Chapter 2
It’s been a few days since the arrival of my father. I’ve read through the file multiple times. He was in the navy, stationed at Great Lakes Naval Base when he met my mother. They had a brief relationship that resulted in me. He was deployed shortly after my fourth birthday, then had a series of overseas assignments.
He never re-married and he doesn’t have any other kids. He is now a Captain with a spotless record. Everything seems too good to be true. My absentee father suddenly returns and he’s not a loser? I finally decide to talk to Miles and Theo about it. They can help me check the validity of his story.
I arrive at the office to find Landon Jenkins waiting for his meeting with Miles. I glance at the clock; I’m a few minutes late, but they were supposed to meet at 7:30 am.
“Have you seen Miles yet?” I ask him politely.
“No. I have another appointment this morning. My cheating, soon-to-be-ex-wife wants to meet with a mediator to try to get me to agree to give her all my money.”
I smile sympathetically before asking Hanna to get Mr. Jenkins some coffee and a pastry. I head straight for Miles’ office. I knock once before entering.
“Mother of God!” I cover my eyes when I realize Miles and Chelsea are occupying the office.
“Get out of here!” Chelsea shrieks.
“Miles, despite your current choice of activities, you’ve kept Mr. Jenkins waiting. You were supposed to meet with him at 7:30 this morning, it is now 8:15.”
“Shit, Chels you gotta go.”
“Send her out the back so I don’t have to explain this to Mr. Jenkins.”
I turn to leave, but not before I see the apologetic look on Miles face. There’s something else there, but I don’t know what it is. Maybe he’s embarrassed that I caught him in such a compromising position. Maybe he regrets his actions. Good. He’s supposed to be a responsible adult.
I return to the lobby and tell Mr. Jenkins that Miles had been unexpectedly detained but would be joining him shortly.
“Thank you, CeCe. And please, call me Landon.”
I nod graciously before returning to my desk. Miles comes out a few minutes later and escorts Landon into his office. The only thing I can think is that I really hope he removed any evidence of the activities he’d been engaged in.
“He’s kinda cute, huh?” Ava asks.
“Gross, he’s your brother.”
“I wasn’t talking about Miles. I was talking about Landon. That man is a solid hunk of milk chocolate. Wait, do you have a thing for Miles?”
I snort, “Uh, no.”
“Stranger things have happened,” Ava sings as she makes her way down the hall.
I shake my head. She’s not wrong, but I don’t see that happening. Of course I’ve admired Miles from afar, but he really isn’t the type I generally go for. Who am I kidding? I don’t really go for anyone. You can’t trust a man, so why bother? I think about the file I have tucked in my purse. I know my tendency to dislike men comes from the poor examples I’ve had in my life. I’m finally at a point where I know that I for sure can trust two men; Theo and Miles.
I grab the file and walk into Theo’s open door. I close it behind me and take a deep breath. He’s sitting behind his desk regarding me curiously. I set the file down in front of him and sit down. I wait for his response as he opens the folder in front of him.
“CeCe, have you been looking for your father?”
“No. He showed up on my doorstep a few nights ago. I told him to leave, but he gave me this and said it would explain everything. I’ve read through it over and over but I don’t trust him.”
“Are you okay? He didn’t hurt you did he?”
Theo looks every bit the protective father I had longed for growing up. I smile weakly at him before explaining what our encounter was like.
“I’m glad you didn’t let the driver leave until you were certain he meant you no harm, but I don’t feel comfortable with the idea of him knowing where you live. Not until I verify the information in this file.”
“I still have a few months left in my lease. I can’t just move into a new place. I have to pay for that apartment still.”
“I’ll take care of that. Don’t worry about where you’ll stay, I’ll figure that out too.”
“Oh, Theo you don’t need to do that.”
“Yes, I do. I know we joke about you being part of the family, but you know that you’re like another daughter to me. I will take care of you and protect you as such.”
I feel tears threatening to fall and rush over to hug Theo. “Thank you. You know, I told Julio that I don’t need him to try to be my dad. I told him I already found one.”
Theo kisses the top of my head the way he has Olivia and Ava countless times. I feel content and safe. I know Theo will help me get to the bottom of why my father has suddenly resurfaced. He may very well be here to reconnect after years in the Navy, but he may also be here for reasons unknown.
When I return to the lobby, I see Miles and Landon shaking hands. I notice how Landon looks at Ava and see her blush. Now that’s a dangerous match. The thirty-year-old and his best friends kid sister? Good luck with that one, Landon! I return to my desk and spend the rest of the day answering phones and scheduling meetings.
“You ready to go, CeCe?” Miles’ question startles me out of my silent work.
“Go where?”
“Dad and I talked about it and for now, you’re going to stay in the guest room at my condo.”
“I’m what now?”
“Come on, it’ll be fun. We can build a fort and play truth or dare.”
I laugh at him, “Are you sure? I don’t want to intrude.”
“You won’t be intruding. Cross my heart.”
“Okay. But we better stop at the house to get my stuff.”
“No need. Dad had a service go pack it all and deliver it to my condo.”
“You people sure like to use that money of yours.”
Miles chuckles and starts helping me close up for the evening. We have a car waiting for us in front of the office building where the law firm is. Miles opens the car door for me and I roll my eyes at his act of chivalry. We arrive at his apartment in Lake Point Tower.
I’m stunned by the cold modern décor. It’s a stark contrast to the traditional furnishings at the Hanover house in Gurnee. I haven’t been to Miles’ place before, so I am quiet while he gives me a quick tour. The view from his living room is breathtaking.
“This place is gorgeous. How did you manage to get a condo here? I heard it was nearly impossible to get in.”
“Mom and dad own this condo. We lived here briefly when I was young but moved to the suburbs when mom found out she was expecting Olivia. They let me move in while I attended law school and I have been slowly remodeling and bringing this place into the twenty-first century.”
“You’ve done very well.”
He thanks me while he busies himself in the kitchen. I hop right in and help him prepare dinner for both of us. We move effortlessly through the kitchen, only grazing against one another a few times. I’m surprised by the tingling sensation that accompanies his touch. Isn’t he more like a brother to me? By the time we’re done we have put together a delicious meal of steak, baked potatoes and asparagus.
“Mmm, I’ve never had asparagus like this,” Miles mumbles through a mouth full of food.
“I just add garlic butter, sea salt, and parmesan. It’s the only way I like it.”
“I’ve always just boiled it.”
“Yuck,” I pull a disgusted face and Miles nearly spits his food out in response.
When we finish our dinner, we silently start cleaning up and retire to the living room. Miles turns on Ghost Adventures. I love this show. I watch a few episodes with him before I decide I should probably get my room settled in a bit.
“So, where is my room?”
“This way.”
Miles takes off down the hall and I follow him. He opens the door to a brightly decorated room. My things are already unpacked. I eye him suspiciously causing him to laugh at me.
“I told you dad had a service take care of this for you.”
“Well, I was going to get settled in, but I guess I don’t have to worry about that. So, what now?”
Miles grins mischievously, “Laser tag.”