Page 34 of The Maxwell Brothers
I’ve already found one.
“We could all go out and have fun.”
“Are you saying I’m not fun?” I winked at her.
“Not always.” The smile she gave me was sheepish.
“What? Of course I’m always fun.”
“Prove it.” She stood up, a challenge on her face—my little competitive girl. I knew exactly what she was after.
“I’ll chase you to the top of the hill. I bet I’m still faster.”
“No, I am. Just wait and see.” With a giggle, she turned on her heels and started running. I gave her a few seconds before chasing after her.
“I told you I’m faster!” Paisley exclaimed seconds before she reached the fence.
I purposefully let her win because I liked playing this game with her. It made her smile from ear to ear. That grin had me wrapped around her little finger ever since she was a few months old.
“Who isn’t fun now?” I challenged, blocking her way, shifting my weight from one leg to the other and holding my arms wide to my sides.
Paisley giggled, holding her arms clenched to her sides. But when she glanced behind my back, probably to plan her escape, she let her guard down a bit, and I seized my opportunity. I went directly for her armpits, tickling her. She shrieked with laughter. “Okay, okay. You’re fun, Dad.”
I straightened up instantly, letting my hands drop. My daughter calling me Dad instead of Daddy was the equivalent of a parent calling their child by their first and middle name. I knew it was time to end the game.
I held my palms up in defense, and she gave me yet another toothy grin.
“What do you want to do? Go back to Chicago? Gran says she’s expecting us for dinner, but I don’t think she’ll mind if we show up earlier.”
“We can go now,” she said.
On the drive back to the city, I kept mulling over our conversation. Ever since the divorce, I’d split my time between my daughter, my family, and Maxwell Wineries. I’d blocked out everything else. It had been as much a self-defense mechanism as a survival instinct. But Lexi was fun and sexy and made me laugh without even trying. And I wasn’t going to let go of that.
I wanted Lexi.
I needed her.
We arrived at Gran’s one hour later. After parking the car, I noticed the screen of my phone lit up with a message. I intended to ignore it, thinking it might be Nora again, but Lexi’s name caught my attention.
Lexi: Hi! So I have an ear infection and I feel awful. I’m not sure I can make it tomorrow. And also… I think it might be a good idea for you to reach out to one of the others you interviewed for the job.
CHAPTER 10
LEXI
The painin my ear was unbearable as I tried to turn from one side to the other on the pillow.
Oh no, why did I even try it?
Oh, that’s right, my phone is ringing.
I blindly answered, putting it to my good ear.
“How are you feeling?” It was Tate’s voice.
“Like I was hit by a truck, and every time I try to get out of bed, the same thing happens.”
“What happened?”
