Page 60 of Inevitable

“Yeah.” He nodded, his expression contemplative. “Thank you again for bringing her on this summer. I hope it hasn’t been too much of a burden.”

I wanted to laugh, but I was too busy trying not to throw up. “Not at all.”

God, I was a terrible friend—the absolute worst. I’d slept with his daughter, and now I was lying to his face. This was exactly why I had to stay away from her.

Chapter Seventeen

“How was New York?” Lea asked, while Dad plated the salad.

“It was…yeah. It was good,” I answered, not entirely sure what to say. Jonathan and I had returned from New York earlier in the day, and everything had gone back to normal. Well, as normal as things could be after you’d slept with your boss.

Lea poured three glasses of wine. “Did you learn a lot?”

“Yeah. I mean, I loved being in the city. I got to meet some clients.” But it was the things Jonathan showed me in the bedroom that had my toes curling. Him pressing me against the shower, finger-fucking me in the back of the town car.

“And Jonathan?” Dad asked, carrying two plates over to the table and setting them down. Lea brought over the third and took a seat.

“What about him?” I asked quickly, a little too quickly. I sipped the wine, my cheeks heating as I quashed those memories.

“How did he seem?”

“Good.” I swallowed the truth as I continued spilling lies. I’d told myself that my dad wasn’t part of the equation, but that was easier to believe when he wasn’t sitting in front of me, asking about his best friend.

Sure, I’d kept things from my dad in the past, but I couldn’t imagine he’d be thrilled if he knew I’d slept with Jonathan. Not that it mattered. We were back to being professional and acting like it had never happened. After we’d returned to the office, he’d spent the rest of the day catching up, and I had done my best to keep my head down and get my job done.

“Did he…” Dad cleared his throat. “You know, say anything? Confide anything to you?”

“Like what?” I asked, though sweat dripped down my back. Did he suspect something?

“I don’t know.” He lifted a shoulder but continued to cut his chicken. “You guys spent a whole week together. I just figured…”

“Dad, it was a business trip.”

“Yeah. I know.” He recoiled, and I immediately regretted the way I’d snapped. “But after work, surely you guys talked.”

I shook my head. “Not really. The hours were pretty crazy, and any talk was focused on the clients and what was coming up next. Besides—” I sipped my wine and set the glass back down “—he’s my boss. He’s not going to spill all his secrets to me, even if you two are besties.”

“Oh.” His expression fell, and I felt even worse for my lie. “Right. Of course.”

“Honey, is something wrong?” Lea asked Dad.

“He was acting really odd today.”

I nearly choked on my chicken, coughing a few times before gulping down some wine. “Sorry.” Another cough. “You saw him today?”

“We had lunch. I would’ve invited you, but he said he thought you had plans.”

“I…yeah.” I tried to school my expression even as my mind churned with questions. They had lunch?Did Jonathan say anything?“I did.”

“Odd, how?” Lea asked Dad, and I wished they’d just drop it.

“Just really evasive or something. I got the impression he wasn’t particularly happy to see me.” Dad stared into the distance, brows furrowed. Lea placed her hand atop his.

“I’m sure it’s nothing.” Lea forced a bright smile. “You said he seemed good in New York, right, Sumner?”

“Yes.” I forced out the word. “Really good.”

Dad shook his head, his earlier expression clearing as he smiled. “You’re right. I’m probably overanalyzing.”