Daisy frowned, a crease forming in the space between her eyebrows. She had exceptionally smooth skin that I could practically feel underneath my fingertips.
“Of course she didn’t like you,” I said.
Her eyebrows shot up. “Huh? What do you mean?”
“I can just imagine you as a teenager. Most stepmothers aren’t going to be wild about their new husband’s teenage daughter.”
“Why not?”
Was she really this naïve or just playing dumb? “Because women are jealous and territorial, that’s why. Because she’d feel competitive with you, even if you two are vying for two completely different types of your father’s affection.”
“Well, I never wanted to take anything from her. I thought it would be weird if I had these siblings out there that I’d never met, but I guess that’s really how it’s going to be, because she wants it to be, and he doesn’t seem like he’s willing to stand up to her. But I understand. I wouldn’t want the conflict, either.”
“He’s pussy whipped.”
She blushed.
“Really,” I said. “And maybe that’ll make it so your feelings aren’t as hurt. It’s not you—it’s the fact that his new wife is insecure, and your dad is pussy whipped.”
“Could we please not talk about my dad and pussy in the same sentence?”
Mmm, just hearing the word out of her mouth made me hard. But she was obviously uncomfortable. If she was such a freak in bed, as Jonathan claimed, then there’s no way something like that would have made her so uncomfortable. Perhaps I should try to suss that out, too, and maybe while I was at it, figure out which positions were her favorite. Though that probably wouldn’t be the sort of report that Jonathan was looking to get back from me.
“We don’t need to talk about our fathers,” I said. I glanced over at the clock. “You know, the workday is just about over. Want to go get a drink?”
She hesitated. I could tell she wanted to say yes, but she didn’t know if it would be appropriate to go out fraternizing with the boss like this.
“I’ll make it easy for you,” I said. “You’re still technically on the clock, and therefore have to do what I want, since I’m the boss. So come on, we’re going out to get a drink.”
“Okay,” she said.
We were almost at the door when it swung open, and Jonathan walked in. He jumped, obviously not expecting to see us right there.
“We were just heading out,” I said. “I was about to lock up, but since you’re here, I’ll let you handle it.”
His eyes shot from me to Daisy, then back to me. “Oh? Where are you going?”
“We’re just going to get a drink,” I said. “I figured it would be good for me to get to know Daisy a little better outside the work environment.”
Jonathan shifted uncomfortably. “A drink,” he said. “Maybe . . . maybe I should come along, too.”
“That’d be great—” Daisy started to say, but I cut her off.
“I think there’s some stuff you’ve got to take care of here,” I said. “Isn’t there? I need you to go over the applications we’ve received so far and get the top twenty to me so we can start the interviewing process.”
“Oh . . . okay . . .” he stammered. I waited until Daisy wasn’t looking at me to give him a big wink.
“Don’t worry,” I said. “This is just going to be a friendly thing. You’ll come with us next time. Hell, maybe it’ll be the two of you going out, and I’ll be the one left behind!”
I ushered Daisy out before either of them could say anything else.
Chapter Eight
Daisy
It looked like Jonathan wanted to say something, but Ian herded me out the door before he was able to.
“Don’t worry about him,” Ian said. “He’s got a bunch of stuff he needs to handle there right now. Plus, he can’t hold his alcohol for shit.” A half smile curved the corner of his mouth and he shook his head. “I’m just kidding, of course. Jonathan could outdrink an Australian.”