Page 10 of Daddy’s Little Charmer (Daddy #36)

Harmony clutched at Christian’s hand and looked around the elegant restaurant. She bit her lip as people turned to look at them.

The place was like something she’d seen in a magazine for the rich and famous. Bright white tablecloths, shiny silverware, and crystal glasses. The seats were deep burgundy and richly padded for comfort.

There was a muted level of conversation with underlying soft music. Artwork and decorative pieces were set randomly around the room on short walls that separated some of the more private tables.

Christian looked down at Harmony as they followed the hostess to a table in the back, where he’d be able to talk to her without distractions.

“What’s wrong, Baby?”

Harmony looked through her lashes at the tables. They passed one table after another.

“Everyone’s staring,” she whispered.

Christian chuckled. “It’s because you’re so damn beautiful.”

Harmony snorted and relaxed, thinking he was teasing her to lighten the mood. She decided to try to ignore the other people as much as she could.

They stopped at a small round table with a vase of beautiful flowers in the middle. Christian pulled out her chair before he moved his toward her and sat.

Christian smiled at the blush that covered Harmony’s face.

The hostess handed them a menu. “Your waitress will be with you shortly.”

Christian nodded, but then immediately covered Harmony’s hand that lay on the table.

“Stop being so nervous. I promise you, everything’s going to be okay,” he said.

Harmony reached for her glass of water and took a sip. Hell, the water was even expensive-looking, served in a cut-crystal glass and accompanied by a slice of fresh lemon that sat on its edge.

“I’m sorry. I just feel so out of place.”

Christian squeezed her hand before he reached to pinch her chin between his thumb and fingers.

The only way he thought to calm her was to tell her a bit about his history.

Show her they were not from different worlds.

He wouldn’t tell her everything because some of it still embarrassed him too much.

Although they had both had to live through periods of poverty in their lives, it wasn’t a lack of working with her family, while he was trash.

Women, his mom, and sister, who hadn’t worked a day in their lives and expected the world to take care of them so they could smoke, drink, and watch TV all day, embarrassed him beyond belief.

He thought one day soon he’d tell her, but their relationship was just starting, and he wanted to make a good impression.

“You’ll get used to this. I had to.”

Harmony glanced at him. “What do you mean?”

“I didn’t always have money.”

The waitress interrupted them, asking for drink orders.

“I’ll take a scotch on the rocks,” he said and glanced at Harmony. “Would you like some wine or something stronger?”

“White wine would be lovely, thank you,” Harmony said and smiled at the waitress.

Harmony turned back to Christian when the waitress walked away. “What did you mean before?” Harmony asked.

Christian unfolded his napkin and placed it over his lap.

“I came from a very poor family. I worked hard in school, received a scholarship, and attended college. After school, I began collecting businesses that were struggling and brought them back to life. I seemed to have a knack for finding places that could be successful.”

Harmony shook her head. “I never would have guessed what you came from. You’re so self-assured.”

“That came with time, Baby.”

“What about your family?”

Christian stiffened briefly. “They’re all gone.”

She reached over and squeezed his hand. “Oh, I’m so sorry.”

Christian nodded but stayed silent as the waitress set their drink down.

“Give us another minute to look at the menu, please,” Christian said to the waitress who lingered by their table.

Harmony looked up and down the inside of the menu and felt her stomach tighten.

Christian caught her troubled look. “What’s the matter?”

Harmony cleared her throat and leaned toward him. “These prices,” she whispered. “They’re ridiculous.

Christian grinned. “I would agree with some places. But this place makes the best steaks. Would you let me order for you?”

Harmony nodded and closed her menu before she placed it on top of the table. “Yes, please,” she said and sighed.

Christian raised his hand to get the waitress’s attention. He handed the menus back after he placed their orders.

Christian noticed how nervously Harmony glanced around the room as she sipped her wine, with her hand visibly shaking.

He reached and grasped her glass, set it down, and then caught her hand and attention.

“I don’t want you to worry about anything. It’s just you and me here. They don’t exist.”

Harmony sighed and relaxed before she nodded. “All right.”

Christian lifted her hand and placed a kiss on her palm. “Tell me about school.”

Harmony shrugged. “I’ve got two classes right now, and then in the fall, I’ll try to take a full load. It will be easier because I work at your place on Fridays and Saturdays.”

Christian cleared his throat. There were so many changes he was going to make in her life, and he was nervous to see how she’d take it or if she’d try to walk away.

“We have a lot to discuss,” he told her.

“Like what?”

“I want to make drastic changes in your life.”

“Oh? Like what?” she asked suspiciously.

“First, I need to tell you that if at any time you’re not happy, all you have to do is say something to me, and I’ll do everything in my power to change it.”

“As sweet as that sounds, you’re not in charge of my emotions.”

“The thing is, I want to be part of everything.”

Harmony tightened her grip on the napkin in her lap and tipped her head to the side. “Tell me what you mean?”

Christian took a healthy drink from his glass. He couldn’t remember ever being that nervous. “If I … if we made changes that would make it possible for us to be together, would you do it?”

Harmony frowned. “I’m afraid to ask, but what changes?”

“You quit your job and move in with me.”

Harmony’s mouth dropped open. “But … are you kidding me?” she sputtered.

“No, I’m not.”

She bent very close to him. “We only just met, for God’s sake,” she whispered nervously.

Christian bent forward and placed a quick kiss on her lips. “I know that, Baby. But it doesn’t seem to matter.”

She sat back in a daze. “I’ve got so many questions. I just don’t know where to start.”

“The beauty of our situation is we can make whatever changes we need along the way.”

Harmony bit her lip. “When would this happen?”

“You’d go home with me tonight.”

Harmony sucked in a startled breath. “Tonight?” she hissed.

“Yes,” he confirmed and narrowed his eyes.

“But...”

“There are no buts. Do you want to be with me?” he asked her gently.

“Well, yes, but why do we have to move so fast?”

“I can’t promise this, but if you lived in a safer neighborhood, it might have helped me deal with you living apart from me. But I would still worry about you because you wouldn’t be with me. Knowing where you actually live terrifies me. My gut is tied in knots, thinking of you there.”

“What if I said no?”

Christian’s gaze narrowed dangerously. “If you’d rather have Nico and Connor in your apartment with you than be with me...” he said and left it unfinished.

“I—” She stopped suddenly as her plate was set before her.

Christian stared at her as she studied the food in front of her. “Do you not like steak?”

Harmony glanced up at him. “No, I love it. I’ve just never had food like this in front of me. It’s so pretty. With all the parsley and the rose they made out of the radish.”

Christian chuckled and cut into his steak. “Try it,” he encouraged when she continued to sit there staring.

Harmony’s eyes closed, and a moan sounded in her throat at the first taste of meat.

“Oh, my God. It melts in my mouth,” she declared and groaned.

Christian chuckled and continued to eat. He watched her push her half-full plate away from her as he continued to eat. He pointed to her plate with his fork.

“Are you sure you’re done, Baby?”

Harmony nodded. “Yes. It was delicious, but I couldn’t take another bite.”

Harmony glanced around the room again as Christian finished his meal.

“May I have a to-go container, please?” Harmony asked the waitress when she stopped by to check on them.

“What are you going to do with that?” Christian asked.

Harmony smiled. “I’m going to drop it off at a neighbor’s place.”

Christian scowled. “Who?”

“There’s an old schoolteacher who lives in my building. She’s the sweetest thing in the world, but she can’t get around like she used to, so I try to help her out. She will love this.”

Christian reached for her hand. “She might be sweet, but you’re the sweetest person I’ve ever met.”

Christian grinned when Harmony blushed.

“The guys told me how you take care of people.”

Harmony shrugged. “I try. I wish I could do more.”

“Like what?”

“Well, I’d want to make Mrs. Owens’s life easier. She has some minor health issues and lives on a very limited budget. She has no family that I know of, so I’ve kind of adopted her,” she said and grinned.

Christian shook his head. “Anyone else?”

“There’s this woman who lives in the building…”

“The prostitute?”

Harmony looked at him in shock. “The guys told you?”

“Yeah, they told me everything. Some things we’ll have to discuss, like the shirt you wear at night and parade around in the morning.”

Harmony rolled her eyes. “Well, yes, I’m talking about the prostitute. But she’s very nice, and she’s been protective of me since I moved in.”

“How do you want to help her?”

Harmony shrugged. “I’m not sure she would let me help or the best way to help, but I’d get her a bus ticket to her sister’s in Ohio, a few outfits, and maybe take her to the station. She’s talked about going, but money and her pimp are holding her back.”

“Has the pimp talked to you?” he asked with an edge to his tone.