Accidentally Family (Pecan Valley 1)

“I did. I met a really nice girl. Fran.” She shrugged. “She’s sort of obnoxiously popular but still cool.”

“That’s good?” he asked.

“It’s different.”

“Good different?” he asked.

She nodded. “Until Nick showed up. He was acting like a total dick. Giving me the cold shoulder and being a cocky asshole to Fran. I told her she could do way better.”

He frowned. “That doesn’t sound like Nick.” Then again, he’d never thought Nick would ask Felicity to give up a chance at happiness. At least, he’d like to think he could make her happy.

“Don’t worry. I set him straight.” Her eyes flashed.

He could imagine. Graham stared at his daughter then—She was stunning. No eyeliner. No dark smudges. Just Diana’s spiky lashes and hazel eyes. “You look pretty,” he said.

Her cheeks turned red. “Whatever.” But she was smiling. “You don’t want to hear what I said to him?”

“Who?” he teased.

“Dad.” She crossed her arms and frowned.

“Go ahead.” He waited.

“I told him he was worse than I was, keeping his mother from being happy. And you know he is—after the way he acted.” She stuck her chin up. “I said he couldn’t call me a screwup and then do something like that to her.”

Graham was more than a little proud of her. He stood, staring down at his daughter. “You’re not a screwup, Diana.”

She rolled her eyes. “What are you smoking?” She flopped into the office chair he’d vacated. “We both know that’s a lie. I’m a screwup.” She shrugged, spinning the chair. “A recovering screwup.”

He laughed.

Diana peered around him. “Who is that? Is that Miss Takahashi?” She slipped from his chair and ran across the room, peering between the sheer curtains. “She has a cake.”

“Miss Takahashi?” he asked, heading to the door.

“The assistant principal who booted me out of school?” Diana reminded him. “She was all moony-eyed over you.” She ducked. “Shit, she’s waving.”

He frowned right back at her. “We can’t exactly hide, Diana. She saw you.”

“So,” she argued, crouching beneath the window. “I say we hide anyway. She’ll get the hint.”

He didn’t mention her phone call or the fact that he hadn’t called her back. It hadn’t been intentional, he’d just forgotten. Now he felt like an ass. And his daughter wanted him to hide? He owed the woman and apology. And some honesty.

Her sharp knock had Diana waving him away from the door. “Don’t do it. Don’t.” She pretended to be choking and flopped onto the floor.

He was trying not to laugh when he opened the door.

“Graham,” the woman gushed, holding a Bundt cake wrapped in cellophane. “I was in the neighborhood.” He recognized her then. Attractive woman. Great smile. Chin-length black hair. Amazing child advocate—something Diana hadn’t appreciated. But she wasn’t Felicity.

“You didn’t have to do that.” He tried to ignore Diana twitching on the floor.

“I did. I promised Widow Rainey I’d hand deliver this.” She handed him an envelope.

“What is it?” he asked.

“An invitation.” She smiled. “An adoption party for the Buchanans. You know, Felicity is taking in Matt’s son? Have you ever heard of such a thing?”

“No.” He could honestly say he never had. “But I know Felicity. She has a huge heart.” That was why he was so drawn to her.