Chapter Twenty-Four
“Your high school girlfriend?”
“We broke up when we went to different colleges. I went to A&M on my football scholarship and she went back East. I met your mami, and the rest is history.”
Okay, so this woman couldn’t be all that wonderful or her father would have kept in touch.
He wouldn’t have dropped her. Obviously, Zoey’s mother was “the one” and he realized it.
No point in looking back. Relief spilled through Zoey.
This was simply some kind of rebound relationship.
Those second-chance love stories never worked in real life, only in books.
“I thought you never went back to high school reunions. The last time you went, they had to hire extra security.”
“I don’t.”
“Did you reconnect on classmates dot net or something?”
“Believe it or not, it was through a celebrity dating app.”
“You joined a dating app?”
“Yeah, I was…talked into it.”
“So this Robin is a celebrity?”
He shook his head. “Not at all.”
That meant she’d somehow lied to get herself on the celebrity app. It sounded like Robin just wanted to marry someone famous. Zoey didn’t understand how her poor father couldn’t see through this ruse. She obviously had an agenda.
“She has a good friend who’s a movie producer,” her father continued. “And when this friend was scrolling, she saw my name and told Robin. Apparently she…used to talk about me.”
“Hmm. No doubt. So, this friend simply got you two together, off the app?”
“Exactly. She made the connection, told Robin, then when Robin said she’d be happy to meet, her friend told me through the app.
We decided we’d just get together, you know, catch up.
We’d definitely lost touch.” Daddy cleared his throat.
“We had one date, and it felt like we just picked up where we left off. Like no time at all had passed.”
“She’s your age?”
“Actually, she’s a year older.” Patch chuckled. “She never forgot me. But she was married, too, just like me. She’s a widow. All these years later, we have a lot in common. Even our pasts are similar.”
Zoey’s stomach hurt. More and more, this sounded like one of the second-chance reunions she loved reading about. It was different in real life, watching it happen to your own father.
“Anyway—” her father sighed “—that’s why it happened so fast. We know each other, we fell back in love, and I’m not willing to waste any more time.”
Zoey felt like a hypocrite. She didn’t want this kind of love for her father, not now.
It was too soon, but she didn’t know how to stop it.
It wasn’t in her nature to be cruel and accuse Robin of being a gold digger, even though that’s what she thought she was.
But she’d have to thoroughly vet this woman who dared to take her mother’s place.
Her daddy left not long after dropping his truth bomb.
Zoey walked him to the door, hugging him goodbye.
Even if she hated all this, she loved her father.
She would try to give this woman a chance, for his sake.
Robin would be flying in tonight, and he wanted Zoey to meet her tomorrow.
They were to have dinner at Le Ouragan the restaurant at the hotel where they were staying.
Just the three of them and their three bodyguards.
Perfectly normal. They were simply a normal, average, American family. Right.
This was all so unexpected that Zoey’s brain had a ton of rearranging to do.
She was going to have to remodel and build entire new rooms in her mind for this to fit.
She didn’t even know her father had been on dating apps, or that there was some exclusive dating app for celebrities called Shhh. Really?
What a strange experience. Surreal. Her father had loved somebody else before he met Zoey’s mother. She’d always thought they were each other’s first love, but they’d met in college.
Zoey didn’t know how long she’d been sitting on a stool in the kitchen when Archer walked in and said, “Are you okay?”
“I had never heard of this woman before. Why did I never hear about her?”
“Just going out on a limb here, but maybe because she was firmly in his past. He married your mother. Robin wasn’t important before.”
“But she is now.”
“Zoey,” Archer said, voice low and filled with compassion. “I know this is hard.”
“No, you can’t imagine! Hard? This is like a root canal without anesthesia!”
“That bad, huh?”
“I don’t want him to marry again so soon. It’s not right.”
Archer cocked his head. “Is this coming from the lover of love? From the woman who decorated her store with yellow and orange hearts for the season? Who mailed out engraved invitations to a house party? Who celebrates Sweetheart Day because Valentine’s Day isn’t enough?”
Zoey flashed him a scowl. Oh, gosh, she hated when people called her out on stuff. That had always been her mother’s job. Sometimes Twyla tried, but she didn’t have the temperament for it. Too sweet and understanding.
Archer didn’t have that problem.
“This is different. It’s my father. He should have had me meet her first before he asked her to marry him. Maybe he’s slipping in his old age.”
“I didn’t see any sign of that.”
She crossed her arms. “Well, I worry about him.”
“And he worries about you. Hence, my presence here.”
“You don’t know. I’ve personally witnessed women of all kinds throwing themselves at my father.
Right in front of me, as if I wasn’t even there.
His only daughter. He has money and they know it.
Maybe I should have never moved out of the house.
That way, I’d have been there to stop this from happening. ”
“At least give her a chance.” Archer tipped back on his heels. “If she’s horrible and an obvious gold digger, I’ll help you get rid of her.”
“You will?” Zoey smiled for the first time in hours.
He nodded and said mysteriously, “And I know how to make a person disappear.”
“You better be kidding,” she said.
The facetious grin on his face assured her that he was—thank God—but she appreciated that he had her back.
* * *
Archer found it funny that Zoey didn’t think her father should find love again, or that four years was long enough to grieve someone.
Part of him understood. He’d like to think he’d be accepting if the situation happened in his family, but his mother was also irreplaceable, so…
he understood. Archer also saw that Zoey hadn’t entirely worked through her grief, and this latest development might be pushing it.
She’d given up the day she’d shared with her mother, and now this.
Her father was getting married, just like that.
Archer sympathized, even if he’d continue to play devil’s advocate.
He agreed that her father’s timing could have been better.
Zoey had just had to cancel an event that meant a lot to her due to her connection to Patch Lambert.
Then again, the man wasn’t getting any younger.
And he’d fallen for someone his own age when he could probably have any woman he wanted.
The truth was, it sounded to Archer like it could be a real relationship, and maybe that was the part that bothered Zoey the most. This wasn’t a fling, and it wasn’t temporary.
There was a lot of good in that, but unfortunately, Zoey only saw this woman as a replacement for her mother, and not as someone who could simply make her father happy for however long he had left.
The next afternoon, Rachel returned to the boutique and chose the dress without the long train. While Zoey was in the back with her, Archer minded the store, giving advice when and where he could. He’d become better at this, understanding that women wanted simply to be seen. And he could do that.
“Which one?” A young woman held up a sparkly pink dress next to a black one with a scandalous slit up the side. Archer’s inner big brother reared his head.
“This one.” He pointed to the pink dress. “Black is boring.”
It would also make this girl look far too sexy for her age. Better for her to look like someone’s prom date.
“That was interesting,” Zoey said from behind him. “I thought you liked black.”
“It looks good on most women, but that one was too risqué for her,” he said. “She’s too young.”
“Hmm, yes. I agree.”
Later, after closing up the shop, Archer and Zoey headed to the restaurant to meet Patch, his bodyguards and his new fiancée. Zoey’s nerves were on full display as she drummed her fingers anxiously against the console of his car.
“The truth is, I’m trying to keep an open mind,” she said, fingers tapping. “I want to be fair.”
“Good.”
“She might be nervous, too.”
“Naturally.” Archer reached for her hand as much for comfort as to still it. “You’re the most important person in his life. If she doesn’t win you over, this isn’t going to work.”
“Right,” Zoey said, squeezing his hand. “But the thing is, I have to look out for my daddy. He’s been lonely, so he might fall into the clutches of a woman who wants his money or his fame.
And to be honest, he grew up in Section 8 housing.
He got out of that neighborhood with his talent, but I’m not sure the same could be said of most people at his high school. Like Robin.”
They arrived minutes before Patch pulled up with his entourage, and Archer received another crash course in the world of celebrity.
He’d already had a taste of it with his first job.
People in general could be funny when it came to seeing a celebrity walking around like a regular person.
Eyes bugged and jaws dropped. Archer had never been privy to this before becoming a bodyguard.
His closest experience had been when a four-star general visited his platoon.
But this was different.
He hadn’t anticipated just how popular an NFL Hall of Famer could be.
“Oh, my God, Patch!” someone said as he walked toward the entrance, flanked by his bodyguards.
“I can’t believe it’s you!”
“You’re the best running back that ever lived!”
“Thank you. Thank you, folks.” Patch made his way through with grace, nodding, waving. Then he stopped and turned. “Just here to have dinner at this fine establishment.”
“No pictures,” Harry ordered, holding up his palm.
It was always the bodyguard’s job to be the bad guy, and no need to let Patch’s stalker know he was in Charming. Last night, Archer had checked in with Ian to advise him of this latest development. Ian hadn’t known about it, and he was definitely not happy. Archer saw his point.
“He came to see his daughter? When he’s got this stalker possibly following him?”
But Archer had discovered, through Harry and Alec, that the police would be making an arrest today.
Both law enforcement and Patch thought it best he leave the area when that happened.
The arrest would make public what had been happening and might elicit sympathy for the man from Patch’s other haters.
Now here he was, staying close to Zoey, while they waited for Patch to get through his sea of admirers. Inside, he shook hands with the lined-up staff, even the cook, broke rank and graciously took some selfies.
“Is it always like this?” Archer whispered to Zoey. He hadn’t been with his first celebrity assignment long enough to know.
“You have no idea,” Zoey said. “I’m sure we have a table in the back for some privacy, but believe me, it won’t stop them.
It’s like my father belongs to everyone.
And honestly, he likes it. Loves the attention, all the fawning and interruptions.
It’s tougher for those of us in his life who would like his exclusive attention. ”
When they were shown to a table in the back, a group of patrons sitting nearby clapped for him and called out his praises.
“This is going to be tough for Robin to get used to, believe me,” Zoey said, and he detected a hint of pleasure in her voice. “She’ll have to share him. They don’t want to see her, or anyone else. They only want him. That’s how it is.”
Archer was about to say that she might not mind but thought better of it. He sincerely hoped the woman was kind—like Mother Teresa kind—or she didn’t stand a chance.
Archer pulled out a chair for Zoey to sit, then made his way to stand a few feet behind her. Enough to give them privacy, but not too far, in case he was needed. Harry and Alec did the same for Patch.
“We’ll take turns eating,” Harry said, motioning for Archer to take a seat. “Go ahead.”
Zoey looked up and patted the seat beside her.
No sign of Robin, but Archer figured she was coming on her own to avoid the attention.
No sooner had they sat down than they were served with an appetizer…
and they kept coming, one after another.
Platters of stuffed mushrooms, calamari, barbecue. Zoey didn’t touch a thing.
After about fifteen minutes, a tall, svelte, beautiful Black woman dressed in a conservative green dress joined them. Patch stood and so did Archer.
“Hello, sweetheart,” Patch said, embracing her. “Robin, meet my daughter, Zoey.”
Zoey didn’t get up, but Robin went straight to her, offering her hand and a beaming smile. “I’ve heard so much about you. You look a lot like your mother.”
“She does,” Patch said, beaming with pride. “I’m so glad my two girls finally get to meet.”
“Just in time for the wedding,” Zoey said with a bite. “A little later and we might have had to meet at the altar.”
“Patch, you told her we’re getting married?” Robin said. “You could have eased her into this.”
Zoey straightened the cloth napkin on her lap. “I didn’t even know you were dating. Had no idea my daddy signed up for the dating apps.”
“That’s not actually how we met,” Robin said, turning to Patch. “Did you tell her?”
“She knows you were my high school sweetheart,” Patch said, softly touching her shoulder and helping her into her seat next to his.
Archer elbowed Zoey, hoping she’d get the message.
Be nice.
“That sure was a long time ago,” Zoey said. “You two are probably not the same people you were back then.”
“I think she just called us old, Patchy.” Robin chuckled. “And she’s right. We are not the same people.”
“Indeed, we are not.” Patch shook a finger at Zoey. “But close enough. And we are not old, young lady. I still have plenty of good years left in me.”
“As long as you take it easy and pace yourself,” Zoey said, and Archer wished he could get her to stop talking. “You don’t want to act like too much of a young man and wind up with a heart attack.”
Archer internally face-palmed and gently elbowed Zoey again, this time while clearing his throat.
Robin’s eyes were wide saucers when she turned to Patch. “You have heart problems?”
“Of course not. Just a little hypertension but I take my pills. The only problems I have are orthopedic ones. But you know all about that.” Then he turned and focused his attention on Zoey. “Robin is a doctor. An orthopedist.”