Page 94 of Camera Shy

“Yes, Gramps is Senior, Dad is Junior, and I’m Griffin Harvey the Third.” I cock my head at the glazed look in her eyes. She seems both alarmed and amused at the same time. “What?” I ask.

“Nothing,” she says, shaking her head. “You guys just look a lot alike…” But the way she says it…

Ugh. I roll my eyes. “Don’t say it.”

“I didn’t say anything,” she insists, trying to cover her giggle.

“You’re thinking it.”

“I’m not.”

I glare at her. “You are… Fine. Just say it.”

“I have nothing to say.”

“Just get it out, Avery,” I grumble.

“You’ll forgive me?” she asks, giving me an adorable, innocent smile.

“Of course.”

She makes a big ordeal of coughing into her fist. “Your dad”—cough, cough—“is hot.” She bursts out laughing. “Okay, I’m kidding. Kind of. It’s just he doesn’t look his age. Actually, how old is he?”

I narrow my eyes at her again. “Why? You want his number?”

“Oh, stop, Finn.”

I’m not proud to say it, but it would not be the first time one of my dates ditched me for my dad.

“He’s fifty-six, a pilot, disgustingly rich, and has the sex drive of a man in his early twenties.”

Avery shakes her head, her long, brunette waves falling over his shoulders. “Oh, geez. Your poor mom.”

That. That right there is why Avery’s the one. She gets it.

I glance over Avery’s shoulder, watching the hostess heading to our table with my dad in tow. He purposely trails a foot behind so he can watch her ass. It’s like watching a lion stalk its prey. Maybe I should warn her, but judging by that stupid giddy smile on her face, she’s happy to walk right into his trap. Use a condom. Getting child support out of him will be a bitch.

“Look,” I say in a hurry, “my dad is a nice enough guy, but if you’re uncomfortable at any point, we can leave—”

“Finn.” Avery reaches across the table and squeezes my hand. “You asked me to come here for support. So I’m here. Unless your dad slaps a hockey mask on and starts chasing us around with a machete, I’m not going anywhere. Don’t worry about me.” She raises her brows. “Worry about you,” she says in a hushed tone as my dad approaches.

“You have my number, honey. Call me after your shift and maybe I’ll let you buy me a drink,” Dad says with a wink to the hostess, who scuttles away, blushing. “Champ!” he bellows. He holds out his arms and I scoot out of the booth to embrace my father. “You look good, Son. I’m so happy to see you.” He clasps his forearm around my shoulders and pats my back with gusto. “So happy.”

“Hey, Dad,” I mumble into his shoulder. My dad still has a solid two inches of height on me. I have a bit more muscle, but not by much. Admittedly, he’s in great shape for fifty-six. “Why are you so late?”

“Ah, I’m sorry, bud. I didn’t mean to be rude. Truthfully, I fell asleep in my hotel room. If I wasn’t staying right upstairs, this dinner might’ve turned into a nightcap. By the time I threw on a sports coat and ran out the door, I was already twenty minutes late.”

I nod, but I’m skeptical. I believe he was sleeping. I just doubt he was alone. “Dad, this is Avery Scott.” Ah, fuck it. I’m just going to say it. Let’s see what she does. “My date.”

She wiggles to the edge of the long booth and rises, her dainty hand extended. “Mr. Harvey, it’s a pleasure to meet you. May I just say Finn is your spitting image.”

Dad takes her hand with a huge smile on his tan face. His salt-and-pepper brows lift animatedly. “Hey, honey. Call me Junior, please. It’s so nice to meet you, too. And no, no way. My boy got all the good looks. Such a handsome fellow.”

“Well, with that, I agree.”

Still shaking her hand, Dad pulls her into an uncomfortably tight hug. Avery’s breasts flatten against his abdomen. “We’re huggers in this family, little lady.”

Penny returns to the table as if she was summoned, and I’m suddenly aware our fanfare of a greeting is blocking the thruway for the servers. She’s holding a platter of drinks and appetizers and she needs us to take our seats.

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