Page 97 of Fifth Avenue Fling

“I think it’s safe to say the status quo has been rocked, Killian.”

“We’re both back to being professional. It was a mistake.”

“If you say so,” he says, still smirking.

I narrow my eyes on him, contemplating strangulation. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

He folds his arms across his chest lazily. “If you run your hands through your hair any more, you’ll trigger premature balding.”

“I regret telling you now. Look, in eight weeks, Clodagh will be gone.” My jaw clenches at the realization. I imagine the house without her dulcet tones, her laughter, her scowls. Nothingleftof her.

I shake my head, willing myself to get a grip. “Mrs. Dalton will be back, and that’s better for Teagan.”

He makes a humming sound but drops it.

“Don’t forget Teagan’s birthday dinner on Friday night. Then I have a teenybopper concert to attend. So don’t tell me I’m boring, buddy. We’re going to see…” I think for a moment. “Hayden Agu… fucking something or other.”

“Cayden. Even I know his name. I told you; you need to work harder at being a cool dad.”

I roll my eyes. “Yeah, well, next week it will be some other pop star dickhead.”

He smiles. “She’s growing up so quickly.Itfeelslikejustyesterdayshe was swooning over the ponies at the city farm. Now she’s swooning over a guy with a ponytail.”

“Don’t start,” I groan. “She’ll always be my little girl. And any swooning will be done under my watch.”

I sometimes stare at Teagan, and it feels surreal because I can’t believe she’s nearly thirteen. It seems like yesterday that she was four years old.

He pushes off the wall and readies himself to go. “It’s in my calendar. Dinner, I mean. If you think I’m joining you to see Cayden Aguilar, you’ve got another thing coming.”

“Yeah, yeah.” I wave him off.

My phone beeps. I frown, seeing the sender. “Maria.” It’s another lovey-dovey message. “She’s got the wrong impression of me. I sent her flowers, and she’s acting like I proposed. I don’t know where this has come from.”

“A million guys would kill to be in your shoes.” He shakes his head and opens the door wider. “Is she still coming to dinner with the mayor to grease the slimeball up?”

“Yeah, she’s friends with his wife. Should be a good dynamic between them.”

I stare at the message.

It’s just a pity my ugly dead heart doesn’t feel a smidge of excitement about that.

***

I rap my knuckles on Teagan’s door and push it open, not expecting her to be awake at seven o’clock. I take a seat on the edge of the bed, and the lump beneath the covers stirs.

“Good morning, princess.” I lift the covers from her face.

“Uh.” Eyes closed, she screws up her face as if in pain.

“Time to get up, birthday girl.”

She finally opens her eyes, smiling sleepily. “Morning, Dad.”

“Happy birthday. A big thirteen today.” God, I almost sound choked up. I pull her into a hug. “You’re growing up so fast. But you’re still my little girl,” I say into her hair, then lean back to kiss her forehead. “Even when you’re fifty and looking after me.”

“Ew. I can’t wait, Dad.”

Stretching out, she sits up in bed. Her face and features are becoming more and more like a young woman’s, and it almost scares me. She’s the same height as Clodagh. “I wish your mother could see you,” I say with a sad smile. “She’s still with us every day, you know. She’s watching over you.”

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