Page 95 of Between Never and Forever
I put my sandwich on the counter and push myself to standing, then walk to the door and tap Red’s shoulder so he steps out of my way. When Brynn sees me, she beams and clutches the magazine to her chest. It’s the same excited smile she gave me in the café a few days ago, and it relaxes my nerves even as I glance past her in search of her dad.
I don’t see Levi anywhere, but there’s a guy in a golf cart watching us nervously. I nod in his direction, then focus back on Brynn.
“What’s up, Boss?” I throw my hand out so she can slap me a low five. “What are you doing here?”
“You forgot to sign this,” she says, then holds out the magazine. I take it and the pen. “My dad said you could sign it today.”
I raise a brow. “He did?”
“Yes.”
“Did he tell you to bring it to me?” I ask slowly, and she shrugs.
“No. He was supposed to bring it with him this morning, but he forgot.” She flings her hand behind her and gestures to the guy in the golf cart. “So, I had Dustin bring me.”
Bring it with him this morning.
See you Monday.
I feel like there’s a realization somewhere just out of reach. I’m fumbling around for it, but my fingertips just brush right past it.
I glance once more at the guy Brynn called Dustin. His back is ramrod straight now and his eyebrows are furrowed, like he never questioned her until this moment. She told him to bring her to the studio, and he just...did. I tilt my head and raise an eyebrow, and he purses his lips before speaking.
“Is this, uh, okay?”
The uncertainty in his voice makes me laugh out loud.
“You’re asking now?” I ask incredulously, then glance down at Brynn. “You just told this poor guy to bring you by my trailer and he did, huh? No questions asked?”
She grins again, and this time it’s impish and familiar in a way that I find unsettling.
“Told ya before,” she says. “I’m the boss.”
I return her smile, once again looking her over in search of some resemblance to Levi. They have the same nose. The shape of their faces is the same. Her hair and eyes aren’t him, but her mouth could be. Her sass, though? That is something else entirely. I bet he doesn’t know what to do with her half the time, and it makes me giddy.
Conflicting thoughts war inside my head. For reasons I’m too ashamed to say out loud, I don’t want to like this girl. Part of me already doesn’t. Never did. But another part of me, an annoyingly loud part, wantsherto likeme, and I don’t know how to reconcile the two.
Levi’s deep, menacing voice replays in my ears and I grit my teeth.Stay away from my daughter.I don’t want reality to ruin the image she has in her head.Even as a memory, the statements still sting.
What a complete and utter asshole.
“Is your dad here now?”
“Yeah, somewhere. He’s one of the builders,” she chatters proudly. “His guys built all the sets for your movie. One of ‘em even looks just like our kitchen.”
His guys. It’s all starting to make sense now. I look back at Dustin.
“You gonna get fired, Dusty?”
His eyes flare wide and he looks from me, to Brynn, then in the direction of the back lot. His reaction all but confirms it for me. Levi Cooper is Dustin’s boss. Levi Cooper owns the company that has built all the sets for my movie. Levi Cooper is the guy Dakota was talking about—good guy, not very friendly, big...hammer.
Averybig hammer, if I remember correctly.
“Dad won’t fire you, Dustin,” Brynn says with an exasperated sigh, then rolls her eyes. “Don’t look so scared.”
I bite back another laugh. Damn it, I like this kid.
And since she’s already here...
