Total pages in book: 70
Estimated words: 64704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 64704 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 324(@200wpm)___ 259(@250wpm)___ 216(@300wpm)
The man looked at Daisy for a moment before nodding and quietly headed back to the kitchen. He could lose his license serving alcohol to someone who was clearly underage, but he also knew that I had the money to protect him and the restaurant.
For some strange reason, I wanted tonight to be special for Daisy, and special nights meant champagne.
Whatever Daisy had learned about being a submissive went right out the window. She was bubbly. Chatty. Full of life and happiness. I had to remind her to look at the menu, but I was entranced. I’d dated some of the most beautiful and successful women in the country, but there wasn’t a single one that could hold a candle to her.
She was genuine. Honest. Pure.
What the hell was I doing wit her? By the time she left my side, she’d be anything but.
Bringing a glass of champagne up to her lips, she took a sip and giggled. “Tickles my nose.” When I didn’t say anything, she flushed and put the glass down. “Am I embarrassing you? I guess you’re used to more sophisticated women. This place would be nothing to them.”
“I believe you were told not to compare yourself to other women,” I said lightly, lifting my own glass. “But you’re right. They wouldn’t notice the tassels or wonder if they could make a wish in the fountain. I never did. You have a way of opening people’s eyes.”
Her blush deepened. “I’m pretty sure that you’ve done more to open my eyes.”
“Why did you call your father yesterday, Daisy?” As much as I wanted to tell her all the ways her eyes could still be opened, we weren’t exactly in the proper place for that.
“He’s my father. Am I not allowed to call him?”
She was getting defensive, and that wasn’t my intention at all. I didn’t want to ruin her mood, just understand her a little better. “Of course you’re allowed to call him. I just don’t understand why you did. You’re not the type to confront others, so I can only surmise that despite the fact your father has used you and then kicked you out, you simply wanted to talk to him.”
Daisy’s eyes darted around to everywhere but me. “He’s my father. I’ve taken care of him. Despite his flaws, I just wanted to make sure that he was okay without me.”
“And was he?”
“I think that he needs money,” she muttered.
“And you told him that you were going to get some soon. Daisy, I don’t want you to give that man a dime, do you understand me? You’re doing this for your future, not his.” I wanted to forbid her from talking to him anymore, forbid her to have any contact, but what good would that do? We were only together for a few more weeks, and then she could do whatever she wanted.
“Okay.” Her voice was hollow, and I knew that it wouldn’t matter. She’d always feel obligated to her family.
“Tell me about your mother. You must take after her. In all the good ways.”
A soft smile lit up her face. “When my mother was sober, she was the most amazing woman. Vibrant. Beautiful. She was a dreamer and a doer. She waited tables, and people would just throw money at her, not because she was good at her job but because she was the most amazing soul. In her spare time, she designed and created the most gorgeous pendants and earrings.”
“I guess you do take after her,” I chuckled. After all, I was throwing money at her.
“I hope not. She chose passion over everything and look where it got her. A depressed addict who spent her last few years miserable.”
“Stop, Daisy,” I said softly, leaning across the table and taking her hand. “I didn’t mean to upset you. You called your father because you just wanted someone to talk to. I took something precious and personal, and I’m sure you wished that your mother was around.”
“You didn’t take anything. I gave it to you,” she said fiercely. “I wanted it too. Don’t ever think differently.”
She was something special. So special.
Our dinner arrived, and I released her hand. She dug into her food with gusto, and I watched as every emotion played out on her face. She was an open book. Every bite was a new experience for her, and her gaze never stayed in the same place at once.
She was enjoying every single second of our night together, and I was both pleased and fascinated. How much money had I spent on women before who could never be happy enough? But Daisy? She was content to be in her pajamas and curled on the couch watching a movie. She was dazzled by a pretty dress and a nice restaurant.
Daisy just loved life, and with her, I was starting to enjoy things again too, and it had been a long time since that had ever happened to me.