Page 13 of Daddy's Double Surprise

Rick mentioned already having plans for a family dinner, and told me to stop by any time. It was his generous nature that had me standing on his front stoop now, pressing the doorbell, hoping Sunny was the one who answered. When Rick’s towering form appeared, I didn’t shy away from the handshake and offered the bottle of wine I brought.

“Come on in, Carter. We haven’t started eating yet. I’ll have Melanie set a plate for you. She and Luna are in the kitchen doing some last-minute prep.” Rick gestured to enter as he stepped backward, and the sight of his living room—and devastatingly gorgeous daughter—came into view.

I strolled in, focusing on Sunny’s expressive hazel eyes as she looked up, seeming shocked. She rose from her place on the sofa and smoothed her hands down the front of her cream-coloredslacks. The red sweater she wore hugged her curves beautifully, conforming to the roundness of her tits. It was hard not to notice.

“Dr. Price,” she said professionally, “I didn’t realize you were coming.” The smile on her face lit up the room. I walked over to her as Rick passed by behind me.

“Soleil, do you mind keeping Carter company while I take this to your mother?” Rick’s tone was less of a question and more of an order, but Sunny didn’t seem to mind. She patted the sofa cushion next to her as she sat back down, and I joined her, though we kept a bit of space between us until Rick was out of the room.

“Your dad invited me,” I told her, pulling her close for a brief second. I pressed my lips to hers and grinned against her mouth as she licked my lip then bit it.

“I had no clue you were the ‘company’ he was planning.” She sounded giddy, acted like she’d been loathing this meal all day until I arrived. “I thought he was trying to set me up or something. But I’ll take this view all evening.” Her fingers scratched my stubble as she kissed me again.

I pulled away, not wanting Rick to catch us in the act. Lord only knows what he’d think if he saw us necking. If we were going to do anything, we had to do it the right way. But before we even crossed the line into the territory of making our intentions known to her father, we had to make sure it was what we both wanted. No sense setting that fire without a cause.

“I do want to have dinner. I wasn’t just pushing you off.” Sunny relaxed back on the sofa, even farther from my grasp, so I followed her lead. “I’m looking forward to it.”

The comment made my heart soar despite the edge of fear it brought on. I was smart enough to know I wouldn’t live the rest of my life as a single man, but wading into relationship territory with a new woman when I had baggage would be daunting. Shehad to know I had my limits, and certain things would be off the table—like kids. I couldn’t do that again, not after losing Hope.

“I’m looking forward to that too. I really like you.” My fingers itched to touch her again, hold her hand, play with her hair. Being professional in front of Rick would be torture, but it was better than not seeing her at all.

When the doorbell rang again, Rick called, “Coming!” and the expression on Sunny’s face soured. She sat up straighter, hawk eyes staring at the front door. Rick scurried through the living room again and smoothed his tie across his chest before pulling the door open.

I watched Sunny’s mood shift from elated to disgusted in a split second. Rick boisterously welcomed his new guest and backed into the room to invite him in. Liam Holmes, whom I only knew due to his massive social following and several huge movie deals, stood next to Rick in the doorway. I had no clue Rick knew any celebrities, let alone personally enough to bring them to his home with the intent of setting his daughter up on a date.

My chest constricted as nausea turned my stomach. And when I glanced at Sunny’s scowl, it was evident she knew what her father was up to. We both stood, her a little closer to me than was appropriate, and we moved toward the entryway as Rick shut the door behind the new guest.

“Soleil, Carter, this is Liam. I’m sure you’ve seen his movies,Fade to BlackandParanoia.” Rick had the largest grin on his face, as did Liam, whose smug grin appeared a little on the cocky side.

The twenty-something actor was a playboy, and entirely the wrong type for Sunny to date. I didn’t know what the heck Rick was doing. Maybe he thought bringing in a celebrity would make Sunny snap out of the doldrums and get back to her normal life, but if so, he had no idea what grieving was really like. Sunnyneeded time and space to process not having her best friend in her life anymore, not an expensive, public distraction.

“Nice to meet you, Liam.” I was the first to offer my hand to shake. His grip was weak. I squeezed a bit harder than maybe I should have.

When he took Sunny’s hand and brought it to his lips I almost gagged. He was trying too hard, and I hated it for her.

“Let’s sit down, shall we?” Rick winked at me, some conspiratorial action I was supposed to infer things from, but all I could do was grit my teeth and follow the crowd.

Sunny was stiff as she sat down next to Luna. Melanie sat at the foot of the table, Rick at the head. Liam and I sat across from the girls. Sunny’s head hung as Melanie began passing the dishes around. The conversation around me was a blur, mostly Luna gushing over the hot actor seated at her table and Rick talking Sunny up like she was a slab of beef on the chopping block. She sat silent, shoulders sagging.

“So Liam, you love making movies and Soleil loves watching them. Don’t you, dear?” Rick was pushing too much. Even I could see that. Melanie looked uncomfortable with it all too.

“Yes,” she said, nodding. “I do.”

“OMG, I love your movies.” Luna’s hand fluttered to her chest and her eyelashes batted. Liam seemed to make eyes at her. It was obvious she was loving the attention, which Sunny disdained.

“I’m working on something new too,” Liam said, popping a bite of roast into his mouth. “Mmm, Mrs. Douglas, this is amazing. Almost as good as my momma makes.” He spoke with his mouth full, chewed loudly, grinned like a fool, and otherwise used poor manners. He wasn’t at all good enough for either of Rick’s daughters.

Rick eyed me as I ate in silence, watching the back and forth. I definitely hadn’t come here to see this. I didn’t know it wasRick’s plan to force a man on his brokenhearted daughter. I thought it would be me and his family, and I’d be able to stare into Sunny’s beautiful hazel eyes all evening. This was miserable for everyone.

“Why thank you, Liam. Wise of you to say your mother is a better cook than me.” Melanie chuckled as she continued eating.

“Soleil is an amazing cook too, Liam. She once baked fourteen hundred heart-shaped cookies for a school Valentine’s fundraiser,” Rick boasted proudly, chest puffed out like the good father he was, and Sunny sank into her seat a little farther. She’d barely eaten a bite, hand pressed to her belly as if she were feeling sick.

It was so uncomfortable, I almost got up to excuse myself. I couldn’t watch the train wreck about to happen. Everything in me wanted to jump up and scream at him to stop what he was doing and let his kid have space. Still, I sat there taking small bites, wondering what was going through her mind. She was so happy only moments before that twerp showed up.

“Uh, fifteen hundred,” Sunny mumbled, and then she covered her mouth. “I’m not feeling well. May I be excused.”

Twenty-eight years old and still polite enough with her family to ask to be excused. I loved that. It made me smile and my heart grow warm. Sunny was a true hidden gem, a woman with so much honor and respect in the core of her being. Even when her father was being an outright jerk, she still respected him.

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