Total pages in book: 111
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 102834 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 514(@200wpm)___ 411(@250wpm)___ 343(@300wpm)
Now it seemed I’d passed a point of no return because something in me refused to put her in any room other than the most expensive suite we had.
“How has Gigi been liking those tennis lessons?” one of the mothers—I think her name was Iona—asked. I was momentarily confused as to how she knew about the lessons then recalled it was another of the mothers who’d recommended the instructor. Clearly, they’d been discussing me and my daughter.
“I’m not sure tennis is her sport. Her interest has been waning.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Iona said. “Well, there are always other options. Does she have any talent for horse riding?”
My gaze caught on Milly’s curious blue eyes as she passed the circle of women surrounding me. I cast her a beleaguered look, which was shorthand for “Save me!”—something we’d developed as teenagers. We’d always been adept at silent communication and reading one another’s facial expressions. I was rewarded with a sparkle of amusement as she continued on her way without a care.
Evidently, she had no plans to rescue me from my predicament. I mean, I was putting her up in the hotel and overseeing the work on her house entirely for free. The least she could do was approach me with a made-up emergency or a simple request to speak with me in private. Perhaps this was my punishment for being such an arsehole towards her when she first arrived. And yes, perhaps I deserved it. Just a little.
“I’m not sure. I’ll have to ask Gigi about that,” I said. “If you don’t mind, ladies, I have a couple more teachers to meet with.”
“Of course,” one of them said. “Don’t forget about my dinner party next weekend. We’d love to see you there, Derek.”
“And my barbecue,” another added. “I make the best chicken wings in town.”
“I’ll try my best,” I said, no intention of attending either event as I hurried in the direction of the next classroom I needed to visit. Gigi’s history teacher, Mr Flynn, was an elderly man with balding grey hair and a stern expression. There were several other parents waiting to speak with him, so I took a seat to wait my turn. A little while later, Milly walked into the room, saw me and immediately took the seat next to mine.
“I was hoping to speak with you.”
“You couldn’t have approached me earlier when I was clearly begging to be rescued,” I responded archly, and her lips twitched in amusement.
“It didn’t look like you needed rescuing. It looked like you were having a wonderful time talking to all those lovely ladies.”
“I was having a terrible time, and you know it.”
Milly chuckled. “So, about this suite at the hotel. We really need to—”
“Mr Balfe,” the teacher called, indicating he was ready for me next.
“Sorry, got to go,” I told Milly happily, and her amusement swiftly turned to annoyance. She was cute when she scowled, and I enjoyed riling her. If she wasn’t going to rescue me from the vipers when I needed her, then I was going to do everything I could to avoid discussing the hotel suite with her.
When I was done speaking with Mr Flynn, I left the room before Milly could pull me aside. I could practically feel her silent irritation. It went that way over the next few meetings. I managed to dodge her at every turn, and it was rather amusing. Most of Gigi’s teachers noted a marked improvement in her participation in class over the last few weeks, and I knew it was all down to her friendship with Deirdre. Gigi had never been particularly studious, but she’d always managed to pass her classes. When her mother had left to go on tour, her grades had dropped dramatically, and she’d often been late with her homework or hadn’t bothered completing it at all. To hear that she was improving was an incredible relief, and it caused a niggle of guilt to seep in.
I’d been avoiding Milly all evening just to mess with her, but it was her and Deirdre’s arrival in town that had brought some happiness back into my daughter’s life. When I finished meeting with the last of Gigi’s teachers, I decided I’d go find Milly and allow her the opportunity to express her dissatisfaction about the hotel suite. I was wandering down a corridor in search of her when suddenly an adorably gentle shove came at me from behind. I knew instantly it was Milly as I let her push me into an empty storage room.
“What the—” I turned and found her slamming the door shut behind her before flicking on the light switch to illuminate the small space. Pure amusement had my lips curving into a rare smile.
“Did you just manhandle me into this room?” I asked, and her dark eyebrows narrowed as she frowned up at me, hands on hips.