Page 53 of The Rogue and His Flower

“Well if that’s the case, he’s averygood actor,” Lia muses.

“He’s Dalton Gunn. He’s been brought up to behave a certain way his whole life. Piling on the charm and putting on a show comes easily to him.”

“And the speech, you think that was insincere?” she probes.

“I don’t know…” I falter, my words trailing off. “It certainly wasn’t the speech his father wrote for him. That I do know for sure.”

“His father wrote an engagement speech for him? That figures,” Lia comments, her feelings towards Carl about the same as mine. That is, she doesn’t think much of him either.

“He did. They argued about it after everyone left the engagement party. It’s been a tense few days,” I admit.

“That doesn’t sound fun.”

“Not at all,” I agree with a heavy sigh. “Dalton and Carl are barely speaking, which has made our last few evening meals together intolerable, and Dalton has thrown himself into work. I haven’t really spoken to him much these past couple of days either.” I heave out a sigh, feeling my chest tighten at the continued strain between us. “As soon as I think we’re making headway together, something crops up and we’re back to being distant again. I’m not asking to be best friends with him, Lia. I just want to make this whole situation as bearable as possible.”

“Can I be honest with you, Daisy?” Lia asks carefully.

“Of course, I could use some honesty.”

“I truly believe that Dalton was being sincere when he said what he did at your engagement party. I think that…” she hesitates, ruminating on her words.

“You think what?”

“That hegenuinelylikes you, and maybe he’s struggling a little with that given the situation you’re in, and his relationship with Drix.”

“He’s already told me helikesme, as much as a man like Dalton can like anyone,” I add with a shake of my head.

“That’s not what I meant,” she continues.

“Then what are you saying?” I ask.

“Do you remember that time a few months back when you found out that he fired Lewis for sleeping with someone else whilst dating you?”

“Yes, he was being an interfering arse,” I reply, remembering the moment well. I’d been so angry at Dalton for sticking his nose in my personal business that we’d exchanged quite a few heated words in front of a restaurant full of people at the hotel, and then I called him an arsehole and stormed off.

“After you argued, I had a brief conversation with him,” she continues on.

“You never said.”

“You were so angry, and we were just getting to know each other. I didn’t want you to thinkIwas interfering,” she explains, pulling a face.

“Lia, you’re my friend. You're the love of my brother’s life, I’d never assume you were interfering. So what was said during this conversation exactly?”

“That he fired Lewis because he was looking out for you.”

I shake my head. “He would say that. He’s a control freak. Besides, both him and Drix have always meddled with my past relationships. It’s just what they do.”

“He also went on to say that none of the men you dated have been good enough for you.”

“He said that?” I ask, a little shocked to be honest.

“Yes,” she nods her head, searching my gaze. “He told me that he sees you like a sister…”

For some reason that makes me feel worse, not better. “Fabulous,” I mutter.

“But I didn’t believe a word of it,” Lia adds.

“So you think he was acting then, too?”

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