Page 63 of Deception & Daylight
He secureshis belt, then leans over to assess the issue. When the space bar does exactly what I described, he says, “Let me take it back to the shop I bought it from and see if they can fix it.”
I blink rapidly, trying to wrap my head around his statement. “Back up. What did you just say?”
“The guy who sold it to me specialized in antique repairs. He’s in Willow Valley, but I can find some time to take it in later this week. I’m sure he could figure it out.”
“I’m sorry. I think I’m hallucinating. This was from you?” I spent last Christmas at the cabin with Paige and Cade, and when the last gift was placed in my lap, I immediately dissolved into tears and threw myself at my bestie. When she denied buying it for me, I assumed she was fucking with me. I never in a million years thought the greatest gift I’ve ever received came from the man for whom I spent two years harboring a grudge.
“Hey. What’s wrong?” He asks, his thumb swiping along my cheekbone, gathering a tear I didn’t realize had fallen.
“Nothing. I just… I didn’t know. Why didn’t you say anything?”
He sinks down onto the bed and pulls me over him, so we’re face to face. When he cups my cheek and brings his lips to my forehead, I inhale his comforting scent and it instantly eases my frayed nerves. “I didn’t think you’d accept it if you knew it was from me. I spent your entire trip antagonizing the shit out of you until Paige handed me my ass. Everything changed when we made the gingerbread houses, but I knew I still wasn’t in your good graces. I wanted to make you smile, even if I didn’t get to see it firsthand.” He reaches into the nightstand and pulls out his wallet before digging into one of the pockets and producing a small polaroid photo I recognize from Christmas morning last year.
He opens his mouth to speak, but he doesn’t get a chance as I seal my lips over his. “Thank you,” I murmur, pulling him in for one last hug before I let him go.
When I look into his eyes, they’re full of lust and I can feel his hardness between my thighs. “As much as I want to make you thank me more thoroughly, we both have to get to work.” He slaps my ass and I climb off his lap. “Go write your smut, baby girl. I look forward to recreating it later.” With one last sickly sweet kiss, he’s out the door, and I’m more than ready for him to make good on that promise, too.
Chapter 27
Mags
? The Alcott - The National (ft. Taylor Swift)
“Welcome to Willow Creek Inn, how can I help you?” Perched in my usual spot, Lucy’s enthusiastic voice floats through the double doors into the sitting room. After an agonizing four weeks in her wheelchair at the insistence of Dr. Nate, she’s finally free and her restlessness has abated somewhat with the use of an absolutely gaudy cane covered in vibrant florals.
I freeze when a familiar pompous voice responds tersely to her customary greeting. “I’m looking for my daughter, Maggie Watson.”
“Dad?” My stride is hesitant as I walk into the foyer, spotting the menacing figure of Arthur Watson looming near the front desk. Though I know the cold emptiness in his eyes all too well, my heart still plummets at the sight of it. Dressed in his usual bespoke suit, chest puffed out, he meticulously adjusts his diamond cuff link, the glint of the gem catching the light.
“Maggie. You’ve been avoiding my calls, leaving me no choice but tocome to this godforsaken town to wish you a happy birthday.”
Furrowing my brows in confusion, I ask, “You’re here for my birthday?”, my voice laced with disbelief. Aside from a yearly floral delivery from his assistant, I was unaware he even knew the date.
“Among other things.” The fleeting moment of hope is quickly squashed under his pretentious leather oxfords as he makes his intentions clear. “We have several matters to discuss. Not the least of which is you shirking your responsibilities to hide away in the middle of nowhere.”
He doesn’t ask me how I’m doing, not even sparing an ounce of concern for his daughter in the aftermath of her brutal assault. No, that would be far too much to ask from a self-important man like my father.
Over the years, I’ve had a lot of practice concealing my emotions, but these past couple of months have flayed me open in more ways than one, and tamping down the hurt proves a much bigger challenge than I expect. “Right. Well, I have an appointment I can’t miss, but you’re welcome to join me for dinner tonight.”
“Here?” He glances around disapprovingly.
“You showed up here. We do this on my terms. We’ll have dinner in the dining room at six o’clock.”
“Fine. Don’t be late.” Having gotten the last word, he strides out of the inn and every emotion I’ve been keeping at bay since he arrived comes flooding to the surface.
Lucy rushes forward as quickly as she can with her limited mobility and pulls me into a one-armed hug. I rest my head on her shoulder, holding the tears at bay. I feel her nod and suddenly I’m being spun into two strong arms, one hand cradling my head while the other wraps around my back. “What happened?”
I shake myhead, unable to form words, but I don’t have to because Lucy explains for me. “Her dad showed up out of the blue. Said he was here for her birthday, but I got the feeling there’s more to the story. Forgive my crassness, but he seemed like an arrogant ass.”
I huff out watery a laugh. Leave it to Lucy to make everything better with little effort. Reluctantly, I step out of Miles’ embrace. “Understatement of the century.”
“You good?” he asks.
I nod. “I’ll be fine. At least until dinner.” I managed to successfully delay the inevitable, but in a few hours I’ll have to come face to face with reality and draw a line in the sand. My time in Oak Ridge has only solidified my decision to distance myself from my father’s legacy.
“Do you want me to come with you?”
I shake my head. “I appreciate the offer, but I don’t want to subject you to his bullshit.”
