Page 148 of Dance of Thorns

“Dove?”

“Hi.” I force a smile to my lips. “I was in the neighborhood and was hoping I could talk to you?”

He frowns. “About?”

I clear my throat. “A couple of things, actually.”

His brow stays furrowed as he nods. “Sure,” he shrugs, standing and gesturing to a pair of couches by the windows. “Melinda was just about to bring me some coffee.”

“Coming right up, sir,” Melinda says with a slightly flirtatious smile.

Someone’s got a crush on the boss…

“Have a seat, honey,” Dad says gruffly, taking a seat on one couch and nodding to the one across the coffee table from it. “What’s this about?”

I inhale and exhale slowly.

“I wanted to ask you about Mom.”

He frowns, thrown off a little but hiding it well. “I see,” he says doubtfully. Then his face softens a little as he looks at me. “Sorry, it’s just that you don’t ask about her much.”

“I know,” I murmur.

He shrugs. “Well, what did you want to know?”

“How many kids did you guys have?”

I’ve ambushed him with it on purpose, hoping that if hedoesknow about my twin, it’ll show on his face.

But all I get is an amused expression. “Dove, I have a pretty busy schedule today.”

When I don’t respond, he scowls back at me.

“Is this a joke? We had one child: you. And then Tiffany and I had your sister Chiara.”

I hold the silence for a little longer than normal. Dad looks confused and a bit annoyed.

“Was that…it for the questions?”

Melinda knocks discreetly on the door and then walks in demurely, carrying a tray with two cups and saucers, a metal coffeepot, creamers, and sugar. She sets it all down on the table between us with a quick glance at my dad. He glances back, his throat bobbing before he nods to her.

“Thank you, Melinda.”

“Of course, sir.”

Dad exhales as she steps out, reaching for the coffee and pouring some in my cup and then his. As he does, the light from the window falls a little differently across his face. I peer a little closer at a strange shadow near his ear and then realize I’m looking at a bruise.

“Are you okay?”

He frowns. “Huh?”

“Your face…”

Dad brings a hand up to the spot near his temple and shrugs. “Oh, that.” He chuckles. “I went to the boxing gym with Antonio the other day and was reminded of my age.”

I grin. He grins back as he stirs cream and sugar into his coffee. Then he looks up at me.

“Dove, Idohave a busy day.”