Daddy’s Law by K.C. Crowne

Chapter 13

Ava

Istrummed my fingers against the table, impatient. Cindy was running late, which unfortunately, wasn’t entirely out of character. She’d texted just as Theo and I arrived at the restaurant, informing me that she had some kind of work-related emergency. Being a pediatric nurse was hard work, so it wasn’t like I was going to fault her for it.

It could have been worse. I could have been home downing a bottle of wine, binge watching Netflix all by my lonesome. At least I was out and about. Even teachers were allowed to have a life sometimes, once they got through all their work grading papers.

Besides, I wasn’t alone. Not really.

Theo sat in the booth directly behind me, his back to mine, trying not to draw attention to himself. I didn’t think it was working, given how often his waitress circled back to see if he needed anything. If he was trying to be discreet, it wasn’t working.

“Can I get you another refill, handsome?” she asked, pitchy and way too saccharine.

“No.”

“How about an appetizer? The calamari’s fantastic.”

“I’ll pass.”

“Are you waiting for a hot date? Shame she’s keeping you waiting. I guess I’ll just have to keep you company.”

“I think that table over there is waving you over.”

“They’re fine. You from around these parts, handsome?”

It was painful to listen to. The waitress was obviously fishing for a big tip, and her attempts at flirting —if I could even call it that— made me want to die of second-hand embarrassment. I needed to put Theo out of his misery.

Turning in my seat, I climbed up onto my knees and tapped him on the shoulder over the low backboard of the booth. “Excuse me,” I said, “did you say you were waiting for a date?”

Theo frowned. “I didn’t—”

“Because I’m waiting for a date, too. A blind date. Are you Troy?”

He picked up what I was putting down. “Yes, I am. You must be Helen.”

I smiled. “That’s me. I thought you were standing me up. How funny is that?”

“Hilarious.”

“Well, what are you waiting for? Come on over.”

Theo dipped his head at the waitress and slid out of his booth, joining me at mine. The waitress, miffed, finally turned on her heel to attend to the table that actually needed her.

“You’re welcome,” I said.

“Don’t be cheeky,” he warned, though there was a hint of a smile in his eyes. “You could have saved me a lot earlier, you know.”

“I could have, but it was fun watching you squirm.”

Theo chuckled. “You really are trying to torture me.”

“What was that?”

“When’s your friend supposed to be here?” he asked, moving on.

I checked my phone. No new texts from Cindy. “She said she’d be another twenty minutes, but that was twenty minutes ago.” I leaned back in my seat, eyeing a family of four chowing down on their meals. My stomach grumbled so loudly I was sure the whole restaurant could hear it.

Theo was the only one who seemed to notice. “You should order.”

I arched a brow, noticing that he hadn’t even looked at the menu. “Aren’t you going to get anything?”

“I told you before. I don’t eat when on the clock.”

“But that means you haven’t eaten all day.”

“Food is a distraction.”

“You’re being dumb. Order something. If you pass out from hunger, how can you expect to do your job?”

“I’m in no danger of passing out, Miss Cruise—”

“Nuh uh,” I tutted. “My name’s Helen tonight, remember?” I nudged his foot with my own under the table. “And you’re my blind date, Troy. Troy needs to eat. Come on, I’ll feel awkward as hell if you just sit there watching.”

Something almost fond softened the normally hard features of his face. It was a blink and I missed it sort of expression, but it hadn’t been a figment of my imagination.

Theo sighed. He flagged down our waitress —who was significantly less chatty and pleasant— and tilted his chin in my direction. “My date would like to order,” he said, leaning into our little charade.

I wasn’t feeling particularly adventurous tonight, so I ordered spaghetti and meatballs. Theo, much to my chagrin, sent the waitress away without putting in an order. I glared at his act of defiance, but he simply shrugged.

“If something were to happen,” he said, “I’d prefer not to have marinara sauce flying everywhere.”

I laughed, snorting unattractively. “Wow, another joke? You’re spoiling me.”

“Do you think I’ve got a shot at standup comedy?”

“I wouldn’t quit your day job. Which reminds me, Troy,” I started with a demure grin. “What do you do for a living?”

“I’m a bodyguard.”

I snorted. “We’re playing pretend. Think outside of the box, remember?”

He shrugged. “Can’t I pretend Troy’s a bodyguard?”

“I guess, but you could literally be anything in the world. You could be a…” I drifted off, searching my mind for the most random occupations I could think of. “You could be a space cowboy.”

Theo frowned. “That’s ridiculous.”

“Yes, but it’s fun. The only limit is your imagination. Come on, give it a try.”

He licked his lips, leaning forward against the edge of the table. I almost laughed because of how serious he looked, like I’d just assigned him the world’s hardest homework.

“Fine, Troy is an accountant.”

“Wow,” I said dryly. “Very cool.”

“Hold on, let me finish. He’s an accountant for the world’s most dangerous mafia boss.”

I gawked in amazement. That was the last thing I was expecting to come out of Theo’s mouth. “That’s actually very impressive. Tell me more.”

“It’s hard work, balancing the books for such a dangerous client, but it pays really well. I never ask where he pulls his income or why he spends so much on hiring cleaning crews. I just make sure his bank account is in the black and healthy. Job security isn’t that great, though. One mistake and it’s an early retirement. I’m in too deep to quit now.”

“By retirement do you mean…”

“Sleeping with the fishes.”

“Ah,” I said, taking a sip of my ice water. “Won’t you get in trouble for telling me all this?”

Theo smirked. “I guess you’re in deep now, too.”

“How exciting,” I teased.

“What is it that you do, Helen?”

I laughed, entertained by his willingness to play my game. It was nice to know that Theo wasn’t always such a stick in the mud. I winked at him and said, “Care to venture a guess?”

He hummed, squinting as he gave it genuine thought. I was giving him ample opportunity to practice being creative.

“I don’t know,” he answered after a while. “I can’t see you as anything other than an art teacher.”

“I’m oddly flattered.”

“You should be. The job suits you.”

“Yeah?”

He nodded. “It just makes sense. Like it’s your calling.”

I took another sip of my drink. “I wish my father saw it that way.”

Theo was solemn for a moment, searching my face for something. “You don’t exactly strike me as the kind of person who’d seek his approval.”

I shrugged. “True. But it’d still be nice if he was supportive. He’s never failed to make me feel like a disappointment.” I peered into my drink, listening to the ice cubes clink against the glass. “I’m glad it’s not the same for Cory.”

“That kid means everything to me,” Theo replied gently. “After his mother died, I swore I’d do whatever I could to make sure he grew up happy and healthy.”

“Oh.”

“What?”

“It’s just… You never mention her.”

He took a deep breath. “It’s hard. To talk about her. I miss her a lot. I can’t imagine how Cory feels. We try not to talk about her because it stirs up bad memories.”

I waited patiently, not wanting to push him if he wasn’t ready. This was far more information than I thought he’d be willing to share.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered. “Judging by how sweet and kind Cory is, I’m guessing she was too.”

“She was.”

My heart ached for him. It was abundantly clear how much Theo loved her. But the look in his eyes… It was like he was haunted, something dark swirling just below the surface.

Without thinking, I reached across the table and placed my hand gingerly over his. I was pleasantly surprised when he turned his hand palm-side up so he could give my fingers a gentle squeeze. The electricity that arched through me was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before. New and fantastic and so wholly connected to one another.

I wanted to hold his hand forever.

But our waitress showed up with my food and set the massive meal down in front of me.

“Can you bring a second plate?” I asked quickly. “I think we’re going to split this.”

Theo frowned. “I said—”

“I hate eating alone, Troy. Won’t you please share this food with me?”

He reluctantly picked up his fork. “Why can’t I say no to you?” I thought I heard him grumble.

It was the most delicious spaghetti I’d ever had in my life. As we ate, it suddenly occurred to me that I was glad Cindy was running late. This little dinner of ours, this little game we were playing…

It was just for the two of us.

A moment later, Cindy called to let me know another nurse hadn’t shown up and she would have to stay to work a double. I told her I was disappointed she couldn’t make it, but in the moment, that wasn’t the total truth.

I couldn’t describe it, the sensation Theo sent racing through me as his eyes dragged over every tiny detail of my figure. I’d grown used to his intensity, the way he always seemed to be watching.

I was a painting, a priceless work of art.

Theo was an admirer, drinking in details that I’d long since thought mundane. Maybe he’d buy me. Take me home. Do whatever he wanted to me.

It thrilled me to no end, this thought that maybe I just might let him.

It was dark by the time he drove me home. The sun had long since disappeared beyond the Chicago skyline, the stars above blurred by the haze of the city’s lights.

I fell into step behind Theo like always, admiring his strong frame from behind.

He was about to enter my duplex, just like every night before, but I reached out and slipped in front of him. I didn’t know what it was. Maybe there was something in the air or the adrenaline swimming through my veins or the way he looked so devilishly handsome in the moonlight, but I felt brave.

“Theo?” I said, allowing his name to roll off my tongue.

We seemed to be on the same wavelength because he said, “Ava, we shouldn’t.”

“I know,” I whispered as I pressed my fingers to his lips. “But can’t we pretend? Just for the night.”

“Ava—”

“Helen,” I corrected. I allowed my hands to slide down to his chest, marveling at the hardness of his muscles. “And you’re Troy. You’re not my bodyguard tonight. You’re an accountant. We just had a very lovely dinner together, and I’d very much like to invite you inside.” When I looked into his eyes, it wasn’t Theo, but a man who was hungry and desperate. “Won’t you take care of me?”

He placed his hands on either side of my waist, securing me against the door. This thing between us —whatever it was— couldn’t be denied any longer.

“Do you really want me to?”

“Yes,” I murmured, blood rushing past my ears in a thunderous roar.

“You’re sure?” he asked again.

“I’m sure. Teach me how to please you.”

His grip on my waist tightened as his hard cock throbbed against my thigh.

Oh, he liked that.

We stumbled into my house together, lips —finally— crashing into one another.

He must have liked that very much, indeed.