Page 99 of Fifth Avenue Fling

“Check this out, Dad. Clodagh made it for me.” Teagan pushes a wooden box in my direction. Inside it are tubes and bottles of hair products.

I turn it around, trailing my fingers over the Celtic design. “You made this?” I ask slowly, pausing to look at Clodagh. She even engraved Teagan’s name on it. Did she do this in her studio?

She nods shyly. “It’s just a little token. Nothing fancy. It’s made with a kind of wood we call ‘Irish mahogany’ coz it’s used in a lot of furniture at home.”

“It’s beautiful,” I say quietly, my voice thick with emotion.

Something twists in my stomach as I slowly turn the beautifully crafted gift over in my hands. I’m a horrible fucking man.

“Be careful, Dad. Those are the products Clodagh uses in her hair,” Teagan announces proudly, looking shyly at Clodagh. “So I’ll be able to do my hair like hers.”

“That’s great,” I say, trying to keep the emotion out of my voice. I set the box down and reach for a pancake, my heart swelling with joy from seeing Teagan so happy. “Just use a tiny amount first to make sure that you don’t have an allergic reaction. You don’t need to use stuff like this at your age.”

“You have no clue about hair, Dad!” she tells me, outraged, and then turns toward Clodagh. “Dad said you can come with us to dinner tonight if you want. Are you coming?”

“Uh.” Clodagh’s eyes turn into saucers. “I don’t want to impose on you guys.”

“I insist,” I say after clearing my throat awkwardly.

She stares at me for a while, trying to decide whether I’m sincere. Eventually, she nods and murmurs, “Okay.”

“Awesome!” Teagan squeals excitedly.

“Can I get a minute with you?” I ask Clodagh, inclining my head toward the patio.

Despite her apprehension, she follows me outside.

“It’s fine, Killian,” she starts before I have a chance to speak. “If you don’t want me at dinner, I won’t come. I can tell Teagan I’m not feeling well, so she won’t be upset.”

“No, that’s not it. I want you to come. Look, I went to see Teagan’s ballet teacher, and I need to apologize to you.” I smile wryly. “It turns out I fired her husband. Things got nasty. She clearly has a chip on her shoulder and is taking it out on Teagan. I’ve moved Teagan to another class and filed a complaint against her teacher.”

“Oh.” Sheseemstaken aback. “Cool. Glad I could help.” She pauses, chewing on one side of her lip. “Anyway, if you don’t mind...”Shelooksatmewithcaution. “So, uh... if it’s okay with you, can I give you some more advice?”

My brows lift. “Go ahead.”

“I get I’m no Nanny McPhee, but just hear me out, okay?”

My lips twitch.

“Maybe you should ditch the whole ‘princess’ thing if she doesn’t like it.” She looks up at me. “It’s like you’re dismissing her as her own person if you ignore what she wants. You want her to listen to you…” She gives a little shrug. “But it works both ways.”

“Come on,” I scoff. “I…” I rub the back of my neck, agitated. I what? I want to call her princess becauseIlike it? Because I don’t want her to grow up and leave me?

I inhale, releasing the breath slowly. “You make a valid point.”

Shebarelydisguisesher surprise behind a guarded smile. “Is there anything else, Killian?”

Yes. I want to take you in my arms and never let you go. “No. You know, you don’t give yourself enough credit.”

“You don’t give me enough credit either.”

Her face tightens, and the guilt strangles me. I want to say so much, but nothing comes out.

“I’m sorry,” I say in a low tone, hoping to show how serious I am. “I’ll do better.”

She nods, and I watch her walk toward the patio door. “And I do want you to come to dinner,” I say to her back.

She turns, and I see a genuine smile, one I haven’t seen in days. Suddenly, I feel breathless, as if I’ve just been punched in the chest.

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