Page 69 of Boss of Attraction
Every yearsince Morgan was a little girl, she and Melinda had a tradition of going out shopping on Black Friday. It continued until Melinda got too sick to take her, and instead of letting the tradition end, I stepped in and began going with my daughter.
Dealing with crowds and the chaos that came with it wasn’t my idea of a good time, but I was happy to follow my daughter through an endless stream of stores because doing it together meant a lot to her. However, we had been going for four hours, and I was tired.
“Do you have many more places you want to check out?”
“Just this one.” She pointed at the makeup store across from us.
I noticed a jewelry store next door and nodded my head toward it. “I’m going to take a look in there. I’ll come find you when I’m done.”
“Okay,” she replied as we headed in separate directions.
Entering the jewelry store, I walked over to a display case full of watches. There was a possibility I was moving too quickly, but I wanted to find something to give Declan as a Christmas present.
Christmas was my favorite holiday because I enjoyed selecting meaningful gifts for those I cared about. And that group of people now included Declan. What had started as more of a physical connection, had become more. He was smart and driven while also living life to the fullest. When I spent time with him, I was happier and more carefree. I hadn’t felt that way in a long time, and I wanted to hold on to it for as long as possible.
“Hello, sir. Is there something I can help you find?” the sales associate asked as she stood on the other side of the counter.
“Could I see that one, please?” I pointed at a black and silver Rolex.
“Of course.” She slid the glass case door open and placed the watch on top. “Is this for yourself or a gift?”
Even though Declan and I weren’t telling anyone about our relationship, this woman didn’t know me, and it was exciting to say the words out loud. “It’s a gift for someone I’m seeing.”
“You’re seeing someone?” my daughter’s voice shrieked.
I spun around. “You’re done already?”
“They didn’t have the eye shadow palette I wanted,” she huffed. “But that doesn’t matter. Why didn’t you mention you were dating somebody?”
For a split second, I wondered if I could come up with a lie to avoid confirming what she’d overheard, but nothing came to mind. “It’s new, and we haven’t told anyone yet.”
“Oh …” Her gaze shifted to what I was holding, and her eyes widened. “Wait, that’s a man’s watch.”
“Uh—”
“I’m going to give you a moment,” the saleswoman said and moved across the store, keeping me in her sight, likely since I still held the Rolex.
“Dad, are you dating a guy?” Her tone suggested she was genuinely curious rather than upset.
I took a deep breath. “I am.”
She smiled. “Well, are you going to tell me who he is?”
“He and I agreed to take things slow and keep our relationship between us for now.”
Morgan arched an eyebrow. “You’re taking things slow, but you’re looking at expensive watches for him?”
“When we are both ready to tell people, you’ll be the first to know.”
“Fine.” She pouted. “But I don’t want to wait forever to meet him. You’ve always said my boyfriends needed your seal of approval, and now the tables have turned.”
“Got it.” I chuckled and waved the saleslady back over. Little did my daughter know she already knew who I was dating. “Now let me buy this, and then we’ll get out of here.”
During the driveback to my condo, my phone rang, and Ryan’s name popped up on the display.
I pressed the answer button on my steering wheel. “Hi, Son.”
“Hey, Dad. Are you still out shopping with Morgan, or did she already max out your credit cards?”
