Page 1 of The Daddy’s Girl

Prologue

Amelia

“Everyone’s here.” Jack St. Claire takes a seat at the head of the table and glances at the rest of us in expectation.

My brother is sitting next to me, gloating, naturally, as I watch the door, anticipating that at any moment, Matis will walk through and announce what I hope he’s going to announce.

That my father is retiring and Matis will take over.

Then I’ll get to work with him more. A lot more.

He’d spend more time here. Long hours. Late nights.

“Did you all get the email too?” Jack asks, and I turn my distracted attention to his face.

“Yep,” Phoenix replies.

“Sure did,” Weston adds while looking down at his phone. He’s paying even less attention than me. Reaching my foot under the table toward him, I kick his leg, and he grins up at me with a mischievous wink.

As the two youngest of the group—not including Elizabeth, because she’s terrifyingly serious all the time—Weston and I often feel like kids compared to the rest. We can’t sit next to each other at meetings because we inevitably get in trouble. Aside from my brother, Weston is the only friend I have in this crowd. Our parents all worked together, and we had once behaved more like a family. I’m not sure when it was that we all became like strangers.

Chewing on my lip, I continue to watch the door. Then my phone. Then the door.

Where are you, Matis?

My brother thinks that Dad is about to announce that he’s naming Julian as his successor, and he might be right, but I’m still holding out hope that he’ll leave it to the very guy he bought it from twenty-five years ago.

The others keep up tense conversation around me, but I’m too busy spiraling to pay attention. The soft purple lighting and light jazz crackling through the speakeasy speakers make for a very chill vibe, something I am very grateful for. I couldn’t possibly sit here in this stiff anticipation if we were in a regular noisy, crowded bar.

Shortly after Elizabeth arrives, taking the seat next to me, I glance up at her, hoping to get a brief moment of eye contact, but she’s like steel, staring down at the table, waiting for the news with the rest of us. I wish I connected more with Phoenix and Elizabeth, but I don’t think either of them really take me seriously. I’m just Julian’s flaky, frenzied little sister who can’t finish a project or a semester at school or…anything really.

Before I can say anything to Elizabeth, my phone pings. As does everyone else’s. I quickly pick it up and see the email notification on the screen.

Incoming email from Ronan Kade.

“It’s an email from Dad,” I say excitedly.

“I’ll read it,” Jack replies.

Dear Kids,

This message is for all six of you: Julian, Amelia, Jack, Phoenix, Elizabeth, and Weston⁠—

This letter is a long time coming, and I’m sure you’ve guessed by now what it’s about. With the help of my business partner, Matis Moreau, I’ve managed L’Amour for the past two and a half decades. It is time for me to officially retire.

My spine straightens as I bite my lip to stifle my grin of excitement. This is going exactly as I predicted it would. Any moment now, Matis will walk in and explain how he’s going to be taking over again.

I’m happy for my dad that he’s finally retiring. He’s in his early eighties now, and while he’s still in great shape, I know he’s worked so hard and deserves to finally relax and live out the rest of his days happily with Mom.

I’ve spoken to Matis about this, and we both agree that you should make the club yours now.

My smile fades. What did he just say?

“Wait, who?” my brother snaps, picking up his phone in a fit of confusion. “Who the fuck is going to own the club?”

“I think he means…all of us,” Phoenix says while scanning the email.

“All of us?” I say. “Own the club together?”