Page 53 of Reckless Single Daddy

Theo seems disinterested, but he takes the bait, anyway. “Depends on their interests.”

“My daughter is really big into art lately. I know nothing about it, unfortunately. But she’s about to start high school, so I’m hoping she’ll get to spread her creative wings, if you know what I mean.”

Theo’s ears perk slightly. I would hug David right now if I didn’t think it would blow our cover.

“Well, I am the art teacher at Rose Valley High,” he says stuffily. “I even taught the renowned Sloane Bennett. Perhaps your daughter has heard of her.”

I can’t help but roll my eyes at hearing this guy act like he can actually take any credit for Sloane’s success.

“Let’s just say that’s the only reason I could even get her to move here,” David says with a laugh. “Maybe you could take her under your wing, too,” he adds, placing the glass on the bar.

Theo chuckles arrogantly, but nothing he’s said or done has incriminated him so far. My gut is telling me that something is here, but I just need a line. Anything.

Take the bait, dammit.

“I look forward to creating new prodigies of the arts,” Theo states.

David nods firmly. “Got any advice I can pass along to my daughter?”

Theo hums as he picks up his drink. “Humanize thy work and thyself,” he intones.

I stand up, my posture going ramrod-straight as David and I watch Theo leave to mingle with the crowd.

I walk back to David. “You got him,” I whisper as I walk past.

David nods. Now, I just need to notify Mike. There’s only one question lingering in my head: how am I going to break the news to Sloane?

Chapter twenty-four

Sloane

Today is the day.

Today is Mia’s wedding, and I’m more nervous than ever. I haven’t been the best maid of honor for Mia, but even with my absence, everything has come together beautifully. And I want it to remain that way, even though I know today carries some risks.

Cade mentioned to Mia and Killian that he and David believe they discovered the identity of my stalker at the rehearsal dinner yesterday. Cade wouldn’t tell me who, so needless to say, I’ve been less than enthusiastic about today. My sister is gettingmarried, and I should only be thinking about her happiness, yet I’m very worried. It shouldn’t be this way, and to make matters worse, I’m being kept in the dark in the name of my safety.

And I’m livid about it.

If anyone should know the identity of this person, it’s me. All Cade could tell me was that the person would be a guest at the wedding, and I needed to remain cautious. That’s not comforting in the least, but something tells me he’s leaving me with as little information as possible to keep me from blowing the whole operation out of the water.

I try to run through all that happened yesterday to figure out who Cade and David think is my stalker. But I spoke to so many people last night that everything has blurred together.

Unless…

No.

When Cade and I first got to the banquet hall, we were in our own world until Mr. Mathers—Theo—came up to greet us. Cade seemed very on edge with him from the start, but I assumed it was a weird jealousy. This man was my instructor—a mentor, even—so the very thought I could want anything more with him was totally inappropriate. Also, he’s two decades older than me, and while age clearly doesn’t bother me, he isn’t my type.

Cade, on the other hand…

At any rate, I’m sure Cade sent me away because it was some alpha male type of thing and not because he thinks that Theo could be my stalker. Theo has a direct line to me, anyway. He can email, call, and text me. He even showed up at my exhibition without me knowing he was going to be there. It’d be crazy if he just decided to go anonymous and create chaos in my life.

It has to be someone else.

“Are you ready?”

I look up to see Mike smiling at me, but I can tell he’s not feeling calm about any of this.

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