Page 68 of Hoax and Kisses
“They’re probably wondering what you’re doing with me.”
I splay my other hand over the curve of her hip and turn her to me. “They’re staring because you’re a goddamn vision. And I’m the luckiest bastard in the whole town.” I offer her my elbow. “Let’s get a drink, shall we?”
A few folks stop us to say hello on our way to the bar. Rob compliments Zoey on her project, explaining that he finally got a chance to read it, his voice loud enough for a few eavesdroppers to hear. Mia welcomes us with a warm smile. Zoey listens attentively while Carl and his wife, Laura, talk about the bear encounter they had today, and the money they’re hoping we’ll raise tonight.
By the time we reach the bar, I’m having a hard time differentiating between what’s real and what’s not.
For a moment, I honestly believed I was here with my girl, chatting away with our neighbors and friends. She fits into this life so well, and I don’t think even she realizes it.
“What can I get for you two lovebirds?” Coop asks from behind the bar.
Zoey rests her elbow on the counter. “I’ll take a lager if you have one.” She glances at me. “What do you want?”
I wrap my arm around her waist. “I’ll have the blonde we tried this afternoon. Thanks, man.”
Beer in hand, she turns and taps it against mine. “Cheers.”
She twists around and leans against the bar, tilting the bottle to her lips while she watches the crowd. “Even with all the research I did, I could never have gotten it right.”
I follow her line of sight, cocking a brow. “Why?”
“You have something rare in this town. I can’t even begin to explain it, but I’ve never experienced it before.”
I bump her shoulder softly. “Community?”
“Maybe,” she murmurs a little absently.
“I’m surprised your dad didn’t brief you on that ahead of your trip,” I say with a chuckle. “It’s the folks here who brought his ridiculous luxury hotel down. Group effort.”
“My dad and I have very different ways of doing business. It’s hard to make him see reason sometimes. That’s why I usually prefer to mind my portfolio and leave him to handle shareholders and investors. He’s not a bad guy,” she says with a sigh. “Just very stubborn.”
“Oh, sothat’swhere it comes from.”
She rolls her eyes, fighting a smile. “I’m theverydiluted version.”
I hum. She’s not that bad.
From the corner of my eye, I spot Carl’s kids running in our direction, playing tag. I press myself up against Zoey to keep her from being trampled.
“If it’s so difficult to work with him, and if you don’t like the way he handles things,” I say, “then why are you staying in the business?”
She flinches, averting her attention to the crowd. I swear her body curves in on itself a fraction.
“Because it’s all I’ve ever known. I went to college fully aware my dad disapproved of my path. He was already showing me the ropes then. I’m his only kid, and he had big dreams for me. Dreams that didn’t align with the ones I had for myself.”
“So you got roped into the business,” I say.
Zoey nods, her face blank. “At sixteen. He didn’t force it on me. It just… happened. I didn’t officially work for him till after college, but being the boss’s daughter, I was always at his office. I followed him everywhere. To meetings, to visit sites. He liked having me around.”
I cock an eyebrow. “Don’t you think he was grooming you to work for him later on?”
“Oh, he definitely was,” she says matter-of-factly.
The lack of anger in her voice triples mine. Who uses their kids like that, to serve their own agenda, feed their own ego?
“After I finished my undergrad,” Zoey continues, “my dad decided enough was enough and refused to invest more in my pediatric nursing program. I got more involved, and eventually, he insisted I take over the business development department. I couldn’t say no. Like, Matt, Iphysicallycouldn’t say no.” Her voice wavers, her words imprinted with the kind of pain that leaves indelible scars. “I wanted to make him proud so badly, and I knew that’s what he wanted. And…” She shrugs. “I figured that my dad would always do what’s best for me.”
She takes a sip of her beer, her expression turning pensive, like something’s brewing in her brain. Does she question her dad’s intentions now?
