Page 16 of Surrendering His Heart (Buena Hills #4)

“Can we do this again, Daddy?”

Christian glanced at Isla, partially hidden by the giant leather chair dwarfing her small body. Her feet were propped up on the matching footrest, her toes separated by purple foam dividers.

The smell of acetone mixed with whatever flowery lotion the woman in front of him massaged into his feet. “Sure, sweetheart.”

He didn’t mention that this would probably be the last time they splurged on their occasional daddy-daughter dates until he knew whether his job was truly at risk.

They weren’t considered wealthy—especially stacked against Carrie and her CFO husband—though Christian’s salary provided a comfortable life with a few splurges when necessary.

If he weren’t so uncertain about his permanence at the company, this outing wouldn’t concern him. But Isla didn’t need to know all that.

His daughter smiled at him before returning her focus to the nail technician at her side. The woman had painted Isla’s fingernails in alternating orange and black for Halloween with tiny pumpkins on both her thumbs.

Before becoming a girl dad, he’d never dreamed of stepping foot in a nail salon.

So when Isla had suggested manis and pedis for this special outing, naturally he’d had reservations.

But then she’d mentioned how all the other girls in her kindergarten class went with their moms. Really?

Taking five-year-olds to a salon was a thing now?

But maybe it had always been a thing, and he just didn’t know it. Put this on the list of situations he never expected to deal with as a parent. How could he deny his daughter the experience simply because he wasn’t a woman ?

Simple answer: he couldn’t. He’d give her the moon if it fit in her bedroom.

And bringing Isla to get her nails done turned out to be just the distraction Christian needed.

Jim’s lecture from yesterday about being late—and the subsequent “consequences” that followed—didn’t gnaw at his mind right now.

Nor did the unfortunate conversation with Carrie earlier.

It had taken the entire ten-minute drive to the nail salon to unclench his jaw from that encounter.

The technician dug her thumb into the arch of his foot, jolting him from the uncharitable thoughts forming about the entire Pritchard family. Christian relaxed his shoulders, only then realizing how tense they’d become in the moment it took to rehash the conversation.

She signaled the end of the massage with a light tap on his calf, and he slipped his wallet from his back pocket, pulling out a twenty-dollar bill. “Thank you.”

She bowed her head before walking away. After unrolling his pant legs, he slipped on his socks. Once the other technician slid Isla’s flip flops onto her feet and removed the foam dividers, he tipped her as well.

“You ready to go, kiddo?” he asked, tying his shoes. The trays of pedicure tools left in front of him looked like a colorful Jackson Pollock of smeared lotions and body scrubs. He walked around them, holding his hands out for his daughter.

“Yep!” She reached up and Christian lifted her from the chair, setting her on the floor. “I’m hungry. Can we go to dinner now?” She swung their connected hands back and forth as they walked up the middle aisle to the entrance.

It warmed his heart to see her carefree like this, so he swallowed his hesitation at spending even more money.

He’d just have to keep his head down at work so Jim wouldn’t find additional reasons to let him go.

And after tonight, he’d tighten his wallet to be on the safe side.

“You’re in charge tonight. What’re you in the mood for? ”

Isla pursed her lips, thinking. “How about french fries?”

“The Burger Stop it is, then.” Buena Hills’ family-friendly restaurant was a town legend with its burger that easily fed at least four people. He’d never ordered it before, but he’d always been curious about the truthfulness of that claim. “How about a milkshake to go with those fries?”

“You can’t have french fries without a milkshake, Daddy.”

Christian chuckled at her exasperated tone. “Silly me.”

After signing the receipt, he grabbed Isla’s hand again. The bell above the door announced their departure as they stepped out of the salon into the dim evening light.

“Hey, Christian.”

He turned to find Tyler’s wife approaching from his right side, her sister half a step behind.

Though twins, their appearance was a study of opposites.

Gemma’s dark curls cascaded haphazardly over her shoulders, and she wore jeans and a zippered hoodie.

Cassie’s blonde locks were pulled back in an immaculate ponytail, thin curly tendrils framing her face.

“Hey, Gemma,” he said, then turned to the other woman. “Cassie.”

She gave a little wave and a smile that didn’t quite reach her tired hazel eyes.

Gemma reached down and tapped Isla lightly on the shoulder. “Hi, Isla. Are you on a special outing with your dad?”

Isla lifted her free hand up for the women to see, wiggling her fingers. “I got my nails painted.”

Cassie made an oohing sound.

“They’re so pretty. I like the pumpkins.” Gemma glanced back at Christian. “Did you get your nails painted too?”

One side of his mouth flicked up in a smirk. “Not this time.”

“Your loss,” she said, then tutted her tongue against her teeth.

His smirk transformed into a grin. Turning to Cassie, he noted how much paler her skin appeared than he’d remembered.

Granted, he didn’t know her that well. He hadn’t seen her since she’d married Tyler’s cousin back in May.

And that had only been for the few minutes he’d stopped by the reception. “How’re you feeling?”

“Awful,” she groaned, placing a hand on her tiny baby bump, barely detectable through her lightweight sundress. “Ask me again in March. Hopefully, I’ll have a different answer for you.”

His heart went out to her. “Has Brad been taking care of you?”

Mention of Cassie’s husband brought an unexpected twinge of guilt to Christian’s stomach. During their USC days, especially the several months they lived together, he’d considered both Tyler and Brad his best friends.

Unfortunately, his friendship with Brad was just another shattered glass ball in his screwed-up life. His former buddy hadn’t even told him his wife was pregnant. Christian found that out from Hallie.

It was his own fault though. Sure, his friend’s vocal objections to Sabrina had been without tact, but once her true colors came out, he’d realized Brad’s real intentions: to save him from inevitable misery.

Christian hadn’t wanted to believe the red flags presented to him. How could he have been so blind?

“He’s great,” Cassie said, distracting him from the pity party thrown by his conscience. A soft smile appeared on her wan face. “I’ve never been so spoiled, actually. He works really hard, and I feel so lazy. How can something the size of an avocado wreak so much havoc on my body?”

Gemma squeezed her hand. “You’ll forget all about that as soon as this baby is born.”

“You keep telling me that, but I don’t know if I believe you.” Cassie grimaced. “You weren’t this sick with Will. At least we’ll get an adorable baby out of it.”

A heavy weight dropped into Christian’s gut.

Neither of his daughters would ever know what it felt like to be loved so completely by their mother.

Sabrina had spent both pregnancies blaming him for her condition.

A time that should’ve bonded them as husband and wife had only driven barbed wedges between them.

Isla didn’t seem to care about the adults’ conversation. An orange-and-black caterpillar inching along the pavement had captured her attention, and she crouched down for a closer look.

He pulled his gaze away from her, landing on the sedan at the far end of the parking lot as Hallie emerged from the driver’s side. His heart stuttered.

Stop it, he commanded the organ. Why did it keep doing that every time she unexpectedly appeared?

“I should give Brad a call,” he said, turning back to Cassie. “To see how he’s doing.”

He didn’t love the idea of approaching his former best friend, despite getting back on speaking terms after reconnecting at Tyler’s wedding two years ago. Every conversation had the potential of bringing up past grievances, and he didn’t need any more grief in his life.

Cassie’s face softened, tempering some of Christian’s guilt. “You should. He’d love to hear from you.”

Did she know the extent of Christian’s strained relationship with her husband? How much had Brad told her? Christian was sure he’d only received an invitation to their wedding as a formality. His appearance had certainly been one. Could he have it wrong in thinking that way, though?

As Hallie and her roommates approached, Cassie gave an audible sigh of relief. “Oh good, you’re here. I need to sit down.”

With a small wave to Isla, she skirted around the group and into the salon. Gemma said goodbye as well, catching the door before it closed and holding it open for Beej.

Christian ignored the pointed look she shot at Hallie and nodded to Kendall as she passed.

He almost stopped McKenzie before she stepped into the salon.

Isla would love an autograph. But his daughter was still fascinated by the caterpillar, and he didn’t know the gymnast well.

She’d seemed nice enough the other day, but he couldn’t predict whether she enjoyed interacting with fans.

And he’d do anything to prevent disappointing his little girl.

Besides, his attention had zeroed in on Hallie too intently to give the other women more than a passing nod. “Hey.” He flipped his hand up in a weird half-wave.

“Hey,” she repeated.

Isla stood, and Hallie’s eyes flicked to her, wariness crossing her lovely face. She took a step back, the subtle movement almost imperceptible. Her mouth lifted a tiny bit as she greeted the girl. “Hello.”