Page 4 of Prickly Romance

Today, she’s wearing a flowing blue dress with a plunging neckline that shows off her cleavage. Her hair is slightly curled at the ends and brushes against her bare shoulders.

Sazuki finishes his little scan and then returns to scowling at me. “Thank you as well.”

Wow. Growly much?“No need to thank me. I’m glad your daughter’s okay.” Bending slightly, I sign to Niko. “It was nice to meet you.”

She grins, making her eyes collapse with happiness.

Sazuki’s shock is hidden quickly. When he looks at me this time, it’s with more than just disdain. He hesitates, mouth opening and closing before he comes to some kind of internal conclusion. Hands steady on Niko’s shoulders, he steers his daughter away.

Niko stops him with a slight touch on his arm and I make note of how he leans down to watch her. One of my sister’s biggest frustrations growing up was not being heard when she had something to say. I can tell that Sazuki and his daughter are close by how in-tune he is to her needs.

He’s still a major douche-canoe.

But he’s not a… horrible dad.

“I want her to come with me,” Niko signs.

The scowl that crawls over Sazuki’s face is ten times darker than before. “No.”

Niko pushes out her bottom lip.

Vanya inches the baby stroller toward me and peers at the father-daughter duo. “What are they saying?”

“Niko wants one of us to go with them.”

“Go where?”

“Don’t know.”

“And which one of us?”

“I’m not sure. She didn’t specify.”

Just then, Sazuki’s sharp gaze swings to me and I swear, it’s like he’simpalingme with his eyes.

Vanya clears her throat. “I think I have an idea which one of us hedoesn’twant, but look… his daughter is pointing to you. I think she wants you, Deej.”

“I’m not going anywhere with him.”

“Why not? He’s cute.”

“Cute isn’t the right word,” I mutter. Sazuki’s too sharp. Too angular. Toointense.

“You’re right. Sexy is a better word, I think.”

“Aren’t you married?”

“What are you? The marriage police?” She snorts.

I scowl.

“Deej, I’m married. Not blind. And I’m not looking for me. I’m thinking of you. You and Sazuki can clear up whatever happened at the gala.”

“I’mneverforgiving him for what he did at the gala.”

“What exactly did he do to you?” Vanya asks.

“Throwing me off his keyboard wasn’t a big enough infraction for you?”

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