That was part of her problem. He was going to be asking. She’d managed to put him off without ac
tually saying anything so far, but things were escalating between them. At some point he’d ask.
She didn’t trust herself to say no.
Unless she thought her friend wanted him...
“It’s Flint,” she said. “He’s such a great guy and I’m worried about him,” she said, looking straight into Mallory’s pretty blue eyes. “He’s in that big house all alone, keeping up an eighteen-hour-a-day workload, being mother and father to that baby girl and—”
“You’ve been to his house?”
Yeah, she’d forgotten she hadn’t mentioned that.
She nodded, but continued. “His girlfriend ditched him when he refused to give Diamond Rose up for adoption.”
“Why were you at his house?”
Was Mallory jealous? That would be a good thing, right?
“I just... My father told me he’s not going to press charges if it turns out that Flint’s the one who’s been stealing from him. And while I’m not excusing theft or fraud, I’ve seen another side to the man and—”
“When were you at his house?”
“I think you should ask him out, Mal.”
Mallory sat back. “Me? Why? I thought you were going to tell me you were falling for him.”
“He’s got a baby.”
“Yeah.”
“You think I’m kidding about not going down that road again?” Tamara quipped.
“I think sometimes love is stronger than the things we believe.”
“I can’t even be in the same room with her for more than a few minutes without getting a cramped feeling.”
“Exactly how many times have you been at his house?” Malory asked.
“You need to go out with him, Mal. You’ll see what I mean. He’s perfect for you.”
“You really want me to ask him out?”
“I really do.”
Mallory nodded. “He and I—we’ve talked some.”
“And he’s gorgeous.”
Neither one of them was the type who fell for looks first, but looks didn’t hurt.
“But I can’t seem to draw him into any kind of conversation beyond caring for his daughter,” Mallory said.
Sister. Technically, she was his sister.
Who’d grow up as his daughter.
And she assumed he’d told Mallory that. Probably had to present guardianship papers. None of which changed the fact that, for practical purposes, Flint was Diamond’s father.