Page 115 of Undeniable

“I don’t know, do I?” I sniffed.

“Oh please. How could I forget that my father is a football legend, one of the greatest players of all time, the man who led the Hollywood Heatwaves to victory four years in a…”

“You’re really laying it on thick,” I teased, relieved we were back on solid ground.

“Well, it is Juliana Wright.” If Olivia hadn’t been wearing a dress and heels, I swear she’d be skipping down the sidewalk. When I’d called her to tell her about the appointment, she’d nearly busted my eardrum with her shrieks of excitement.

“So you said.” I watched her, warmth filling my chest. Anything to make Olivia happy. “What’s so special about Juliana Wright?” I affected a posh accent.

“What’snotspecial?” Olivia asked. “She’s made a name for herself offering eco-friendly events that cater to those with special diets.”

I hmphed. “You mean like the actresses who only eat potatoes on Tuesday.”

Olivia rolled her eyes with a smile. “Probably. But I was referring to food allergies like mine. Juliana caters to clients with celiac disease, nut allergies, vegans, you name it.”

“Is being a vegan a disease?” I teased, though I’d eaten a heavily plant-based diet for years when I was training for the Heatwaves and even after.

“You know what I mean, Dad,” Olivia said.

“Yeah, and she probably charges through the nose for it.”

“Probably.” She shrugged. “But you know it’s not cheap to eat high-quality, plant-based food. And she’s organized a number of events raising awareness and funding for celiac disease and other causes.”

“Really?” I asked. “How do you know all this?”

“There’s this thing called the internet. You should try it.” She stuck her tongue out at me.

I butted her shoulder with mine. “And who’s still carrying around an iPhone 6?”

Despite the fact that I’d offered to buy her the latest model, she still wouldn’t let go of the old one. The only reason she’d agreed to let me give her my old Land Rover was because I’d wanted to get a new car.

“Yeah. Yeah.” She shielded her eyes from the sun, glancing up at the building. “This is it.”

I held the door open for her. “Where’s Connor again?”

She pressed the button for the elevator. “Virginia. He’ll be back on Friday.”

“And you’re sure you don’t want to wait to meet with the wedding planner until he can be there?” I asked as the doors opened and a few people filed out. Though, honestly, I had no idea how long that would be. I hadn’t connected with Juliana at the hotel like I’d hoped. And Olivia and I had been lucky to get this appointment after someone canceled.

Olivia barked out a laugh and stepped into the elevator, pressing the button for the eighth floor. “And miss the chance to meet with Juliana Wright?” She shook her head. “No way.”

“You know this isn’t a done deal, though, right?” I asked. I didn’t want to burst her bubble, but I felt the need to caution her. I’d hate to see her disappointed. “I don’t know if she’s even available for your date or if you’ll like her or…”

“Dad.” She placed her hand on my arm. “As a wise man often likes to remind me—it will all work out.”

Leave it to my daughter to throw my own advice back at me. But she was right. I considered myself a laid-back guy, but I struggled when it came to my daughter’s happiness. Still, I knew that whether it was this wedding planner or another, we would make her dream wedding happen.

“Thank you again for setting this up. It means a lot to me.”

“You’re welcome.” I draped my arm over her shoulder, and she wrapped hers around my waist. “I’m sorry for overreacting the other day. I know how important this is to you, and I’m honored to be included.”

“I’m glad to have you here with me. And I’m sorry too. I’m stressed about work, and you know how grumpy I get when I’m hungry.”

“I do.” I gave her shoulder a quick squeeze before releasing her. “All right. Let’s get this over with.”

“Dad!”she said, dragging out the word.

“Okay. But I just… Keep an open mind. She’s not the only wedding planner in LA.”

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