“This is fabulous,” Francesca said, twirling.
“Isn’t it great to see all your dreams realized?” Damon whispered.
“Is this what it feels like when you’re recording?” she asked in awe.
“Long hours. Big payoff.”
“That is definitely this feeling.” She pointed to another room. “Francesca, you can head in there. The photographer should be here any minute.”
Francesca winked and then headed into the other room.
Damon’s hands ran down Trihn’s sides. “I have to say it. That dress looked better laid out on the DJ booth while I fucked you.”
She shivered all over at his touch and the memory that came with it. At this rate, they would have to find a place for a quickie.
Eric appeared at that moment and motioned for a man to walk over to them. “Trihn, photographer is here,” he called.
“Thanks,” she said, sidestepping out of Damon’s arms.
“Trihnity,” the man said with a smile. He pulled her in for a hug. “I’ve missed you.”
Her eyes gleamed as she turned to Damon. “This is Gabriel. He came all the way from New York City for this.”
Gabriel stuck his hand out, and Damon took it.
“Damon, nice to meet you. You must be Trihn’s boyfriend.”
“That’s right,” Damon said, shaking tightly.
“I hope you’re treating my daughter right.”
Damon sputtered and then looked between the two of them, noting the resemblance. “Yes, sir. You must be Trihn’s father. It’s an honor to meet you.”
“You can drop the sir and call me Gabriel.”
Trihn laughed when Damon turned to her with his mouth still open.
“You could have warned me,” Damon said.
“But that wouldn’t have been any fun.” Trihn giggled. “My dad is a fashion photographer. He’s photographed all the famous models and for all the best magazines.”
“Wow. That’s incredible. This should be great for your designs then.”
Gabriel nodded. “I’ll do my best to make the designs shine, but with the models she has, I think it will turn out all right.” He looked into the room that had been set up for him to photograph in. “Haven’t seen Francesca in almost two years.”
“She’s excited to work with you again,” Trihn told him.
“I should go arrange the equipment to my liking, but first, what are you doing after school lets out?” he thoughtfully asked Trihn.
Trihn chewed on her lower lip. She had always been a daddy’s girl. When the stuff with Preston had gone down, her father had been the one to let her leave and process and help her get set up at school. But she had a feeling that she knew where this was going.
“I’m not sure,” she said.
“I’m not going to insist that you come to Lydia’s wedding, like your mother, but I would appreciate it if you came home to see everyone. Your mother misses you, and maybe if you talked to everyone in person, we could get this cleared up.” He sounded so hopeful.
“I don’t know, Dad.”
“I love you, baby girl. But just give an inch for me.”
Trihn looked up into his eyes and realized it was as close to pleading as he would get. She had never really been able to deny him anything, and he was the same way with her.
“All right,” she said finally.
“Damon, you’re, of course, invited as well,” Gabriel said automatically.
“Thank you, sir.”
Gabriel laughed. “Just Gabriel.”
“I would love to come and meet the rest of Trihn’s family.”
Gabriel glanced at Trihn and smiled. “I like him.”
Trihn chuckled. “Me, too.”
“All right. Back to work. Let’s get started,” he said.
Gabriel hurried into the next room, and they could hear the shrill squeal as Gabriel walked in on Francesca.
Damon raised his eyebrow and crossed his arms. “You bombarded me with your dad without warning.”
Trihn cracked up. “Yep. You did good.”
“One minute, I was talking about fucking you, and the next, I’m meeting your father.” He shook his head. “At least I’ll have a warning when I meet your mother and the infamous Lydia.”
Trihn frowned and looked away. “Yeah, about that…you really don’t have to come with me if you don’t want to.”
“What are you talking about? Of course I want to come with you.” He grabbed her by her shoulders and looked her square in the eyes. “I have every intention of being there when you have to go through that situation. I know it’s not going to be easy or comfortable, but I’m not here just for the good. I’m here for everything.”
“I love you,” she whispered.
“I love you, too,” he said with a smile. “Now, go make your dreams come true.”
Trihn spent the next couple of hours working with the models, fixing minor issues on the designs, and basically running around like a madwoman. Her father was a professional, and with so many of the models having real-life experience, it made the process go by so much faster.