Page 39 of The Hottest Daddy
“God, Daisy … Sam …”
“It’s okay. We have people looking out for the kid. Her sister, though, is a loose cannon. No one has seen her for a couple of days.”
“Shit. But I have to tell you, Aria does that. She likes to play mind games, especially if she thinks she’s not getting any attention.”
“Noted. Your ex-step-monster is still in town with her paramour, but there’s a rumor the engagement is off.”
River frowned. “Then why are they still in town?”
“Scanlan apparently is in talks to buy the resort. Seems he likes the place.”
River shook his head. “More fool him. You say he’s broken things off with Angelina?”
“Apparently. Look, we’ve looked into the guy, and he appears clean. Are you sure they are the only two newcomers to town?”
“As far as I know. Daisy said she’d put the word around, find out if there are any others, but it’s a resort town. Season is ending, but we still get a lot of hikers and climbers. It’ll be impossible to vet everyone.”
“Just let us know anyone who Sunday comes into contact with, or anyone acting suspiciously.”
“I will … and thank you, Sam. I cannot thank you enough.”
Sam nodded. “Just take care of her, and don’t worry. You’re safe here.”
River went back inside and to the bedroom. He took off his jeans and slid back into bed. Sunday murmured and snuggled up to him. River kissed the top of her head but couldn’t get back to sleep, his dreams wracked by horrific nightmares lately. The thought of someone hurting Sunday, of taking her away from him, had been a worse pain than Angelina’s treatment of him and he knew, that since meeting Sunday, he had become a different person. A man he hoped his beloved parents would have been proud of. He knew now that, being with Sunday, and them being parents to his daughter, he had found his true home. When Sunday had asked if they could live here, it had been on the tip of his tongue to say yes, but he knew they had to go back to Colorado to face and to beat her stalker.
He couldn’t live with knowing that at any moment, she could be taken away from him. That was not acceptable. So he had called Sam Duarte and, between them, they’d figured out a plan to keep Sunday and Berry safe and happy.
For now … that would have to satisfy him, but he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that he would do anything—anything—to protect the woman he loved, even if it meant killing another person.
Chapter Nineteen
Sunday knew that the last two weeks in the beauty of Tuscany would be a time she never,everforgot. In every way, it had been perfect, and now that they were back in Colorado, she felt a new strength in her. This was her home, this was her family, and she would fight until her last breath to keep them.
A week after their return, Berry had started her new school and was loving it. River was back working in his studio, and Sunday was continuing her work on Ludo’s diaries. As she worked one morning, she heard Carmen calling her and River.
“You have a visitor,” she said in a low voice. “It’s that man who came with Angelina. He says he wants to talk to both of you. I can ask him to leave, if you want.”
River shook his head. “No, I want to hear what he’s got to say.”
Brian Scanlan shook both of their hands. “Mr. Giotto, Ms. Kemp, thank you for seeing me.”
“What can we do for you, Mr. Scanlan?” River’s voice was even but Sunday could feel the tension rolling off of him.
“I wanted to come see you, to tell you that I am deeply sorry for bringing Angelina here. I had no idea of your shared history, and I also wanted you to know that I have broken off our engagement.”
“What you do with your life is none of our concern, Mr. Scanlan.”
“Brian, please. And all I’m saying is, you shouldn’t worry that she will be in town. I personally took her to the airport last night. It’s just, I myself will be in town for the foreseeable future.” He smiled. “I cannot resist a business opportunity and the resort here is remarkable but underrun. I hope to restore it.”
Sunday was watching him. “Mr. Scanlan, may I ask you a question?”
“Of course.”
“It’s just … I was an investigative journalist in New York for a few years and yet I have never heard of you. How is that?”
Brian Scanlan smiled. “You would probably have heard of my father, Dimitri Lascus. Lascus Property?”
Sunday was surprised. “Of course … I met him on a few occasions. He’s your father?”
