Her voice is slightly garbled, which tells me she’s been hearing impaired likely since birth. But she’s clear enough to understand, just like she was when she ripped into Declan at the restaurant.
Something in her genuine smile eases Tess’s annoyance; so does the wink I send Tess’s way. Melissa is one of those classic beauties: thick dark hair, brown eyes, creamy skin, soft pink lips, and one hell of a figure. But Tess is my girl, and she has nothing to worry about.
Melissa doesn’t miss the wink or our obvious connection. She smiles, although I catch a trace of disappointment before she glances away and reaches into her purse. “Here. This is for you.” She hands Tess a new smart phone. “The pass code is 2-2-2-2. Please change it to something you’ll remember. The phone number is listed in the contacts section under ‘My phone.’ You may use the phone as long as you’re part of the office, but I’ll need it returned when your assignment is done.”
“Thank you so much.”
Melissa smiles again. “No problem. Do you have the other phone? I’ll have it recycled along with our old ones.”
“Oh, yes, of course,” Tess answers, reaching for her purse.
Melissa stares past Tess to where Miles and Declan are speaking quietly. “I should head back to my office, Dad. I still have a lot to catch up on.”
Miles turns his focus back on her, disappointed, but also something more. “I was hoping to steal you and Declan away for a quiet dinner.”
Melissa takes the phone Tess offers her, looking directly at Declan. “I don’t think that’s a good idea,” she answers, her voice firm.
Miles tilts his chin. “Very well. Dinner tomorrow, then? Just you and me?”
She tears her attention away from Declan, her face softening as she takes in her old man. “Depends—are you cooking or buying?”
“Buying,” he tells her.
“In that case, yes.” She’s just slightly taller than Tess, but still has to stand on her toes to kiss his cheek. “Good night, Daddy,” she says.
Daddy? Oh, yeah, these two are tight. My attention returns to Declan in time to watch him bury his pained expression in his hands. It’s all I can do not to crack up again.
Melissa waves to me and disappears through the door. Miles crosses his arms over his chest, his typical laid-back disposition dissolving in his daughter’s absence. “Contessa, Curran, will you excuse us, please? I’d like to discuss the Montenegro case with Declan.” He pauses, his deep tone turning harsh. “Among other things,” he adds, stiffly.
Chapter 26
Tess
Curran can’t stop laughing on the drive back to his apartment. His recap of Declan and Melissa’s first encounter, and now their reunion, has him in stitches. I sit here, horrified on his brother’s behalf. “Of all people he could have insulted, it had to be Miles Fenske’s daughter.”
“I know,” he answers, continuing to laugh. “It was like karma and Murphy’s Law hooked up and decided to screw with Declan. Holy shit, can you believe his damn luck?”
“No, and—” I tug on his arm. “Will you stop laughing? It’s not funny.”
“Considering what a kiss-ass Deck is, it kind of is.”
“Curran, what he did was awful.”
“Come on, it’s not like he meant it. For all that Deck is or isn’t, he’s not cruel. He’s a good guy. Knowing him, he’ll make it up to her and be back in Miles’s good graces in no time.”
I don’t agree. “Curran, did you see how close Miles and Melissa are? Or catch her reaction upon seeing Declan again? I don’t see either forgetting the incident so easily.” I consider the way Miles regarded his daughter. He adores her in a way that’s completely foreign to me. My eyes sting. Despite my father’s abuse, I hope I can somehow become the parent I’ve always wanted…especially now that the time has come.