The Hazards of a One Night Stand (25 page)

“Dad?” I called as I stepped into the giant white entry way. My boots echoed on the marble floors. “Dad?”

A door opened somewhere, and I dropped my bags on the floor.

Dad walked down the hallway. He pulled me into a quick but tight hug. “Hi, honey. I need to finish a call. Make yourself at home, and I’ll be out soon.”

“Okay.” I forced a smile and waited for him to disappear again before starting my tour of the house.

Once through the massive entryway, the majority of the downstairs was one big, open great room. A modern kitchen complete with stainless steel appliances and some sort of stone countertops caught my attention, but the whole downstairs looked great. Either my dad hired a designer, or he had a girlfriend I didn’t know about. The natural color palette and perfectly coordinated rooms weren’t designed by him.

I decided to avoid the hallway Dad disappeared down and ventured upstairs. I discovered a few immaculate bedrooms that were probably never used. I wasn’t sure which one Dad wanted me to use, but I had my eye on the one furthest from the stairs. It had a huge bathroom with one of those giant showers with a bunch of streams. I’d always wanted a shower like that.

The second floor also housed a cozy room I’d probably call a library. Dotted with chairs and ottomans, the room urged you to pick a book off the shelf and read. I had to give it to the designer; they’d gotten the room perfect.

“Hey, sweetie.” Dad snuck up behind me and made me jump.

“Hi, Dad.”

“How was the drive? I would have picked you up myself you know.”

“Oh, that’s fine. I dropped Colt off in Gasden first.”

“You’re still dating
him
then?” He said him with distaste, but I decided not to push it. Fighting with Dad so early in my stay was a bad idea.

“Yes. We’re still dating.”

“Lovely.” He put an arm around my shoulder. “Let me show you the rest of the house.”

“I’m guessing one of these rooms is mine?” I asked when we reached the first bedroom.

“I put your stuff in the last room on the left. You can move them, but I had that room put together with you in mind.”

I walked back inside the room I’d already picked out. My bags were all laid out. Maybe Dad knew me better than I thought. “Thanks.”

“Of course. Have you eaten? We have dinner reservations at seven, but feel free to snack on anything before then.” He led the way back downstairs.

“I’m fine right now, but thanks.”

“Okay. I did try to pick up all your favorites.”

I’d have to check out the fridge and pantry to see how well he’d shopped.

We walked down the other hallway, and as I expected, it was his wing. A large, dark master bedroom was the largest room, but there was also a study and a fitness room.

“Beautiful house,” I acknowledged as we returned to the great room.

“Thank you. It’s big for just me, but maybe you and your brother will start spending more time here.”

“I’m here now, aren’t I?” I took a seat on a comfortable couch.

He sat down in a loveseat across from me. “And I’m glad you are. It’s been far too long since we spent real quality time together. It’s mostly my fault, and I’m sorry for that.”

“It’s fine.”

“No, it’s not. I’m your father. I’m supposed to play an active role in your life.”

“I’ve turned out just fine.” At least, I liked to think so.

“Yes, you have. But maybe if I was around more, you’d have a better idea of the traits to look for in men.”

“Oh no. Don’t start.”

“It’s true. I don’t blame you or your mother. I blame myself.” He left out the last name. The name he really wanted to list. Rob.

“Did you invite me here just to harangue me about who I date? Because if so, there’s no reason for me to unpack.”

“No. Of course not. I’m simply trying to share my feelings with you. Isn’t that what a father is supposed to do nowadays? Share his true feelings with his children?”

“I think that’s plenty of sharing.”

He laughed. “Okay. Let’s discuss you working for me this summer.”

“What?”

He leaned an elbow on the arm of the loveseat. “We always take interns. Why not you? You’ve always had impeccable taste. Something else you got from your mother. I think you’d do well in the marketing department.”

My jaw dropped. “Seriously? You’re offering me a summer internship?”

“What do you say? You can stay here. It will give us plenty of time together.”

“That would be a lot of fun, but I don’t know yet. I have to talk to Mom.” A few months earlier, I would have jumped for joy at the opportunity to spend the summer away from Gasden. Now I wasn’t sure, but a marketing internship at Piedmont Capital? That was the kind of opportunity that didn’t come around often.

“See, that’s how I know you’re my daughter. You find starting a new job fun. Most people don’t view opportunities that way.”

“I’m just excited you considered giving me the opportunity to begin with.” I crossed my legs and tried to relax. As long as we could keep the topic off my personal life, we’d be just fine.

Dad’s phone rang and he pulled it from his pocket. “I need to take this, sweetie. Make yourself at home. I’ll be out in a few.” Did he realize he’d already said the same thing to me when I first arrived? I waved to let him know I was fine and headed into the kitchen. Time to find out how spot on Dad’s shopping had been.

“We’re eating somewhere nice tonight. Dress up a little, will you?” Dad said it offhandedly like I needed to be reminded to dress appropriately.

“Yeah, I already figured that much.”

“Great. I’ll see you in about thirty minutes then?”

“Sure.” I walked upstairs, slightly suspicious of how concerned he was with what I wore. Maybe it had just been awhile since we’d spent time together. I definitely didn’t remember him being that way. But maybe that was all part of his new “you’re an adult, act like it” mentality. As long as he didn’t try to set me up with some stuffy suit from his office, I was okay with it.

Thirty minutes later on the dot, I waited for Dad in the entryway. Dressed in a simple black dress that fell just above the knee, I figured I was appropriately attired. What occasion does a little black dress not cover? Paired with some cute new black kitten heels, and a black shawl to keep my shoulders warm, I was ready to go.

“You look nice.” Dad walked toward me wearing a black blazer and slacks. We pretty much matched. Fantastic. Just what I always wanted, to match my dad.

“Thanks. You too.”

“Are you ready?”

“Sure.”

We got into his car and took the short drive downtown. Dad pulled up to the valet and left his key. He approached the hostess stand, and I hung back, taking in the restaurant. It was fairly modern with lots of art on the walls, and I wondered how the food tasted.

“Ready?” Dad touched my elbow.

“Sure.”

He pulled out my chair, and I sat down, immediately noticing something off about our table.

“Dad?”

“Yes, honey?”

“Why is there a third place setting at the table?”

“Because we’re going to have a little company.” He smiled lightly.

“Company?” Was this when he sprung his surprise new girlfriend on me?

“I think you’ll be very happy with it. We thought you’d like the surprise.”

“Surprise?”

“Here he is now.”

I dropped the napkin that was halfway to my lap when I watched Tanner stroll over to our table. “What are you doing here?”

“Hey, Mallory. Mr. Clark, thanks for inviting me.” He kissed me on the cheek like it was the most natural thing ever.

I jerked back. “I’m going to ask you again, why are you here?”

“He’s here to see you obviously. I thought you’d be happy to see him.”

“Why would I be happy about it?”

“Tanner’s told me all about your history. I think his patience is admirable.”

“Patience?” I asked with confusion.

Tanner smiled. “My patience with you as you get your little cowboy out of your system.”

“What? Colt is not a little cowboy, and I’m not just getting him out of my system,” I snapped. Did he really have the audacity to say that?

Dad scowled. “Lower your voice, Mallory.”

“Why?”

“Because you will not make a scene. I thought this would be a nice surprise. Evidently, I was wrong.” Dad eyed me like I was the one doing something wrong.

“Why would this make a nice surprise, and how do you know Tanner?”

“He interviewed with me last month. He was upfront about his history with you. I appreciated the honesty.”

“You appreciated him using me to help him get a job?”

“Using you? What would there be to use you for?” Dad’s words stung. In them was the insinuation that I could never influence his decisions.

I brushed off the hurt. “Come on, Dad. Don’t play stupid. What’s really going on?”

He didn’t answer. Instead, he gestured for the waiter to come over so he could order a bottle of wine.

“Answer me,” I demanded as soon as the waiter walked away.

Tanner gave me a patronizing smile which only made me angrier at the whole situation.

“You will not talk to me that disrespectfully.” Dad glared at me across the table.

“Then please answer me.”

“You are blowing this way out of proportion. I thought you might enjoy some time with an old friend.”

“Why surprise me then? Why not just lay it out there to begin with?”

“Because I know how emotional you can be. Sometimes you need to step away to get a clear head.”

“You mean you wanted me to step away from Colt.” Then all the pieces fell into place. “Is that why you offered me the internship?”

“Of course not.” He leaned over the table. “I offered you the job because you’re my daughter and it’s what’s best for you.”

I tried to calm down. I had no means of leaving the restaurant on my own. I wasn’t sure what would happen once we got back to the house though. I’d been so excited for the internship, but could I really accept it? Maybe if Dad just stayed out of my love life, I could figure something out. I needed to salvage something from this mess. I’d made too much progress with Dad to throw it away again.

I choked down my true feelings so I could get through dinner. I could do that much. “Fine. I’m sorry for blowing up.”

“It’s fine. I should have remembered how much you hate surprises.”

I didn’t respond. What was there to say?

Tanner reached a hand across the table. I didn’t accept it. “I’m sorry for my comments, Mallory. Seeing you brings out the passionate side in me.”

“Passionate side?” Did he mean the asshole in him?

“Yes. You boil my blood. Generally, it’s in a good way, but clearly sometimes it overwhelms me in this less than perfect way.”

“I’m sure she understands, Tanner. Mallory has the tendency to be rash and say things she doesn’t mean as well.”

By the time the wine arrived, I could have downed the whole bottle myself. I wasn’t sure who I was angrier at, Dad or Tanner. I was also angry at myself for not expecting it.

I ordered a garden salad, having no appetite and no willingness to waste money.

Dad looked at me worriedly, but thankfully didn’t comment on my food choice. Maybe he thought a salad was an appropriate dish for a girl to order when dining with a male dinner guest. Isn’t that all he cared about anyway? Appropriateness?

I never even changed out of my dress. Instead, I paced my room so long that I was surprised I didn’t wear out the carpet. A summer internship at Piedmont, working with my dad? At one point, this would have been a dream come true. Now? Not so much. In that moment, I thought back on my decision to hook up with Colton. Who would have thought one night of sex in a barn would change my life so completely. Colton had taught me a lot in our months together, and I refused to throw it all away. I wasn’t perfect, but I could be better. I could even learn to like myself.

One thing that wasn’t going to help was spending more time with my father and his world, at least not for the reasons he was offering it. Maybe sometime in the future when he was ready for a normal father-daughter relationship, or at least as close to one as we could muster, I’d go for it, but neither of us were ready for that yet. I finally gave up pacing and walked downstairs.

I hesitated outside the den. Dad was reading the paper on his tablet.

“Dad. I need to talk to you.”

“Hi, honey. Is this still about Tanner? I didn’t think it would upset you so much.”

I didn’t believe that. He had to have known.

“No.” For such a short word, it packed a punch.

“Excuse me?”

“I don’t want the summer internship.”

“And why not?”

“Because you’re trying to buy me, and I’m not something that can be bought.”

“Buy you? You’re my daughter. I don’t need to buy you.”

“I don’t want to be your puppet. I don’t want you trying to turn me into your idea of perfect. I’m just fine the way I am.”

“My idea of perfect? I just want you to be happy and successful.”

“Happy and successful? And I can’t do that on my own terms?”

“I guess not.” Dad’s hand balled into a fist at his side. He was getting angry. “When I don’t interfere in your life, you continue to make stupid decisions.”

“Excuse me? What stupid decisions?”

“Jack Waters was one thing, but Colton Waters?”

“Colton’s not Jack, and Jack dumped me before things could get too serious.”

“Thank God for that.”

“He wasn’t that bad.” I couldn’t believe I was defending Jack. Things do change.

“He wasn’t? Then why’d he give you up so easily? A real man fights for what he wants.”

Dad paled, like he realized he’d just let something really bad slip out.

“Give me up easily? What are you talking about?”

“Nothing. Let’s just go to bed. We can talk about this another time.”

“No. Tell me. Did you have anything to do with Jack breaking up with me?” I thought back on Jack’s words. It wasn’t what I thought.

“Please, Mallory. Now isn’t the time.”

“It’s the perfect time.” I crossed my arms.

“It was the only way.”