Page 5 of The Hottest Daddy
The coffee was smooth and rich. “God, that’s good.”
“I thank you.” Daisy did a small curtsy which made Sunday laugh. She warmed to the woman instantly. “So, what do you do?”
“I’m a copywriter and transcriber. I’m here to work for River Giotto, transcribing his father’s journals.”
Daisy stopped and a wary look came into her eyes. “Really?”
Sunday nodded, her interest piqued. “Is that notable?”
Daisy shook herself. “No, no, just a little surprising. River is a little reclusive. I’m surprised he’s allowing a stranger—no offense—into his home. You know where he lives, right?”
“Kind of. I mean, I have an address.”
Daisy made a signal for her to wait and disappeared into the backroom. A second later she emerged and waved an iPad at her. “Look.”
She turned the tablet towards Sunday so she could see. Sunday gave a gasp. The house—was it even right to call it a mere house? —was magnificent, set by a lake and surrounded by mountains. A sprawling single-level home which almost seemed to be made entirely from glass, it had clean lines and a simplicity to it which belied the majesty of the place. Daisy flicked to a photograph of it lit up at night, reflected back at itself in the surrounding lake.
Sunday could feel herself boggling at it and knew Daisy was gauging her reaction. “It’s beautiful.”
“Isn’t it? We tend to call it ‘The Castle’ but in truth, we’re all slavering to own something like that. River can afford it, of course.”
“What’s he like?”
Daisy considered. “For an old dude, he’s okay. Very handsome, very rich. Listen,” she leaned in closely, “my stepsister, aka ‘the dragon,’ used to date him so don’t mention him around her.”
“Mention who?”
Daisy sighed as the voice came from behind her. Sunday saw a diminutive, but staggeringly beautiful woman behind them. Her hair was cut short, close to her head, and her face was utterly exquisite, and her dark brown eyes were piercing as she looked at Sunday with a distinct lack of friendliness. “Who’s this?”
“Ari, this is Sunday, my new friend. She just moved here. Sunday, this is the Dragon, or Aria, as we sometimes call her when she’s being nice. Which is rare.” Daisy grinned easily at her stepsister, who scowled at her. Aria slipped out of her coat, and Sunday saw she had the athletic body of a dancer. Something clicked in Sunday’s brain.
“You’re Aria Fielding.”
Both Daisy and Aria stopped. Aria studied Sunday. “You know me?”
“You used to dance at NYSMBC … under Grace Hardacre.”
Aria’s eyes were flinty. “You know ballet?”
Sunday shook her head and cursed inwardly. “Not a lot. A cousin I was staying in New York with took me to a performance. You were wonderful.”
There was no discernible thawing in Aria’s attitude; if anything, she seemed even frostier now. “Thank you.” The words were stiff, and she soon walked away from them.
Daisy sighed. “Sorry about her. She’s, um, difficult.”
“Artistic temperament,” Sunday said, patting her new friend’s hand and Daisy smiled at her gratefully.
“You’re a sweetheart. Listen, if you need anything, any help to settle in, you’re always welcome. I know all the best maintenance guys or the best stuff at the farmer’s market—avoid the cheese counter. Seriously. Go into Telluride for your dairy cravings.”
Sunday chuckled. “I’ll remember that. I guess I’ll just take a drive around, get my bearings.”
“Come and have supper with me tomorrow night,” Daisy said. “I’m not much of a chef but I can rustle up some pasta.”
“I’d like that, thank you.” The weight of her new life was already lifting, thanks to this sweet English girl. They arranged a time and Sunday thanked her again.
She found the farmer’s market and shopped for a week’s worth of groceries, avoiding the cheese counter as Daisy had advised. Feeling restless and not wanting to spend all day alone in the apartment, she flicked her phone onto GPS mode and decided to go check out her future employer’s place.
She drove up the mountainside carefully, cringing a little at the sheer drop on one side, imagining her SUV crashing through the pine trees and exploding.Dramatic, much?She chuckled to herself and concentrated on the road ahead. Soon enough, she was turning into a long driveway.
