Page 52 of Healed
“No! I’d rather he stay around a while, Havoc. I do not need you scaring him off!” Daisy exclaimed.
“I bet Carson would like that. He’s a little quiet, but he could use a new friend,” Charlie said.
“Why is nobody listening to me?” Daisy asked no one in particular.
“Good! Here,” Havoc said, fishing a crumpled business card out of his wallet and tossing it on the table. “Give me a call and we’ll set something up.”
“Let’s go, Daddy! You said we were going out to eat, and I’m still not eating!” Harley whined.
“You go with Mommy. I’ll be there in a minute. I gotta go to the bathroom.”
“You already went to the bathroom,” Analise said.
“I didn’t make it yet. I saw Daisy and felt the need to say hello,” Havoc said. He looked at Charlie. “Your boy ain't afraid of big orange iguanas is he? ‘Cause Harley’s best friend is a big orange iguana.”
“I don’t know,” Charlie said truthfully.
“We’ll find out,” Havoc said. “Glad you got to meet me. I’ll be seeing you soon!” he leaned over and kissed Daisy on the cheek, then swaggered off toward the restroom.
Analise sighed. “He’s a great male. Wonderful husband and father. But he has no boundaries. If you’re his anything, he’s all involved with or without an invitation. He saw Daisy with you and obviously decided he needed to insert himself. I hope you don’t allow him to determine if you’ll see her again. Daisy is wonderful, and she deserves someone who sees it.”
“I love that she has family that cares enough to be involved. One little overprotective cousin isn’t going to scare me off.”
“Good. Because if he invited you to our house, he likes you. If he didn’t, you’d already be in your car on your way home,” Analise said.
“Mommy!” Harley said, pulling on her hand.
“Alright! Let’s go find out where our table is,” Analise said. She quickly kissed Daisy’s cheek, too, then shook Charlie’s hand. “It’s nice to meet you. Hope we see you soon.”
Charlie watched as they walked away. “I like your family. He’s a lot like your dad.”
“Actually, he’s a lot like his dad, but you have no idea. He’s not the only one. I’ve got dozens of family that will be all up in your face until they feel they know all there is to know.”
“Looking forward to it,” Charlie said.
“You poor misguided man,” Daisy said, as they shared a laugh.
“It’s getting kind of dark out there. We’ve been here all day,” Daisy said, as she glanced outside.
“You ready to go?” Charlie asked.
“I think so.”
“How about dessert, or would you prefer a strawberry shake on the way home?”
“Ohhh, you know how to tempt me.”
He lifted his hand to signal the waiter.
“I’m going to run to the restroom. I won’t be but a second,” Daisy said.
“I’ll be right here,” Charlie promised.
~~~
Hellen shrieked with laughter as Lucien grabbed her hand and spun her in a circle before dipping her so low her hair brushed the dance floor.
Lucien laughed wholeheartedly, and most of the women in Vince’s sighed and watched enviously. He stood Hellen back up and held her face in his hands as he kissed her slowly, looking deeply into her eyes.
