daisie went to get dressed for school, leaving Liza and me alone in the kitchen.

“We need to talk,” I said quietly.

“I know.”

“Not now. After I drop Daisie at school?”

She nodded. “I’ll be ready.”

I wanted to kiss her. But Daisie could come back downstairs any second, and we were already blurring enough lines. Damn, I hoped we could figure out how to make this work.

“I am going to try and find a dress for the party,” she said. “Is there any color or style I should avoid?”

I had almost forgotten about the party. “Just think along the same lines as the last party. Let me get you the name of a boutique in town. I’ll have George take you there. If you don’t find anything, you can look online. I’ll give you a card.”

“No!”

I grinned. “No?”

“I mean, I should buy my own.”

“Do you have five grand, Liza?”

“Five grand?” she repeated.

“Yes. That’s about the price you can expect to pay for a dress.”

“Oh. Uh, no. I spent most of the five thousand Della wired me.”

“I know. Which is why you’ll need my card.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

And then I couldn’t resist. I reached out, brushing my knuckles across her cheek. She leaned against my hand.

“I can’t wait to see you in whatever you pick.”

She looked up and smiled. “I was thinking more along the lines of watching you take it off me.”

I closed my eyes. “Oh, woman. Now I’m going to have blue balls all day.”