Temptation on Ocean Drive - Jennifer Probst Page 0,92
He’d just love a chance to talk and see if he can interest you in a rare opportunity. He was quite impressed by the article in Bridal Style and all you have to offer. Can you come in this Wednesday?”
This was nuts. He had no plans to leave Cape May or his job. But he’d worked his ass off for so long to get to this point. How could he say no? He owed it to himself to meet with Palmer and see what he wanted.
“That’s fine.”
“Excellent! One p.m., at our office. I’ll email you the specifics. We look forward to meeting you.”
He clicked off. Guilt pricked his conscience. Should he tell Avery? Bella? Or would that just put everyone in a needless tailspin, freaking out Bella when things were good between them?
After all his dreams and hard work, he was being recognized by one of the top agencies in the industry. They wanted him. Those doubts that still lingered from all the years of his father’s taunting suddenly quieted. Maybe this was an opportunity he’d be foolish to give up.
No. Better to keep it quiet for now.
Bella grabbed a water bottle and checked the clock. She needed to get to the school for the PTO planning session, and dinner had run late. “Sweetheart, I need to drop you downstairs at Aunt TT’s, okay? I have to run to your school for an hour.”
“Is it for my year-end graduation party?” Zoe asked excitedly.
She smiled. “Yep. I cannot believe in just over two months, you’ll be out of kindergarten. How did you get so big so fast?”
“Don’t know. Is it gonna be a great party?”
“Well, of course, I’m the best party planner ever, right?”
Her daughter giggled, and everything lit up inside her like Christmas. “That’s right.”
“Good. Let’s go.” Bella took her hand and guided her down the stairs.
“Mama, what’s a player mean?”
Bella froze, turning toward her daughter. Zoe didn’t even look at her; she was focused on gathering the bunch of Barbie dolls she was taking with her, like the question was just an afterthought. “Where did you hear that, honey?”
“Well, when Gabe picked me up from the bus yesterday, my friend Theresa said her mom said Gabe is a player. I told her you were dating, and she said the word again and that her mom would never date a player. What does it mean?”
Anger unfurled, but she kept her face calm. “A player is someone who doesn’t date just one person but dates a whole bunch of people.”
“So Gabe’s not a player ’cause he just dates you?”
“That’s right, but we don’t want to use the word player to describe someone, because it’s hurtful. Adults are allowed to date many people, if they want. But Gabe and I decided we really like each other and want to only be in a relationship with each other. Do you have any questions about Gabe and me?”
She shook her head. “Nope. I love Gabe. I’d like him to be my dad.”
It was the second time Zoe had mentioned Gabe being her father. Before, the idea had been unthinkable. Now, she blinked back the sting of tears and brought her daughter close in a hug. “That makes me happy. But right now, Gabe and I are just dating. And if we did get married, he’d never replace your dad.”
“I know that. It’s good to have a few dads or moms or grandmas or grandpas, right? Then there’s more people to love.”
She pressed a kiss to Zoe’s head and wondered how she’d gotten so lucky. “That’s right. Now let’s hurry up, I don’t want to be late.”
The exchange with Zoe burned in her mind the whole drive to the school. She couldn’t believe the moms were still talking about Gabe. Either way, she was going to have to decide whether or not she took a stand. She refused to be whispered about when she attended the school’s functions or allow Zoe to be manipulated by her classmates who knew nothing. They must’ve found out about her and Gabe, but they had no right to make judgments on her without even asking a question.
She did some deep breathing in the car and calmed down. There was no use going in upset and defensive. She’d be cool and professional, and maybe after the meeting, she’d say her piece to Kelly—Theresa’s mom—about keeping her mouth shut.
She wished Daisy had been able to come, but she’d called and said she had to work late. Bella had promised to not