Page 25 of The Daddy’s Girl

“Please have a seat.” I gesture toward the booth, and she slides into the seat. Before taking the one against the wall, I offer to go to the bar. “Would you like a drink?”

“A glass of sauvignon blanc, please,” she says sweetly.

She really is quite beautiful. If I wasn’t so flustered by the incident with Amelia, I’d be able to appreciate it more.

“I’ll be right back,” I say before walking over to the bar. Standing next to where Amelia is sitting, I let out a sigh.

“I’m sorry about that,” Amelia whispers. “I had no idea she’d be here already.”

“It’s fine. Nothing happened.”

Geo strolls over, and I put in the order for two glasses of wine before turning back toward Laura. She has her back to me, and I don’t think I’ve ever been so nervous in my life. This is ridiculous.

“She’s pretty,” Amelia whispers, and I look at her to see a hint of reluctance on her face. She doesn’t like Laura. I can tell.

“Oui,” I mumble, still staring at Amelia. “She is.”

“What are you doing over here?” she asks, noticing me still looking at her. “Get over there!”

Playfully, she shoves me toward my date.

And reluctantly, I go.

Rule #7: Never watch your crush on a date with another woman if you can help it.

Amelia

Matis has such a good laugh. It’s hearty and affable and genuine. When he laughs, it makes everything feel warmer and lighter. As if nothing could possibly hurt.

Of course, listening to him laugh with another woman on a date does hurt.

“You okay, kiddo?”

I glance up from my fizzy pink cocktail to see Geo watching me with concern. I straighten my spine and force a smile across my lips. “I’m fine.”

“You should be out on dates of your own, not sitting around helping an old man. I think he’s got it from here.”

I glance over my shoulder to see Matis leaning back in his chair, smiling at the brunette woman, and I see just how right Geo is. He does have it from here.

“Well, I would be on dates of my own if he let me match with anyone.” I take a sip of my drink, slowly spinning my barstool back and forth.

Geo rests his arms on the bar and gives me a stern glare. “Is he really stopping you? You’re a big girl, Amelia. You should be able to match with whoever you want.”

“I know,” I reply with an eye roll. “But we sort of made a deal. I would help him with his dates, and he would help me find a good guy.”

“And is he?”

“Well…no. So far, he’s just stopping me.”

With an exasperated sigh, he gestures with his palm up. “Hand it over. Let me see the options.”

I fish my phone out of my purse and hand it over to the bartender. “Are you good at picking guys?”

He throws his head back with a laugh. “That’s funny.”

I take that as a no.

Opening the app, Geo and I start scrolling through the potential matches. “Oh, he’s cute,” he says when the first guy who pops up has curly brown hair and dashing green eyes.