Your Forever Love (The Bennett Family 3)

Pippa stops in front of us, directing all her attention to Julie.

“Like them?” Pippa asks her. My daughter’s eyes are glued to the nearest stand of jewels.

“Are these diamonds??

?? Julie asks. She’s been in a few of our shops, but we don’t have precious stones lying around like this.

“Yes, they are,” Pippa answers. “I also have rubies and sapphires on my desk.”

“Wow,” Julie exclaims.

“Say good-bye to your dad, and we’ll get started. I’ve prepared everything. That’s my desk.” Pippa points with her thumb behind her to the largest desk at the far end of the room. “I brought in a second chair for you.”

Julie gives me a quick good-bye kiss before running off to the desk. Pippa follows her with her gaze, then turns to me, keeping her focus firmly on a point on my shirt. Is she avoiding my eyes?

Not one to beat around the bush, I ask, “Pippa, are you avoiding looking at me?”

“Yes,” she whispers, snapping her gaze up.

“Why?”

“You did it again,” she replies, this time in a stronger voice.

“What?”

“The hot look,” she clarifies. “Earlier.”

“Right.” I run a hand through my hair, mentally cursing. Guess my moments of weakness weren’t as discreet as I thought. Pippa pushes a strand of her golden blonde hair behind her ears, and that’s when I see the tip of her ear is red. Can this woman be any cuter? She’s a goofball, sexy goddess, laughing partner, and stern businesswoman all rolled into one.

“I’ll try my best not to do it again. Can’t make any promises, though. You’re too damn beautiful.”

Pippa licks her lips, looking away. It’s time for me to give her some space.

“Are you sure it’s all right if I leave Julie here the entire afternoon?” I press.

“Yes,” she answers. “And before you ask, it’s also okay if she comes every day for the next two weeks until her classes start. I promised her.”

“If it gets too much, tell me. I’ll make something up to get you off the hook.”

Pippa crosses her arms over her chest. “I don’t make promises I don’t intend to keep. I won’t disappoint her. She has plenty of time to be disappointed when she’s older.”

A shadow crosses her eyes, and my protective instincts kick in. She doesn’t deserve to be disappointed or hurt. I barely know her, but someone who shows so much kindness to strangers deserves the best.

“At what time do you finish work?”

“I’ll be here at six.”

Pippa lifts one corner of her mouth in a smile. “I thought you’d work longer hours since they call you ‘the shark’ and all.”

“I try not to,” I admit. “If I don’t give myself a strict deadline, I’d end up staying way too long, and I’d barely see Julie. I usually stay up late and work after Julie goes to bed. It works in Boston most of the time. Not sure how it’ll be here since the workload is much higher.”

She nods, and that’s when I remember she was wearing red lipstick at the wedding. I admit my business instinct doesn’t help jack shit when it comes to my daughter, but I can put two and two together. Julie wants lipstick—a red one, at that—because that’s what Pippa was wearing at the wedding.

“Can I ask your advice on something?” I inquire.

“Sure.”

“Julie told me today she wants to wear lipstick.”