Page 96 of Whiskey and Regret

“You care about me?” I asked.

“Yeah. I thought you could tell.” She shrugged.

“How would I be able to tell if you never opened your mouth? You normally say all kinds of reckless shit without a problem. But when it comes down to telling me how you feel…you clam up? Bad girl.” I tipped my chin and nipped at her bottom lip, making her squeak. “Shh…” I pointed to the ceiling and she nodded.

“I didn’t want you to think I wanted a relationship or anything. No strings attached, remember?”

“Well, what do I do if I want to void our previous contract?” My hands rode her tiny waist, pulling her closer. Xari was like oxygen. I needed her near and around me at all times. The closer….the better.

“You’re the lawyer, Freeman.”

“I am…” We fell into another kiss because I was helpless. Sucking and biting on her lips and tongue was the greatest high.

“Xari!” Frankie’s voice sounded from the steps. “Come on, I need your help…please? I’ll make you more bagels.”

Xari pulled away from me and smiled. “I gotta help our girl pick out clothes. We can talk about voiding that contract later.” She bounced out of the room and I watched her ass as she left.

What the fuck was she doing to me?

I was seriously considering moving forward with her. Now that I knew her and saw past the bratty, seemingly immature exterior, I saw a woman I wanted to grow with.

Fuck. I needed to take a walk.

I went to the mailbox and made sure to take deep breaths and look up at the night sky. Normally, the housekeeper grabbed the mail but I needed an excuse to stretch my legs. I grabbed the small stack of envelopes in the mailbox and flipped through them. Two of them were for Xari. One credit card statement and one car note. I left them both on the island for her when I walked into the kitchen. I didn’t open her mail but I remembered when she first started working for me how she couldn’t stick to a budget and had no plans for extra streams of income. She hadn’t paid her car note because she thought her parents were still paying it. The same went for all her bills.

She went from stacks of statements to two. Her car and her consolidated credit card.

The whiteboard wall near the pantry was decorated in Xari’s curly handwriting with Frankie’s schedule mapped out for the week. She pushed the schedule to me and Alexis promptly, and she’d never been late picking Frankie up from school or activities. Her parents were worried that she’d never grow up but as far as I was concerned, Xari was growing into a beautiful, rooted woman.

“Daddy! Come watch me model!” Frankie had to stop shouting through the house. It shattered whatever thought I was having every time. I headed to her room and found her dressed in a pair of distressed jeans and an orange halter top that tied around her neck. All I saw was pretty bronze skin fit for a princess. My brows bunched together and I sighed, folding my arms.

“You’re wearing a jacket over that shirt, right?”

“A jacket? It’s getting hot outside now. I’ll bake.”

“Okay, so why not a tank top?”

“Because I like this shirt.” Her eyes held onto defiance and I knew I had my work cut out for me.

“Look, sweetheart…you’re beautiful. This color is amazing on your skin but you’re not wearing a halter top.”

“Seriously, Dad? It’s a shirt. I’m not showing a lot. Just shoulders.”

“And your back. It’s too much, Francesca.”

“I have a cute Gucci tank that would look adorable with these jeans. Go through my shit until you find it.” Xari was the tension breaker Frankie and I both needed.

“What if I find something else I like? Like that floral Dries Van Noten blouse…” Frankie’s eyes sparkled when she leaned against Xari whimpering and pleading. I knew those eyes. Those were the puppy dog eyes.

“Okay…but nothing white or cream or…”

“I get it, Xari. No light colors. I’m not five. I know how to keep things clean.”

“Sure you do, Frank.” Xari smiled and patted her on the head. I knew if I weren’t standing there Frankie would’ve had an expert comeback for Xari. Instead, she just glared and walked to her room.

“Haven’t you learned how your daughter operates?” Xari asked, bumping me with her hips.

“I know. The more resistance I put up, the more she puts up and we end up in a stalemate.” I tugged Xari close to me and kissed her forehead.