Page 25 of The Bad Wedding Date

“You look…” He cocked his head to the side. “Charming.”

“Come on, lady, ask him,” Annabelle said, tugging on my arm. She pointed at Penn. “Ask Daddy. Ask him for the puppy.”

“Excuse me?” Penn laughed, that old charm of his tainting his tongue with an arrogance I wanted to knock out of him. “A puppy?”

I stared back at Penn, open-mouthed. “Daddy?” He was the same age as me. Only twenty-four now. I’d heard whispers about his life in recent years but never anything about him being a father. “Annabelle is yours?”

“That’s what they tell me.”

“But… how?”

“If you need me to answer that question, Lottie, it’s no wonder we broke up.”

I took the hit of that one, not willing to answer back. My eyes closed for just a second before I reopened them and shook my head. Stepping back, I let go of Annabelle’s hand, a little devastated that such a sweet girl could belong to such a gigantic dickhead.

“I’m sorry. I have to go. My date is waiting for me.”

“A date? Who?” Penn scowled.

“Goodbye, Penn,” I said, keeping my insults to myself for his daughter’s sake.

Walking away on shaky legs, I clutched my purse to my stomach, able to feel the intense burn of Penn’s glare as I went. He didn’t like it when people didn’t answer him, and he hated it even more when people walked away. Especially me. I was the one woman he’d never been able to control, even when I’d been silent about his torrid affairs.

Come on, baby. We’re just kids. We’re meant to fuck up this time in our lives. If we don’t do it now, we’ll only do it when we’re older. Let me live a little. Once I’ve done that, I’ll come back to you and be as good as gold. I promise.

That had been his response when I’d thrown all my accusations at him. Penn didn’t deny who he was as a person. He didn’t see a damn thing wrong with any of it.

I made my way back into the Parlour Room to see Fraser leaning against the bar in the same place I’d left him. A small, reassuring smile came to life on my face… until I realised who was standing beside him.

Mayor Williamson stared up at Fraser’s towering form, and he didn’t look happy. His finger was pointed upwards, his face contorted with anger as he leaned in close. Fraser was completely calm—his hip resting against the bar with one hand holding the opposing wrist across his stomach. His face held no expression as he looked down at the city’s mayor.

It looked like they were in a heated exchange with only one of them passionate about the outcome.

Something caught Fraser’s eye, and he glanced my way, only to do a double-take and focus in.

Our eyes locked across the room, and Fraser blinked once, ignoring the mayor completely.

“Is that the date?”Penn came to a stop beside me. Annabelle was holding his hand, but he was totally focused on me. I could feel it. Close… so close. I could smell his minty breaths. I could taste his expensive aftershave. “Damn. He’s looking at you like he wants to eat you.”

“Go away, Penn.”

“He’s not your usual type. Not that you have much of a type. I’m still your last serious relationship, right? Even six years later.”

“Serious.” I laughed once. “Sure.”

Penn leaned in closer. “Mayor Williamson doesn’t seem too keen on him, though. I wonder what that’s all about?”

“Penn?” I turned to face him. Our noses were only inches apart, and I stared into his eyes, I tried to imagine those two years I spent believing he could be something to me. I came up with nothing. He was just another stranger I didn’t know. One I knew less than Fraser. “Go fuck yourself,” I whispered before I walked away on shaky legs, returning to the man I hoped would tame the beast growing inside of me.

* * *

“Mayor Williamson, nice to see you again,” I lied as I approached them both.

The mayor cleared his throat and tugged down on his suit jacket—a move that I was starting to recognise as a nervous tick. “Lottie.”

“Charlotte.” I smiled tighter.

“Of course.” He tipped his head. “I trust you’re keeping well.”

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