Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (68 page)

Martha smiled. “Sure.”

“
You gonna marry mama?” Amy asked, eyes round, wide with alarm. “You can’t. My daddy won’t let you! He’s going to marry mama! Tell him Tee-Tee, he can’t!”

“
Amy, sweetie, it’s okay,” Janette said.

Pete smiled at her. “Your mama and I are friends. Okay? Just friends.”

Amy looked to her grandmother for confirmation, then back to Pete. “Mmkay.”

Pete walked out with Martha, choosing the outside patio deck. The rush of the waves and sea breeze greeted them. He closed the door. “I know what you think you’re doing, Mrs. Johnson. I want to ask you to stop. Now.”

“
How can you sit at that table and listen to that child call that man ‘daddy’? Doesn’t it turn your stomach?”

“
She’s my daughter. She’s confused. Daisy and I will deal with it.”

“
Do you know where Daisy is? She ran off to chase after that man!”

“
Not my concern.”

“
Peter Doyle, I know your people. Your mother raised her sons before God. You know she wouldn’t approve of these games you and Daisy have been playing!”

“
With all do respect, Mrs. Johnson, but my mother never approved of Daisy, just like you never approved of me.”

Martha looked away. “You were kids then. It was different.”

“
Are you sure? Because it seems to me you’re more concerned with keeping Aiden Keane from Daisy than you are with me and her being together.”

“
So, there is a possibility you will fight for her?”

Pete sighed. He looked out at the night. “That time is gone. What we had is over.”

“
You saying you don’t love her?” Martha’s voice pitched high and her eyes stretched.

“
I love Daisy,” he smiled. “Always did. But no, I’m not in love with her. I don’t want to marry her or reconcile with her. I’m in love with another woman.”

“
Nina.” Martha rolled her eyes.

“
The mother of my child.”

Martha’s head snapped back to him. “Mother?”

“
She’s pregnant?”

He let the news settle. Martha Johnson looked visibly stricken. He wondered if Daisy knew how her mother felt about Aiden. But that moment passed. He had so many worries, namely how to win his child’s heart when the man he hated came in before him and left his mark. Many things. Martha Johnson’s wishes didn’t make the list.

Pete stepped to her. “Amy is our concern. Let Daisy and me handle this, please. I don’t want you saying anything else to her about who and what I am. I’m asking you out of respect but I mean it, Mrs. Johnson. The one thing that won’t happen is Amy tossed between Daisy and me.”

Martha crossed her arms and reluctantly nodded her agreement. Pete leaned in and kissed her cheek. “The vote of confidence does help,” he winked.

“
Nina’s pregnant? You sure?”

Pete didn’t bother to answer. He went back inside where Amy sat kicking her legs under the table. “Ready princess? We got a doll house to finish.”

“
Yay!” she said, pushing her chair back. Pete took her hand and led her away. Martha came back inside, face tight, lips pressed together in an angry line.

“
Mama looks like she got a dose of reality,” Sandra chuckled.

“
Thank you, Lord!” Denise clapped.

****

Aiden entered to find her pacing back and forth, robe open to her navel and tied at her waist. Her breasts, parted by the folds, were in view.

“
Why are you so pissed?”

“
You just insulted me.”

“
Daisy, I was kidding.”

“
No you weren’t. You don’t respect me.”

“
That’s not true.”

“
Okay, try this. You don’t respect what I’ve done. What I can do.”

“
Of course I do. Hell, take over the spas. I don’t care.”

She dropped her hands to her hips. “How about I do one better? Take over the operations of the casino and run it from top to bottom.”

Aiden smirked, but didn’t answer.

“
If we get married—”

“
If?”

“
If. If we do it, then I don’t want to live in Vegas.” She crossed her arms. He looked her up and down, trying to gauge if it was a test. Aiden saw in her eyes that if it was, there was only one correct answer.

“
Where do you want to live? Paris, Milan, St. Tropez?”

“
Mango Grove.”

“
Huh?”

“
In my house by the beach. Our house. It’s big enough for us.”

“
Wait, you want to live in Mango Grove?”

“
You got jets, cars and an army of people to do your bidding. This place is Grand Central station for your business. Ever hear the saying, don’t piss where you poop?”

“
That’s not the saying—”

“
Whatever! I want to live in Mango Grove. Amy goes to school there, and I run my business.”

"You said you withdrew Amy from school."

"You know what I mean."

“
You want to stay there as Danielle Locke? You can’t run that business because you have to come out of the closet. Or did you forget about that? There is that messy matter with the IRS.”

“
You’ll fix that!”

“
I’ll fix it?” he blinked.

“
You fix everything else. Fix it. Those are my terms. So, what’s it going to be, Aiden?”

He stared hard, watching her chew on her bottom lip but holding her stance. It was easy to read how stubborn she’d be on this point. Her vision of their life narrowed down to a molecule of what it could be. He could build her a palace, shower her with things she can’t even imagine, show her things and take her places.

“
Mango Grove?”

“
Mango Grove. And I keep my business and house, all of it mine.” She pointed a finger at him. “You stay out of it. We run separate businesses for now, unless I want to expand… maybe later. Besides, do you think I’d work with that traitor bitch you stole from me?”

Aiden flinched. “She’s a non-issue.”

“
Not for me, sweetie,” Daisy said. “I want to know, Aiden. Can you accept our family outside of this world? Because for it to survive, it would have to be. I don’t want to be you, Aiden. I just want to love you. And I want you to see me. Really see me.”

He walked over to her. “How about Hollow Creek?”

She doubled back. He laughed. “I see you, Daisy. I got one small request, if we have to. If we are going to stay in Mango Grove,” his nose wrinkled but he corrected the action, “then you have to let me build you a house. One for us, near the sea. Give me that much.”

She slipped her arm around his waist. “Are you sorry for calling me a decorator?”

“
Extremely.” He pecked her mouth.

“
Promise every weekend belongs to us, no matter what business calls?”

“
Promise.” He gave her a lingering kiss.

“
Do you want a baby?” she asked, drawing back, eyes searching his. “For more reasons than keeping me, do you want us to have a baby?”

He kissed her again. She lifted her arms to his neck and he grabbed her under the ass, heaving her up against his frame, her legs wrapping around his waist. He walked them back to the bed, kissing hard and long. “I want a baby. Let’s practice again,” he said, falling back on the bed with her giggling.

****

Pete pulled the blanket over Amy. Dollhouse halfway through the building, she climbed in bed yawning and giving instructions from her pillow until he looked back and she was asleep.

“
She’s out like a light, huh?” Denise said, coming inside.

“
Yeah. She’s so beautiful,” Pete sighed, staring down at her. “I’m just getting to know her, and I have to go.”

“
I’m sure Daisy will bring her home often. You and Amy have many years to look forward to.”

Pete nodded. “I should be leaving.”

“
Pete?”

He stopped and looked at her. Denise smiled. “I know a lot has happened. A lot of pain and a lot of disappointment, but I also know that my sister loves her daughter. You can trust her.”

Pete understood. “Tell her to call me. I want to talk to Amy first thing, because I got to catch a flight tomorrow. Gotta go home.”

“
Tomorrow?”

“
Can’t be put off. Not until we talk to Amy though. Then I’ll leave.”

“
I’ll tell her.”

Pete looked at Amy once more before turning to leave. “Night,” he said to Denise.

“
Night, Pete.”

****

Martha Johnson stood at the window watching Pete leave. She watched his car back out and drive away, silent tears of frustration coursing down her cheeks. She stood in the window long after.

“
Mama?”

"What is it baby?” she said, not turning.

“
Going to bed, are you?”

“
I’m fine, Sandra.”

“
Ma, you have to stop this.”

“
There’s nothing I can do, is there? She’s going to be with that man. Isn’t she?”

“
I don’t know, mama, but we have her back. We have Amy now. Can’t that be enough?”

Martha considered her words, closing her eyes. “You don’t understand. None of you do. Some gambles aren’t worth the risk. She’s my daughter through and through. I can’t protect her.”

Sandra came behind her mother, folding her arms around her and resting her chin on her shoulder. “You can love her. It’s enough, mama, for all of us; your love. And you can have some faith.” She kissed her mother’s cheek. “Isn’t that what you taught us? A little faith goes a long way.”

Martha agreed. “Yes, a little faith goes a long way.”

Chapter Twenty-three

With her eyes closed, she drifted. Blame it on the early hour, the late night loving or just the sweet satisfaction of surrender, but Daisy Johnson was content. The cushioned comfort snugly fit every shapely contour of her body from her reclined position. She was thankful for it. Shifting her weight in the seat, feet crossed at the ankle, she ignored the dull aches along her thighs all the way to her center. The man was an animal and it was marvelous.

“
You sure you don’t want me to go with you?”

“
I’m sure.”

“
I want to be there to explain it to Amy. She’s my little girl too…considering.”

“
I know.”

“
Daisy.”

“
Hmm?”

“
I’m happy… I mean are you happy? You look happy, especially when I do this.”

“
Okay… I want to sleep just a little longer before it's time to get up.”

“
I’m serious,” Aiden said.

“
Mmmm, okay. I’m tired.”

“
And I love you.”

“
Ha! Aiden! Stop it! You’re going to pay for that!”

“
Say it.”

“
Stop!”

“
Say it!”

“
I love you, you, you, you. I love you!” she yelled.

“
You damn right you do…you’re mine, just as I knew you’d be.”

“
No you didn’t!”

“
I did. Now let me show you one more time.”

Daisy smiled. After another shower, he walked her out to the waiting limo, his hand in hers. Several eyes of his staff followed when they appeared from his private floor. Aiden paid them no attention. A woman can’t help but notice the stares of another, especially the hard stares of the beauties he had working concierge.