Page 88 of Boss with Benefits

The gesture was so casual, so normal, that it made my chest ache with a weird mix of emotions I couldn't quite name. I was still amazed how easily my mother had accepted him as part of our lives.

Lulu cleared her throat. "So, Brad, what was Aunt Jessica like back then? In high school?"

Brad's eyes went soft. "She was radiant. Brilliant. Had this giddy laugh that made everyone smile." He chuckled. "And she was always humming showtunes under her breath. Drove me crazy sometimes, but in the best way."

"That was so Aunt Jessica," Lulu said, smiling. "She never could resist a good musical. Every year we'd take her to a Broadway show for her birthday."

"I think I listened toWickeda hundred times," Brad continued. "She'd skip French club to hang out at my place sometimes. That's, uh..." He glanced at me. "Well, that's how you came to be, Rachel."

"Wow," I deadpanned. "TMI, Dad."

The word “dad” slipped out, and we both froze for a second. Then Brad's face split into a grin so wide it looked like it might hurt.

"Sorry," he said, the emotion thick in his voice. "I'll try to keep the conception stories to a minimum."

"Much appreciated," I said, but I was smiling too.

Brad's expression dropped into a frown. "I didn't know, though. About you. One day we were together, and the next she was just gone. Transferred schools. I went to her house. Her father slammed the door in my face."

Lulu sniffled, and I realized she was crying. "Aunt Jessica never talked about you or Rachel. But there was always this sadness about her. Like a piece of her was missing."

Mom wrapped an arm around Lulu's shoulders. "She had a good life, though," Lulu continued. "She married a good guy, my Uncle Chen. He moved back to China after she died, but my dad keeps in touch. What shocked all of us is that he knew about you, Rachel. Aunt Jessica told him after they got married, but she was too ashamed to ever look for you."

A lump formed in my throat. "She was just a kid," I said softly. "I don't blame her."

Suddenly, a familiar figure appeared at the edge of the field and walked toward us. Hao Lin.

"Rachel," he said, smiling hesitantly. "Can I speak with you?"

"What are you doing here?" I asked, more surprised than annoyed, glancing at Lulu, who shrugged, as in the dark as I was.

He shifted uncomfortably. "Lulu says you're here today. I come to apologize. For following you. It was...not right."

"Ya think?" I muttered, but there was no real heat behind it.

Hao's gaze landed on Brad, and his brow furrowed.

Brad stood, extending his hand. "Brad DeLacey. I knew your daughter. A long time ago. I'm, uh, Rachel's father."

Brad's words hung in the air like a bomb. The color drained from Hao's face, and an awkward silence descended, broken only by the distant laughter of children playing nearby. Hao took a stumbling step backward, then another, before turning and hurrying away across the park.

Lulu started to get up. "I'll go after him."

"No," Brad said, his voice gentle but firm. "Let me."

I watched in stunned silence as Brad jogged after Hao, catching up to him at the edge of the field. They talked for several minutes, their body language tense at first but gradually relaxing. And then, to my utter astonishment, Brad pulled Hao into a hug. Hao looked like he'd rather be anywhere else, but he didn't pull away.

"Well," Mom said, her voice slightly strangled. "This is unexpected."

"Welcome to my life," I muttered. "Where the plot twists never end."

Hao left, and Brad made his way back to them. His expression was unreadable as he sat back down on the blanket.

"What did you say to him?" Lulu asked, voicing the question we were all thinking.

Brad sat on his shins and ran a hand over his thighs. "I told him that I loved his daughter. She was special. And that I'm gonna be a permanent fixture in your life, Rachel. And I made sure he knew I wasn't angry. I understand he was just trying to protect his daughter, to do what he thought was best."

I leaned forward and wrapped my arms around him in a spontaneous hug.

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