KING: A Daddy's Best Friend Romance

She looks up at me. “There’s not much to tell,” she answers finally. “She was my best friend since we were little kids. We did everything together. I relied on her too much, I guess.” She sniffles a little, and I wonder if she’s crying, but when she goes on her voice is steady. “And then she died.”

“How far did your relationship go?” I ask, and I feel her stiffen.

“What do you mean?” she asks.

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; “Did you do any business together? Or was it just a friendship?”

Her eyebrows knit together. “That’s kind of a weird question.”

“Maybe. But your dad and I do business together, and we’re old friends.”

She relaxes and her body presses once more against mine.

“Oh, right,” she answers. “No, we were never in business together. Unless you count a lemonade stand when we were kids.”

“I sure don’t,” I smile, and squeeze her against me. The thought is attractive. More than that, though, she’s either an Oscar-quality actress or she’s telling the truth. I don’t hear anything in her voice but complete sincerity.

“Yeah, no, we were just buddies, best friends forever, that sort of thing. Until she started growing apart from me.”

“Why was that?” I ask cautiously. “Did something happen?”

“No, not really, not that I know of anyhow,” she answers. She looks into the distance.

“When was that?” I have to be careful not to let her know I’m prying. I just want to confirm she had no idea about this before I move forward with her. I’ve already gone too far, but I need to save myself or throw myself headfirst into it.

I know which way I’m leaning.

“Oh, when we were about eighteen.”

Makes sense. Kelsey doesn’t want to be brought up on federal charges, so she waits until Jordan is an adult. I decide to sit on the information for a while. I don’t want to make any false moves. I look down at Jordan, who is looking up at me again in her wide-eyed way, this time the eyes framed with kohl and mascara.

She smiles.

“Why all the questions?” she asks, and I see a flash of teeth as she smiles.

“Just finding out more about you.” And your friend Kelsey. It sounds like she was nothing like you think she was, if my PI is to be believed. He’s confirmed that Jordan wasn’t on any kind of payroll. He was careful to add that that didn’t mean she wasn’t being paid under the table.

Still. I don’t think her innocence is a ruse. I think she’s sincere.

The car slows and the streetlights’ pattern against the tinted windows eventually comes to a stop.

“Do you think your colleagues will like me?” she asks suddenly. “Or are they just going to think I’m some little ninny?”

I’m more worried that they’ll think I hired you, I think. “They’ll love you,” I say. I give her a kiss on the forehead and she reaches out and grabs my thigh tentatively.

“I’m nervous,” she says.

“Don’t be,” I answer. “I invited you for a reason. Just don’t drink too much, keep your wits about you, and you will be fine.”

She nods. “Got it.”

I wonder if she knows she’s being tested. How naïve is she?

I think I can keep control of this situation.

...How naïve am I?