Page 67 of About Last Knight

Me: I’m pretty sure she has money. I don’t ask, but she has a lot of nice things and a nice place.

Amanda: She was dressed like a model from a designer catalog.

Me: I told you that she dresses stylishly.

Amanda: What’s her full name?

Me: Melissa Knight.

A few minutes later, my text tone pings again.

Amanda: Have you ever googled her?

Me: Of course not.

Amanda: Her ex-husband is one of the wealthiest, most successful men in Philadelphia.

What? She’s never mentioned that.

Me: Well, she told me that they started their marriage with nothing and ended it with plenty.

Amanda: It’s more than plenty, Dec.

Me: She’s down to earth if that’s what you’re worried about. She volunteers at a ton of charities and teaches languages to underprivileged kids. She’s a good person.

Amanda: Okay. If you say so. She’s in the big leagues. She’s not like us. Be careful.

A few hours later, I meet Melissa and Jade for a late lunch. I kiss them both hello as I look down at what seems to be one hundred shopping bags.

“Wow. I guess you guys found a lot of great things. Did my credit card melt from overuse?”

They both laugh. Jade says, “We didn’t get much. Melissa just got me a bunch of condoms and birth control pills. A few sex toys too.”

I stand so abruptly that my chair falls over. “What? What did you just say?”

Melissa grabs my arm and shakes her head. “Declan, relax. She’s obviously kidding. I’ve known her for twenty-four hours and understand her sense of humor. Calm down and sit down.”

I pick up the chair and sit. Jade’s grinning. I scowl at her. “You’re grounded for a year.”

She giggles. “You’re such an easy target, Dad.”

She turns to Melissa. “When can I meet your family? I’m looking forward to meeting your sons and their families.”

Melissa looks at me for guidance. I shrug. She turns back to Jade. “Your dad has only met one of my sons. He hasn’t met anyone else yet. My ex-husband and his wife are having a pool party this weekend and they invited us so that your dad can meet the whole extended, complicated family. Why don’t we see how it goes with your dad meeting them, and then we can figure out a time for you to meet them all, as long as both your mom and dad are comfortable with it.”

Jade nods. “Okay, but you may be better off introducing me before this Cro-Magnon over here.” She points at me, as I continue to scowl from her earlier comment.

Melissa laughs. “You may be right but let me handle him.” She winks at Jade.

At some point, Melissa excuses herself to go to the bathroom. I look at Jade. “Everything went okay today? You two got along well?”

Jade’s eyes light up. “It was amazing, Dad. She’s incredible. She took me to really nice places. All of the salespeople knew her and fell all over themselves to help us. I felt like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, except not the whole hooker thing. I got the nicest clothes. But…” She bites her lip.

“But what?”

Jade scrunches her nose. “She wouldn’t let me use your credit card. She paid for it all.”

“What?” I point to the large pile of bags. “All of this? It must have cost her a fortune.”

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