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“I’ll give you a moment.”

I started to stand, but she grabbed my hand. “Stay, please.”

Dave went down below, so it was just the two of us on the open water for about ten minutes. Then Celia turned to me with a watery smile. “I know we have rough days ahead of us with the Ellie situation, but I’m not going to step back graciously again. But I need to know that you won’t either.”

“I’m not going to make the same mistake again.”

As the lawyer for many celebrities with messed-up family situations, I’ve helped others navigate tricky situations. It was different being on this side of things, but I’d learned my lesson the hard way last weekend.

“You’re sure?”

I brushed my lips against hers and vowed, “They won’t come between us again.”

“Okay, then we’re really doing this.”

“We are.”

Dave came back up to start the engine and raise the anchor, and we got comfortable sitting hand in hand. The ride back to the marina was gorgeous, but my promise was tested as soon as I loaded the car and got into the driver’s seat.

My phone rang, and Ellie’s name flashed on the screen. I hadn’t talked to her since she stormed out of Nobu, and she chose the absolute worst time to finally call me. The dad side of me wanted to pick up. Still, I knew my daughter well enough to accurately guess the conversation would mostly consist of her saying awful things about Celia and refusing to listen to reason.

I set my phone in the cup holder and started the engine. “Did you get enough to eat on the boat, or do you want to stop somewhere for an early dinner on the way home?”

“I’m not hungry.” Her smile was soft as she gestured toward the phone when it rang again. “But I think you should get that.”

“It’s not going to go well,” I warned.

“I know, but she’s your daughter, and you’ve been waiting all week for this.”

I didn’t put the phone on speakerphone, tucking it between my ear and shoulder as I reached for Celia’s hand on the other side. “Hello, Ellie.”

“Mom is going to take Harry and me to Nobu for dinner tonight to make up for how that woman ruined it last time. I’m still mad at you, but I thought you might want to join us so we could talk.”

There was so much wrong with what she’d just said that it was hard to pick a place to start. “I have no interest in having dinner with your mother.”

I could practically see Ellie’s pout as she complained, “I don’t understand why you have such a problem with her.”

“And I don’t see why you have an issue with Celia when you and Harry are the ones who lied and cheated. She’s the injured party, not you.”

Celia slammed her hand over her mouth to cover her pleased gasp.

Ellie’s reaction was on the other side of the spectrum, a piercing screech that left my ear ringing. “She must be great in bed if you’re taking that whore’s side over your own daughter.”

“I love her, Ellie. She makes me happy. Don’t you want that for your dad?”

“Not with her!”

I heard Courtney yell in the background, and that was enough for me to end the call. When I turned back to Celia, tears were streaming down her cheeks, and I knew they were as much for me as they were for her. Because I’d fallen in love with one of the kindest people I’d ever met.

22

CELIA

Icould barely see him through my tears. “Ellie is never going to accept me in your life, and I don’t want to be the reason you lose your daughter.”

“You’re the only one not making me choose,” he growled.

“I’m sorry.” I squeezed his hand. “I can’t even say I wish I’d known who Ellie was to you when we met because I don’t regret falling for you. Just that it’s put us all in such a terrible position.”