I stare. I抦 not sure what I think about that.
揂nd Dad, I wasn抰 done梪nless you find Badger Lady and somehow trick her into giving you her recipe, there are no patents or whatever for any monster coffee. I抦 not stupid.?
Isn抰 that the problem sometimes?
I hide a smile behind my hand as I scratch at my trimmed scruff.
It抯 not easy handling a smart fifteen-year-old with a whip for a tongue.
Something about the way the sun filters in through the window catches her profile, the light flitting around her like glitter. My smile disappears.
Just an illusion.
But fuck, for a second it could be Aster sitting there, staring back at me. She抯 only missing her mother抯 jade-green eyes.
When my late wife died, Destiny looked like a tall American Girl doll. Today, she looks too much like a ghost.
A walking stack of unresolved questions.
I stare at the mason jar still in my hand, watching the dark liquid swirl. Even when the sunlight hits it, this stuff is pitch-black.
Yeah, if I抎 had my head in the game, I抎 already have an interview set up with that headstrong, fearless face behind the witch抯 brew.
I wouldn抰 have taken her shit if I抎 had my wits.
We抣l blame it on the ample figure I hate that I noticed.
The curves for days.
The prettiest amber-brown eyes sparking with anger like melting caramel.
I certainly wouldn抰 be waiting around for some bearded gnome at one of my shops to hook me up with an interview.
Twenty minutes later, Tom, my driver, pulls up to Wired Cup Headquarters and opens the back door. Destiny climbs out first and rushes off before I can move.
He helps my executive assistant out of the car, and I follow.
Katelyn Storm glances at the mason jar I抦 holding. 揥ant me to take that off your hands? I can drop it off in research now so they can analyze it.?
揟echnically, my young hothead is right. This isn抰 technically corporate property梟ot yet梕ven if it was negligently left behind by its owner in her hit-and-run raid on my pride. I won抰 open a legal can of worms over some coffee. Let抯 track down that girl. We抣l have her friend at the store bridge the communication gap.?
She stares at me blankly. 揧ou抮e serious, Mr. Lancaster? I thought you took care of making the connection? Isn抰 that why you sent me outside with Destiny??
I wish. I was too damn riled up by that pixie and her mouth to handle it properly.
If there抯 one thing I despise, it抯 turning into a mess in front of my daughter.
How the hell did I let some twenty-something brunette chick get to me, anyhow?
揟he barista said he抎 put us in touch,?I tell her. 揥hy complicate anything??
Kate grins at me. She抯 about ten years my senior, but she抯 been with this company and my family for so long, she knows me better than I know myself at times.
揗iss Opinion really left an impression on you, huh??
I抦 not taking her bait.
I toss her an ice-cold stare.
She clears her throat. 揝o, if I manage to track down your new frenemy, what抯 the chance she抯 worth the trouble??
What the hell does she mean?
揑抦 not passing up this coffee. If that little fire-breather wants to sell me something I can patent or hash out a new product in our lab, she抯 worth a few smartass remarks.?I hold the jar up and shake the remaining liquid inside.
揧eah? And what if she brings that attitude into the office??
I frown. 揑t can抰 be worse than anything I抳e dealt with before. Feisty is practically the only kind of young woman I deal with.?
She gives me a knowing smile. 揃ut this isn抰 a teenage girl. She抯 a grown woman. You won抰 just be able to yank her iPhone away if she mouths off.?
揧eah? Watch me.?I enjoy the startled look she flings back. Let her wonder whether or not I抦 joking. 揝peaking of teenagers, I hope you can keep Destiny out of trouble this afternoon??
揟rouble? She抯 only a rebel punk for you.?Katelyn laughs. 揑sn抰 she still a four point oh brainiac? You抳e done a fine job with her, all things considered. I was always shocked you didn抰 crack and bring in more nannies to help.?
揗ostly because no nanny could ever handle her,?I lie, hating the real reason. 揇on抰 think I wasn抰 tempted.?
My assistant holds up a hand and giggles softly.
揝he抯 one smart nut off the tree,?I admit. 揝ometimes, she抯 almost too smart梐nd constantly glued to a device that invites trouble.?I shake my head, raking an annoyed hand through my hair. 揑 won抰 gripe about kids and their phones. It抯 pointless. Still, I wonder. What hell would I have raised if I抎 had one at her age??
揟hank God we抣l never find out.?She gives me a reassuring look. 揇on抰 worry. I抣l keep her in line like always.?