Page 10 of Power Plays & Proposals

"It's not your day with her. Penelope get back in the chair."

Penelope moved further into her dad’s side, and he kept his arm firmly in place around her.

"I get one weekend a month with her. Last I checked I haven’t had my turn yet."

"We both know it’s not this weekend. You have back-to-back games."

"Penelope likes the games." He looked down at her. "Don’t you Sweet Pea."

Penelope smiled. "Can I sit in the Team Suite?"

"Absolutely." He turned his attention back to Erin. "I've already talked to my lawyer. You should be getting a call from yours any second."

"If you want to whine in court again, that’s fine. You’re the one paying for it." Her phone rang, and Erin looked at it before answering. As she talked to whoever it was he turned to me and my boss.

"I'm sorry for your trouble." He pulled out a handful of bills and held them out to my boss. "This should cover the cost and there's some extra. I can't tell you how much I appreciate you saving my daughter."

Priscilla gave him a flirtatious smile that bordered on predatory. "No problem. You can bring her in anytime."

"Dad." Penelope pulled on his arm and pointed at me. "Lia's the one that helped me."

For the first time since he'd stormed in, he looked at me and it felt like I'd been struck by lightning as soon as his eyes met mine. Surprise made his eyes go wide as he recognized me.

"Thank you! Really, you have no idea how much it means to me that you listened to what Penelope wanted."

"Anyone would have."

He shook his head. "Not everyone would stand up to Erin."

"Dad," Penelope said, bouncing up and down like she had been when she walked into the salon. "Can Lia go to Charlie's with us?"

He looked at me, a little lost for words. "Uh..."

"Dad, you say we deserve brownie sundaes on bad days. Mom yelled at her, that makes it a bad day."

"You're right." He nodded at her and then smiled at me.

Charlotte walked back into the salon from her lunch break, her eyes went wide as soon as she saw him. "You're Mr. Hockey!"

His smile dimmed, and he rubbed his free hand sheepishly up and down his neck. "It's Nate actually."

"Lia, will you go to Charlie's with us?" Penelope asked me, completely unphased that Charlotte was fangirling over her dad.

Chapter 5

"Please?" Nate added. "I'd love to buy you lunch to thank you for helping her."

Charlotte’s eyes went even bigger as she stared at me and mouthed What is happening?

I debated for only a moment. Charlotte’s earlier words coming to mind. No, he wasn't asking me out on a date, Penelope would be there. The thought of spending a meal with hunky Super Dad and his sweet daughter- that sounded better than the cup of instant noodles I had at home.

"I'd love to."

"Great. I'll text you the time for lunch tomorrow and we’ll figure it out." Nate squeezed Penelope's hand. "Let's get out of here Sweet Pea while your mom is distracted."

Erin was seething as she listened to whatever the person said on the other side of her phone call. She paced in quick clips across the title.

Nate kept his arm around Penelope and positioned himself between her and Erin as they walked past. Charlotte came over to me looking a bit nervous as she glanced between our boss and a fuming Erin who looked two seconds away from breathing fire.

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