Page 75 of Daddies' Little Troublemaker

“France. You’d be working in Paris.”

“Oh. Wow. Okay, let me think.” Freaking Paris. That would be a dream come true in so many ways. I’d be surrounded by French speakers, and working with the language.

I’d be far away from my mom, and Chloe, and Troy.

But I’d also be far away from Dad…and Lincoln and Caleb.

Dad clears his throat. “I know it’s a big change. But I would come to visit you all the time, and the job is built in with plenty of downtime between projects, where you can come back to the States.”

“Yeah. Wow.” I’m still thinking, my mind whirling.

“You could start a very solid career with this, and Pumpkin, I don’t want to rush you or anything, but it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. These positions don’t pop up often. It’s with a firm of translators who work in entertainment and with the government. They’re a big deal over there.”

“Okay, I’m thinking,” I say. “It’s a big decision.”

“I know, I know.” He sighs. “You have a few days to think it over. Naturally, I would miss having you nearby, but I fully support you taking this job.”

“When does it start?”

“August, ideally, but I’m sure we could get you in earlier, or at least move you over there if you’re eager to get away.”

“I’m not,” I say. “Not eager to get away, I mean.”

“The timing isn’t great—I wanted to spend a couple of weeks with you when I get back from Japan. But hey, after this trip, I’ll have some time and I could go with you to Paris. Get you settled, see some sights.”

“Yeah, that would be cool.” Inside, my gut is screaming nope nope nope. Not about spending time with Dad, which would actually be awesome. No, my problem is that I don’t want to move overseas and leave whatever it is I’ve started with Lincoln and Caleb. But my brain is reminding me that a relationship with two men is likely going nowhere. It’s temporary, kinky fun. And a job like this—well, it’s once-in-a-lifetime, as Dad said.

“Look, I get it,” he says, “you need time to think it over. So do that, okay? Give it some thought. I have connections over there that I can put you in touch with, as well. There are some nice people among them.”

“That would be great, thanks.”

“So what else is going on at home?” Dad asks.

“Not much. Chloe and Troy are getting married.”

“Christ,” Dad says.

“Yeah.” I bet he’d be unhappy to know Mom was here in his house. He wouldn’t be mad at me, just mad that she was in his space. Then I pause. I don’t want to bring up Lincoln again, but I’m dying of curiosity. Mom beat a hasty retreat when she heard that Lincoln was staying with me. “Hey, do Lincoln and Mom know each other?”

Dad hesitates. “A little.”

It sounds like there’s more to the story. If it turns out that Lincoln and Mom had an affair, I’m going to throw up.

“One of your mother’s friends—Suzanne, do you remember her?”

“Yeah.”

“She has a younger sister, Willow.”

I don’t think I like where this story is going, but I say, “Okay. Did they date or something?”

“Yes. And Willow was infatuated with him. Keep in mind, this was almost twenty years ago. He was young and stupid. We’re all stupid when we’re in our early twenties, aren’t we?”

Boy am I glad I’m twenty-six. Still, I say, “Careful, Dad, that’s not that long ago for me.”

He chuckles. “Anyway, no point in sugar-coating it. Lincoln was cruel, led her on, taught her things that messed with her head. She was fragile to begin with. When they broke up, she took it rather hard. She…she tried to take her own life.”

“That’s awful.”

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