Faking Ms. Right (Dirty Martini Running Club, #1)(69)

Fuck.

I decided to give him a little time to process, so I took a shower to wash off any trace of the harpy. When I finished, I dressed and went back to the kitchen to clean up the broken glass. Then I poured two whiskeys and went to face my father.

I rapped a knuckle against his partially-open door. “Can I come in?”

“Sure.”

He took the glass of whiskey I offered. I lowered myself onto the corner of his bed.

“I’m sorry I lied to you,” I said.

“What I don’t understand is why. Why would you keep that from me?”

I stared down into the amber liquid in my glass. “When I saw her with you at the gala, you were receiving an award. It was your night. I didn’t want to ruin it.”

“And after?”

“Come on, Dad. Then you dropped the bomb on us that not only were you facing the worst financial crisis of your life, you’d been diagnosed with cancer. Ethan and I figured Svetlana was just another fling. Maybe your way of dealing with the fact that you were facing your own mortality. We decided to let it run its course. It’s not like you haven’t had short relationships with younger women before.”

He sighed, turning his whiskey glass in his hand. “You’re right. I have.”

“I hoped you’d realize she wasn’t right for you and we could all move on. And you wouldn’t have to get hurt.”

“You were trying to protect me,” he said. It wasn’t a question.

“Yeah.”

“I knew something wasn’t right with her. I ignored it because… well, because she was very beautiful, let’s be honest. And because I’m an idiot. Here I am, sixty-three, and I’m chasing women more than thirty years younger.”

“You’re not an idiot.”

“It’s ironic. My first day in Hawaii, I’d resolved to stop dating. I decided I was better off alone. I guess I didn’t really believe that. Twenty-four hours later, I met Svetlana, and I threw that out the window.”

“You don’t need to give up. But if you’re dating women for the wrong reasons, you’ll attract the wrong women. Trust me, I know a thing or two about that.”

He nodded slowly and took a sip. “I suppose being with a younger woman isn’t going to make me live any longer. Probably the opposite.”

“You need a woman who wants to be with you because she wants to share a life together. Not because she’s good at being arm candy and wants to live in luxury.”

His mouth turned up in a grin. “Like Everly.”

That hit me like a punch to the gut. Fuck. “Dad, there’s something you need to know about Everly.”

“What?”

Damn it. I didn’t know what was worse. Having to confess to this, or telling him he’d been unknowingly dating my ex. “She’s my assistant.”

“I know that.”

“No, what I mean is, when you met her at the gala, she wasn’t my girlfriend. I saw Svetlana with you, and I had Everly come down to pose as my date. Then when you moved in, I asked Everly to keep up the ruse. I didn’t want Svetlana thinking I was available.”

His brow furrowed. “Are you saying you and Everly aren’t getting married?”

“No, we’re not.”

“And you’re not actually a couple? You’ve just been pretending?”

I glanced away. “Yes.”

He chuckled. I’d just told him I’d been lying to him. That made him laugh?

“What are you laughing about?”

“Oh, son.” He tossed back the rest of his whiskey. “If you haven’t figured it out yet, you will soon.”

“Figured what out?”

“You’re in love with that girl.”

I stiffened, feeling the emotion drain from my features. This was hitting far too close to the mark. Right in the center of the bullseye, actually.

He chuckled again. “Maybe your relationship started off as a fake, but it’s real now. There’s no doubt in my mind about that.”

I wanted to steer the conversation back in the right direction. “I’m sorry I let you go through with the party. I thought it might be a good distraction for you.”

“Don’t be sorry. You’re absolutely right, it was. I had a lot of fun putting that party together. Besides, now I don’t have to throw you another one when you and Everly actually get engaged.”

“Dad—”

“Denial doesn’t look very good on you, son. Trust me, the sooner you accept that you’re in love with her, the better things will be for both of you.”

I cleared my throat. “Don’t blame her for this. It’s not her fault. I talked her into it. She’ll feel terrible if you’re upset with her.”

“I’m not, and I’ll make sure she knows that. I probably should be upset with you. I was half an hour ago, and I wish you would have told me the truth in the beginning. But Svetlana was a mistake, and I knew it all along.”

“I’m sorry, Dad.”

“It’s all right. I’ll recover. I always do.”

I stood, still holding my whiskey. “Night.”

“Goodnight, son.”

I went to my office and sat down. Sipped my drink. It was over. No more Svetlana. That part was an enormous relief.