She gasped. “Wow, that’s incredible. So many things inside!”
I laughed. “Yeah, that’s right. So we watch and see what happens with certain treatments. We’re trying to help people sick with this disease so that they can get better and keep on living.”
When Camilla looked up from the microscope, she was beaming. “That’s so nice. You must be a nice person.”
Uh, not so sure about that.
I could hear Stevie snickering away in the corner, and I shot her a glare.
“You seem nice to me,” I told Camilla.
“So, what’s your name?”
“Cassie. Sorry, I forgot to say.”
“That’s okay. Daddy always tells me to give my name whenever I meet somebody. Says it gives you…confidence or something.” She struggled over the word.
“I can imagine your father saying something like that,” I retorted.
“Something like what?”
Both Camilla and I turned around to see Dr. Foster walking from the doorway toward us at the lab table.
“Talking about me were you, pumpkin?” he said, grinning at his daughter.
The little flutter in my heart at the sight of his beautiful, genuine smile annoyed me, and I clenched my fists, willing it to stop. I was not a sucker for guys good with kids. I was not.
“Yeah, Daddy. She said she could imagine you saying something like what you told me about saying your name. That it gives you confidence if you tell people your name right away.”
“Did she?” he asked and looked at me.
Those deep blue eyes. They don’t even make sense.
“So, boss, how was the work call?” I was giving him a smile, but it was cold as all hell.
Keep it cold. Super cold. Not hot, sweaty, and sticky. Shut up!
My inner dialogue was malfunctioning. I kept my eyes on his face. No need for me to register the fitted suit over what appeared to me to be like the perfect example of a strong, healthy, virile male body. That was not something I needed to know. That was information I did not need inside of my brain.
“All good, Cassie. Thanks. And thanks for watching Cam. I’m sure she had a good time.” With a wink, he took Camilla’s hand and left.
When the door shut, all the scientists turned to me, and Stevie said, “So, what in the hell was that?”
CHAPTER4
BRAD
I held tightlyto Camilla’s hand as we walked back to my office. I was still recovering from whatever I’d just seen between Cassie and my daughter. Cassie and Camilla had been bent over a microscope, and Cassie had been smiling, talking to my daughter with kindness. As for Camilla, she’d been over the moon. I had heard it in her voice.
That was the whole reason I’d bought the lab, so that I could help Camilla have the life she deserved. That I could make up for her mother leaving suddenly. That I could make up for all my mistakes as a father to my older son as well.
And Cassie had just been part of it.
I set Camilla up in my office in a corner by the coffee table and couches. She pulled out her coloring books and set to work while I sat behind my computer. But I wasn’t really seeing anything. I was just thinking about how my revenge hadn’t really gone as I’d hoped. I thought I’d come back and see Cassie sitting there angrily while Camilla peppered her with questions about everything.
Instead, I came in and saw them seeming to enjoy each other’s company. Something long forgotten inside me flickered into life again. I sat for a little, confused. Could it be that instead of me playing Cassie, Cassie had played me? I thought I was used to all the games in the book, but this was different. Cassie had looked transformed. At ease, happy. Was it all a lie?
You only met her yesterday. It isn’t like you know her.