Chapter 10
Mia
HOW THE IRON OF that gate curled and coiled around in a beautiful pattern probably had so many people fooled with the type of luxury this estate held.
It had to be twenty feet tall and opened slowly, smoothly.
It was easy to forget that this grand entrance was a barrier that kept unwanted solicitors out … and kept people in.
What happened behind all these gates? Behind all the doors? Behind the places people built up so that no one could see inside? Did these fancy gates and wealth hold on to their happiness the way they wanted?
Was the beauty of a fortress enough to distract someone who was locked away?
It wasn’t for me.
It couldn’t have been for Franny either, and that’s why I thanked him.
Even if we were only getting an hour, the imaginary ropes that bound me to this property loosened a little bit.
I felt like I could pull a little bit more oxygen into my lungs, could see a little clearer.
Even the feel of the wind on my skin as I rolled down the window was different.
“I know I’m not making this as easy as you would like,” I told him while he inched the expensive car out of the driveway and onto the road.
“You’re not making it easy at all,” Jameson clarified in that grumpy voice of his.
“Oh, Daddy. At least we didn’t go without you.” Franny bounced in the back seat. “Now you can play tennis or swim or play golf with us! Mia, what’s your favorite sport? We can do any of them at the club.”
Of course they could do any of them. It only took us another few minutes to arrive at the country club. We didn’t have to leave the gated community of Paradise Grove, even. Instead, we pulled up to more iron gates that immediately opened for Jameson’s car.
“Remind me to get you a watch so you’ll have access to everything in Paradise Grove.”
“If there’s a cost, I can—”
“The cost isn’t a concern of mine.” He threw me a look with those cold blue eyes.
I wasn’t going to worry about what could happen though. Instead I was taking in what was supposed to be their little country club.
Sprawling across hill after hill was a pristinely manicured golf course, an Olympic-size pool on one side, a large building in the middle—presumably the clubhouse—and courts for tennis and basketball in the distance.
The circular drive had a fountain in the middle, and Jameson drove right up, not even looking for parking.
“It doesn’t cost anything, Ms. Darling.” Franny giggled. That girl didn’t have any idea how much it would cost to be a member here. To live here. “I like tennis best. Daddy taught me.”
“I can teach Ms. Darling, too, if she wants,” he said, like he was going to try to be nice and do me a favor. I almost laughed at the gesture, especially knowing he’d never be able to teach me anything when it came to that sport.
“We can play tennis.” I shrugged. Here, playing would mean nothing even though it meant everything in high school and college. To my parents and to my town.
I halted immediately as I got out of the car and realized every single person was dressed a certain way.
Of course they were. This was an exclusive country club.
I should have known that, should have anticipated it.
Tennis clothes, polos, skirts, pastels. Most of them scanned a watch as they walked in.
“Maybe I should actually wait in the car?” I glanced at Jameson in concern, but he was handing off the keys to the valet. “I’m not exactly dressed appropriately.”
He looked me up and down and then frowned. “Should have thought about that before you decided you wanted an outing. You wanted to come, Mia. So, here we are. You won’t be waiting in the car.” His tone was final.
What an ass. “Suit yourself. I’m only trying to save you secondhand embarrassment considering you’re about to be seen with me in this ritzy place.” I was being childish as I walked past him to catch up with Franny, who was already sprinting in, excited.
He grabbed my elbow to halt me. “I don’t care what other people think. You’d do well not to worry about them either.” He held my stare for a moment, as if he wanted that to sink in. “There’s a clothing store inside if you’d like tennis attire. I have an open tab.”
“I can pay—”
“Don’t start.” He rolled his eyes and waved Franny over. “Let’s go change and then go to the courts, Fran. Ms. Darling needs to grab some clothes and will meet us there.”
I nodded and looked at Franny’s flushed face. She was so excited she could barely contain it. “I’ll be there in a few minutes.”
“This is going to be the best, Ms. Darling. Sometimes other kids are there to play too.”
I nodded and waved to them. Grabbing clothes from the store should have gone quickly, but when I threw a white skirt and collared shirt on and told the saleslady it would be going on Jameson’s tab, she questioned who I was.
“I’m sorry, you said Mr. Knight? As in Jameson?” She smoothed her straight blonde hair. “What’s your name again? I will see if he’s approved you.”
“That’s not necessary. Ring up the items,” I heard from behind me, and Archer appeared out of nowhere.
“Oh, hi, Archer.” The lady blushed and immediately started typing away on the register, not meeting my eyes again.
“You’re all set. Have a great day,” she said softly, but as I left the store, I heard her whispering to the other saleswoman.
They weren’t subtle about questioning why he’d bring help with him to the club.
“Ignore them and every woman you meet today,” Archer told me as he pointed me in the direction of the courts.
“Dare I ask why?”
“Because most of them have tried to be a nanny, and more, in Jameson’s life.”
And as I glanced around, I saw woman after woman whispering.
Even some that were with husbands and other men. I tried to keep my head down, because I didn’t need to make small talk with Paradise Grove’s elite. I just needed to play tennis with Franny.
By the time I caught back up to her, Franny’s sneakers were already eating up the clay court as she chased the ball around, completely out of breath. Jameson had arranged for a private attendant to fetch Franny’s balls. Her eyes lit up when I grabbed a racket.
“Fran, you have to swing once your eye is on that ball,” Jameson told her as he lobbed another one her way. He’d changed into white tennis shoes and a short-sleeved polo that had my eyes glued to the tattoos on his forearms that I’d never noticed.
Then he smiled as Franny swung with all her might and made contact with the ball, squealing in delight.
“Good job!” He clapped and then started laughing as she danced around in pride.
That moment ruined me. His laugh with hers on a sunny day, casually enjoying each other, was picture perfect.
It’s what a father-daughter relationship should be, and they both looked so effortless in it.
So in their own world.
And then a woman chirped in from the sidelines, “Nice hit, Franny. Jameson, so good to see you both here.” She walked over as Franny missed Jameson’s last soft serve toward her, and then the private attendant stepped in to help Franny get the ball while Jameson talked.
“Good to see you too, Becky.” He didn’t ask her any questions or try to further the conversation, but she stood by expectantly nonetheless.
“How’s the estate coming? We should have coffee sometime with the kids.” She was inviting herself over. Not subtle at all.
“Things are good. Just busy right now.” He smiled while speaking to her like a charmer even as he made eye contact with me and motioned me over. “Our new teacher and nanny, Ms. Darling, just started. We’re going to work on tennis today. Isn’t that right?”
“I guess so.” I shrugged, but instead of going to his side for the lesson, I went over to Franny’s side and whispered, “Ready for me to show your daddy who really knows how to play tennis?”
She giggled. “Are we about to win a game against him?”
“Yup.” I swung my racket around, being silly with her, and she giggled.
“Heart-in-pinkie promise we will win? Daddy hates to lose.”
“Heart-in-pinkie promise, Fran. Because I hate to lose too.”
He smiled at us while that lady talked his ear off, and the smile he sent me wasn’t nearly as friendly as the one he gave her before he said, “Just keep your eye on the ball and try to swing after one bounce on your side, Mia. It takes a minute to get the hang of it.”
I hummed because it was just like a guy to mansplain without asking me if I knew what I was doing.
He lobbed it my way, and I winked at Franny before moving in and smashing it back to his side.
It whizzed past him, and the woman jumped back with a yelp.
“Whoops, sorry about that!” I offered her. “Don’t have great aim all the time.”
Now, I got his real smile, one that I thought might have only been reserved for people he genuinely enjoyed, but his eyes danced with delight or competitiveness, I wasn’t sure which.
He lobbed the next ball to Franny once and said to me, “You play tennis.”
“I wanted to be Serena Williams but fell a little short.” It was a half-truth.
“Interesting.”
And then he served to me. Hard.
Rough.
With no mercy.
I was rusty, and my leg still hurt some days, but I wasn’t one to give up a serve. I lunged for and hit that ball over, pulling back at the last second so he’d have to run for it.
He didn’t get there in time, and I smirked down at Franny. “Do people beat your dad at tennis a lot?”
“No.” She stared at him breathing hard on the other side of the net. “Normally Daddy’s good, so you must be a superstar. Is that who Serena Williams is?”
“For tennis, yes. Superstar material for sure,” I informed her. “And if you practice, bet you can be just like her.”
“Okay.” She pushed her fingers into the netting of her racket like I did mine, and it made me smile at how quickly she picked up on this. “I want to be just as ready as you when the ball comes.”