Page 59 of Ruthless Secrets
Clara groans. “She’ll wake up if I try and transfer her to the car seat.”
“Do you want to go for a coffee while she naps? There’s a great place around the corner.”
Clara glances around. She’s gripping the handle of the stroller so tightly that her knuckles have turned white.
“Isn’t it too dangerous?”
“We’re in a very public place, so I wouldn’t worry. Besides, I have men watching us.”
“You do?” Clara eyes widen.
“Yes, and if anything were to happen, I would protect you.”
She must hear the sincerity in my tone as she doesn’t question me further. Instead, she steps aside so I can be the one to push Zoe. It feels strangely natural as we walk along the sidewalk, enjoying the June sunshine. In a few weeks, the city will be unbearably hot, so I’m glad that Clara and Zoewill be at Andre’s place, making use of the pool and the garden during the warmer weather.
When we arrive at The Greenhouse café, I grab a table in the corner by the window.
There are plants situated in every available space, which makes it hard to navigate the stroller through, but somehow we manage to do so without waking Zoe up.
The waitress comes over and takes our drinks order before leaving us again.
Clara looks around. “How did you know about this place?”
“My sister Rosa likes to come here. Apparently, they make the best matcha, or whatever.”
“You’re not down with the kids?”
“Apparently not.” I laugh.
“I think that’s part of the deal when you become a dad. You’re no longer cool.”
“I think I’m cool in my own way.”
Clara laughs, and a warmth spreads over my chest as her face lights up.
“When will your sister get back?”
“Just over a week.”
Clara smiles. “I’d like to meet her.”
“You won’t be saying that when she’s talking your ear off about boys and makeup.”
“I don’t mind. When I was little, I always asked my mom when I was going to get a little sister. I guess this could be sort of like that…” Clara is looking at Zoe with such an odd look, but before I can ask her anything, the waitress appears with our drinks.
As soon as the waitress leaves, Clara turns her attention to me. “Can I ask you something?”
“Of course.”
“Were you the one who headhunted me for the management job at Nox?”
“Yes.”
“I don’t understand. If you didn’t know about Zoe, then why did you want to hire me?”
Does she really not know?
I lean forward and rest my forearms on the table.
