Page 162 of Never In My Wildest Dreams

“She’s at home.” Another reason he took the pill last night was to stop wondering what Lorelei was thinking. She’d seemed carefree at the reception, dancing and laughing. He thought he’d known her so well.

Guess he hadn’t paid that much attention if he’d missed the most important part.She’s not in this with me.

“You not home?” Stevie asked.

The question startled him. Made his heart squeeze so hard it cramped.

He guessed she was used to seeing the two of them together, but that wasn’t going to happen anymore. “I live in New York City, and I have to go home today. That’s why I wanted to have breakfast with you. Because you’re very important to me, and I want to spend as much time with you as I can. Is that all right?”

Stevie nodded, but she was looking at the buffet table. She couldn’t understand any of this. Not for a while.

“What looks good?” he asked.

She pointed to where Beau stood. “Faffles.”

Her grandfather opened the waffle maker and set her breakfast on a paper plate. “You want one?” he asked Booker.

He’d save his appetite for the brunch. “I’ll pass. Thanks, though.” He reached for the tongs to place a few strips of bacon on her plate.

She scrunched up her nose. “Dat’s yucky.”

“That might be the first time I’ve ever heard that.” He chuckled, but he wasn’t feeling it. He felt like he was walking upstream. When he got back to the table, he went to set her down in her chair, but her legs tightened around his waist. He wasn’t complaining. He settled her on his lap, instead.

Beau set two coffee mugs down. “So, what’s the plan?”

“I’m heading to Ontario. I’ve got a situation there that needs to be handled. After that, I’ve got two new clients, so I’ll fly out to Florida to see one and then California for the other.”

Beau listened patiently. “I meant with your family.”

“My mom?” How did he know about his reluctance to let his mom back in? Had Lorelei told him?

“This family. Lorelei and Stevie.” Beau set his mug down. “You switched gears pretty quickly.”

He gave a curt nod.Not my choice.

Beau seemed to have a loose hold on his composure. “Well, that’s a shame.”

Stevie hummed, her bottom swishing, as she stuffed a piece of waffle into her mouth. She was in her own world, oblivious to the turmoil.

“It is.” Booker wouldn’t reveal the details to this man. It was between him and Lorelei. “But I’ll be in Stevie’s life. I won’t disappear.”

“But not Lorelei’s?”

“She’s, uh...” Sometimes, when he took a sleeping pill, it took him a few hours to fully clear the fog in his mind. He wasn’t quite there yet, and it was hard to find the right words to say,Your daughter doesn’t love me. Not the way I love her.

His hand went to his chest.Dammit, that hurt.

But it was true, and he had to accept it.

“She’s what?” Beau asked.

“We’re not on the same page.”

Beau nodded. “Huh. I thought you knew her. Ilikedthat you loved her for who she is since everyone loves her for being Lorelei Calloway.Doyou love her for who she is? Because, you understand, that includes the broken parts?”

“Of course. I didn’t even know who she was when I met her. But she doesn’t feel the same way, and I have to accept that and move on.”

The man sat back. “This is the first time you haven’t impressed me.”

---