Page 170 of Vegas Heat

We got back last night, but my dad hasn’t been home since. He texted me earlier asking if I wanted to meet for dinner, and here we are.

“He’s doing well,” I say. “I think he was just scared his brother was going to take the same path his dad did.”

“The same path my own father did,” my dad admits, and his eyes look a little pained for a beat. “That’s why I wanted you to go. I know what it was like when I lost my own dad to a heart attack, and I didn’t have a friend with me to lean on. It was tough, and I hated for Cooper to go through this thing with his brother alone. He’s really started to see you as a little sister, and I appreciate that sort of friendship.”

Joanie must see my face give me away again at thelittle sistercomment, because she jumps in. “I don’t know about a little sister, but they do seem like they’ve gotten closer.”

“As friends,” my dad amends. “Sure. Even though I’m sure it’s hard to find much in common with a man twelve years older than you.”

“You’re seven years older than me and we have plenty to talk about,” Joanie points out, and I almost shoot her a grateful look before I realize I haven’t confirmed a thing to her—yet—and a grateful look will only be an admission of guilt.

Not that there’s anything to be guilty about.

You know, other than lying.

“Right. Seven years. There’s an entiredecadeplus two between her and Coop. It’s just different worlds. Different generations, you know?” he says.

I guess that answers my whole age gap question from earlier.

“How are you enjoying the internship?” he asks, shifting the subject again as I try not to feel the whiplash even though I’m glad for the subject change.

“I’m loving it,” I say. “Most of the other interns are great and some have already started becoming good friends.”

“At tomorrow’s meeting, we’re going to talk about your project for the week,” Joanie says, excitement in her tone. She glances at my dad. “It’s the one you helped me come up with.”

His eyes light up a little. “Ah, yes. It’s a good one,” he promises.

I laugh. “I can’t wait to learn all about it.”

“I’d tell you now, but I wouldn’t want to give you any advantages the other interns don’t have,” Joanie says, and she winks.

I’m not sure what the wink means. Does she think I have an advantage because of my dad—like Mackenzie seems to think? I blurt it out before I can stop myself. “Some of the other interns already think I have advantages they don’t have.”

“They do?” my dad asks at the same time Joanie asks, “Who does?”

“I don’t want to say,” I begin, but I guess blurting it out might have not really given me much of a choice.

“Honey, if someone isn’t playing fair…” my dad begins, but I cut him off when I hold up a hand.

“I can handle it. I don’t want to change the dynamic or make you think less of any of the interns. I want us all to have a fair shot. It’s just that some think I have an advantage at the Social Media Manager position because of who you are.” I nod toward my dad.

“Pfft. That’s ridiculous,” my dad says, and he holds up his whiskey glass to the waitress across the room to indicate a refill.

“Is it?” I ask.

“We will select the best person for the position,” he says, and I hold my tongue even though I wonder who thewehe’s referring to might mean. Is it him and Joanie? Or does he meanwe, the Heatas an organization?

Why would he be involved in these sorts of decisions when he’s in charge of player management and there are others in place for front office management?

I get that he’s an important man and somehow all these pieces fit together, but it just feels like he runs a lot more than his position entails.

I’m just not sure what that means if Idoend up with the position, and I’m not sure I’ll ever feel like I got it on my own merit or because of who my father is.

CHAPTER 28: COOPER

“Pocket rockets,” Rush says, tossing down a pair of aces.

“A bachelor’s dream,” Danny says, laying down four queens.

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