Chapter Ten #5
strong one. You’re more than strong. You sway. It’s the most important thing
you can learn to do. To not let the bad times break you. You bend in the storm
and you survive, and when the sun shines again, you are stronger than you were
before.” Her mother reached out and put a hand over hers. “I don’t worry about
you because you are a tree that sways. One day when you have children those
magnificent branches you’re growing will protect them from the worst of the storms
until they’ve learned how to be like their mother.”
Like she had.
Tears pierced her eyes because the words were a balm to her
soul. “You’re really okay with me trying this thing with Nate?”
“Of course I’m okay with it. You fell for a boy. Baby, I did
that, too, and it was the best decision of my life. And no matter what your da
says, it was fast and furious, and I was scared out of my mind,” her mother
said. “This is when you need to be Daisy O’Donnell. Toss the fear out and do
what you need to do.”
She wanted to do nothing more. “And if it all goes wrong?”
A smile crossed her mother’s face. “Then you’ll get up off
the floor, dust yourself off, and do what you do magnificently. You’ll try
again. You’ll do it with a whole heart because nothing can break you. I’ll
handle your father.”
“I think it’s going to be harder than it sounds.” Nate stood
in the doorway, another tray in his hands. “Sorry to interrupt but Mum is
cooking up a storm, and she asked me to bring these out to you. I think Liam
doesn’t want anyone around his daughter, but he has to see she needs someone.
I’m not going to apologize for what happened between me and Daisy, but I will
tell you I’m sorry it’s caused a riff.”
“Nathan.” Her mother stood and held her arms open. “I’m
happy you’re here. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you earlier. I was distracted. Of
course that’s not entirely my fault. You didn’t come by the house when you got
into town.”
He shrugged. “Well, if I had, things might not have gone the
way they did.”
“Oh, do you mean I wouldn’t have tried to seduce you?”
Somehow the minute he was in her presence she felt less guilty, less worried.
Being around Nate made her feel more like herself. He centered her and allowed
her to be who she truly was. “Because I still would have. I just might have put
on a better disguise.”
Her mother chuckled, but her cheeks were stained pink. “I
don’t know if a disguise would work, sweetie. I’m afraid the kink version of a
masquerade is like everything else—just play. I’m glad you had fun. I know it’s
been frustrating for you.”
Beyond frustrating, but mostly because she’d been looking
for something real.
Nate set the tray on the table. There were two beers on the
tray along with cookies and more sandwiches. “Mum hasn’t been able to get in
touch with Dad. Any idea what Liam’s planning?”
“My husband is planning on saving his daughter,” her mother
explained. “I believe he’s going to try to find a way to get rid of the head of
the cartel by starting a war. Yeah. I wish I still didn’t find that sexy.”
“Mum is worried,” Nate said.
“Am not.” Steph Carter stepped out with a bowl of what
looked like fruit salad. “I would like updates, but I think this could be good
for Brody. He’s been missing his old job.”
“Well, I’m glad Liam’s not alone. He’ll be a good influence
on Li. Brody is excellent at talking an unreasonable person down,” Avery said
as she looked over the now expansive spread on the table. “You have made enough
to feed a small army.”
Steph shook her head. “Nope. I’m hoping I made enough. My
boy can eat.”
Daisy looked over, and Nate already had a plate piled high
with food. Like more food than she could have imagined.
He flushed and started to put his plate down.
Nothing had changed. She was still all in with this man. And
her mother was right. If the cat was out of the bag, then she was going to be
herself. She picked up a cookie and moved over, placing herself right on his
lap, her arm going around his shoulders.
Nate’s lips curled up as she put the cookie to them, and he
ate it up in one bite, gently nipping at her fingers. She lowered her mouth to
his.
“Oh, I… Well, we should probably get used to it since we’re
stuck here for a couple of days,” Steph said.
Her mother chuckled. “It’s kind of nice to be around young
love.” There was a pause. “Daisy, we are still here. We do not need to see
that.”
It was just a little tongue. “We’re in a club, Mom.”
“A club that is not open,” her mother replied primly.
Her cell went off again. Another text. This one from Hunter
McKay.
Hey, Dais, hope to see you at play night next weekend.
Maybe her da could fix all of this before next weekend. It
would be fun to show off her gorgeous Dom. It would be awesome to try to find
some normalcy.
“How about we have a nice tea?” Steph said. “Daisy, tell me
all about what you’ve been doing lately. It’s been so long.”
Well, mostly the last few days she’d been doing her son. But
she probably shouldn’t say that.
Nate snorted and kissed her cheek, like he knew what she’d
been thinking. “Be a good girl, love,” he whispered as she moved off his lap.
She could be his good girl. And his bad girl. As long as she
was his girl. “Well, I’ve been thinking about my future career. I’m still not
sure I gave private investigation a real chance.”
Her mother groaned and so did Nate. But they were both
smiling.
Daisy let herself smile, too. She could win her da back. She
just knew she could.