Pretend You're Mine (Inked Hearts 3)

“But the wedding stuff is driving me crazy.”

“That’s normal, isn’t it?”

“I guess so.” She takes a long sip. “I didn’t realize Dad was going to be this hands on. I get he wants to use this as some bullshit write off, but it’s still a wedding, not a business meeting. I try to tell Frank that, but he just reminds me Dad’s footing the bill.”

“He is.”

“I know. And I know I’m lucky. But I wish he ‘got it.’”

I arch a brow.

“Working at his company is a headache. Dad nixed my idea about a feminist column. He thinks it will alienate half our demo even though we’re a women’s intere

st site. When I told Frank, he took Dad’s side—”

“That’s just stupidity.”

She laughs.

“Every guy knows better.”

“Maybe. I’m glad he’s honest with me, but—”

“Nobody’s perfect.”

“Yeah.” She takes a long sip. “It felt good, being pissed about the injustice of it. But it would have felt better doing something other than dealing with makeup advertisers.” She looks up at me. “Sorry. I know you hate hearing about my job.”

I do. But that’s not what’s weird about this.

It’s how much I see the Penny I fell in love with.

She’s still there, under the layer of business casual. At least, a part of her is.

And a part of me wants her.

But it’s smaller than it used to be.

Quieter.

“I can’t believe I let Mom talk me into this party.” She finishes her glass and sets it on the bar. “It’s as bad as my eighteenth birthday.”

“Can’t be that bad.”

She laughs. “No. I guess not. But it’s pretty bad. This is my first interesting conversation all night.”

“You don’t show it.”

“I know how to play Daddy’s girl, I guess.”

I nod. She fought with her dad a lot when we were younger, but she always knew how to get him on her side.

“It’s all bizarre and formal.” She smooths her ivory dress. “Not how a bachelorette party is supposed to feel.”

“You need to tuck some ones into a stripper’s g-string?”

She laughs. “Pretty much.”

“Dean’s somewhere.”