Page 138 of The Heartbreaker

“Years of cheerleading helped, but, yeah, I’m with you. It wasn’t easy—that’s for sure.” Her fingers left me, and I let several seconds of silence pass before I said, “I want you to know that when it comes to Daisy and her education, you can come to me and talk to me about it. If you’re not comfortable doing that, I understand that, too, but I’m here and I hope at least a small part of you knows that.”

She nodded. “I do.”

I went to stand, and she set her hand on my shoulder and stopped me.

“I need to ask you something.” Her gaze returned to Daisy and Ridge. “Taylor Swift is Daisy’s idol, and going to her concert is all she talks about. I don’t know if Ridge mentioned it, but I’m not able to go—a work thing came up, and it’s a dream gig that I just can’t miss.”

I waited for her to look at me before I said, “He didn’t tell me.”

“When I told him I couldn’t attend, he said he was going to bring Rhett.” She rolled her eyes. “We both know Rhett would rather stab his eyes out than go to that concert.”

I laughed. “Truth.”

I could see the hesitation in her gaze, the build-up, the courage that moved through. “Will you go with them?”

A question that definitely wasn’t easy for her to ask. In fact, I bet it was harder than I could even imagine.

I put my fingers on top of hers. “Yes. I would love to. Thank you, Jana.”

She gave me a slight nod and pulled her fingers away, and I took that as my cue, leaving her to go to the dance floor, where Daisy was turning in circles with the help of Ridge’s hand.

“Everything okay?” he asked as I joined them.

“Better than okay.”

He put his arm around my shoulders and kissed the side of my head. “Damn it, you amaze me.”

“It was something I had to do, Ridge. She’s Daisy’s mom.”

“Some women wouldn’t, and some women couldn’t—and then there’s you.” His eyes dipped down my body. “The most beautiful woman here, looking positively stunning in that rose-gold dress.”

I gave him a smile and an air kiss, and I grabbed Daisy’s other hand. “Look at you with all the moves,” I said to her. “Who knew you were such a good dancer?”

She held up her other arm. “Twirl me, Addy.”

“I have a better idea.” I scooped her up in my arms, her six-year-old body almost too big to hold the way I wanted, but I found a way to make her fit against me, and I held one of her hands and turned with her. “Tell me when to stop, okay?”

“Faster, faster.”

She laughed as I picked up speed, and during one of the rotations, I noticed Ridge had his phone in his hand and appeared to be taking pictures of us.

Daisy gave him a huge grin before she said, “Stop!”

I slowed and began to swing us instead.

That was when she cupped her hands over my ear and whispered, “You’re my daddy’s friend, aren’t you?”

“Yes, I am. Why?”

She continued to whisper, “I wish you were his girlfriend, not his friend.”

I let out a small laugh that I could no longer contain. “Do you think I should ask him to be my boyfriend?”

Daisy’s nod was exaggerated.

“Will you help me ask him?” I said to her.

“Yes!” She looked at her father and waved him over. “Daddy, come here!”