of the girl’s braids. “I admire your hair. You know, mine was the exact same color when I was a girl, and I had adorable freckles across my nose just like yours.”
Poppy grinned. “I don’t like my freckles. Have you read the book called Freckle Juice?”
Ah, this small child was a young bibliophile. “I have. That’s a big book for you.”
“My aunt Marin read it to me. She comes in and reads my bedtime stories for me. And makes sure I brush my teeth. My uncle Jared’s a dentist. I think he makes her check and stuff.”
Daphne smiled at Poppy’s father. The man looked at his little girl like a man truly in love. Daphne’s heart may have skipped a beat or two at that look. Rex had been much the same over Ellery. Everything Ellery said was adorable, even when she was sassy. “Well, your teeth are important. I brush Dixie’s, and she doesn’t like it, but she also likes to eat and sort of needs her pearly whites.”
“You brush a dog’s teeth?” the little girl asked, her eyes popping.
“I try to. Dogs aren’t always as agreeable as little girls.” Daphne thought about the few times she’d chased Jonas down and tried to use the finger dog brush and meat-flavored toothpaste. Her trusty hound had been insulted and shook his head so hard that Daphne had to pick the disgusting-smelling toothpaste out of her hair. Jonas wasn’t a fan no matter what the paste tasted like, and honestly, Daphne had feared he’d bite her finger. “I suppose I should be on my way. It’s my little girl’s birthday this weekend, and I have a party to oversee.”
“You have a little girl, too?” Poppy asked.
“Well, she’s not so little anymore,” Daphne said.
Evan tucked Poppy against his side, curving an arm around her to pin her in place. The child’s feet were already twisting. “If you need help with anything, let Caroline know.” He nodded toward the young woman at the desk.
“It was so good to meet you and your daughter.”
“Well, we’ve been waiting to meet you in person. I’ll pull away from things later this evening and catch up with you,” he said, bestowing a big smile on her.
Daphne wondered if the man was always so familiar with his guests but decided that his personality was one that spilled over onto the people around him. Ellery could be that way. Rex damn well made sure his personality assaulted those around him. Evan wasn’t like that, per se, but he certainly treated her like an old friend rather than someone he’d only just met. “That would be lovely. Bye, Poppy. Have a good day.”
“I’m out of school. It’s fall break,” she said, her eyes shining brightly with the joy only a day of no school could bring.
“Well, have fun. I’ll probably see you around, and maybe we could read some books together.”
“Yes!” the child said, hopping and punching the air with her fist.
“Now you’ve done it,” Evan said as she pulled her keycard out of her pocket.
“See y’all later,” Daphne said, giving the child a happy wave and then lifting her gaze and catching the eye of her father. The expression on his face reflected warmth and familiarity. An odd prickling of something—warning, maybe?—skittered up her spine. His demeanor seemed incongruous with how a host might treat a guest. It was as if he knew her, but she was nearly certain she’d never met him before. She’d done a lot of book signings in the area, but she would have remembered a tall, handsome Texan and a chatty redheaded child.
She wondered if he was married.
Just as she had this thought, she passed the bar, which looked to have just opened, and saw Clay sitting there, chatting with the bartender. He nursed a Bloody Mary and looked morose. Daphne had a sneaking suspicion Clay wouldn’t do as she asked.
This weekend was going to be more difficult than she’d expected, because the only two men she’d slept with in her life had become unexpected guests.
Daphne couldn’t catch a break.
CHAPTER TEN
Dear Evan,
Sorry I haven’t been in touch. Things have been busy around here with the renovation, and I have been working from home. I loved your analogy about the wine. So true that the bad times in life can make the good times sweeter. Thanks for sharing that with me. Good news—I’m taking Ellery on a little birthday-surprise weekend. She’s been so down, I think it will be good for both of us to