Chapter 17

Sam looked up to take another scan across the café area just as Chan walked out the door.

Lilly tugged at his sleeve to get his attention. "Do you like my new hair, Daddy?" Lilly asked, smiling up at him.

Sam chuckled. "Of course I do." He pinched her cheek, and that was when his eyes were drawn to the blue rose. "Where did you get that, Lilly?"

"Pretty lady did my hair and gave me the rose. Do you like the blue rose, Daddy?"

Sam couldn't believe it. A blue rose. Sarah had loved blue roses. In fact, she'd planted them at their previous apartment when they'd first gotten married seven years ago. Then when she was gone, he couldn't bear to live there because the place reminded him so much of her. So he'd moved into the mansion to start anew with Lilly.

Nina gave Lilly a smile and said, "Blue roses are a bit odd, aren't they, Lilly dear? Now red is better. It's prettier."

"But I like the blue rose," Lilly protested. "It's awesome."

"What?" Nina asked.

Sam chuckled. "Where did you learn that word?"

Lilly turned to her father and said, "Pretty lady taught me. She said I look awesome."

Sam patted his daughter's head. "You definitely look awesome. Where is she? I would like to thank her for teaching my daughter the word awesome."

"She left. She said she has to go to her date," Lilly said, nodding.

Sam cocked his head to one side. "Did she now? And how do you know about dates?"

"She told me. She said it means people who don't know each other go for lunch and dinner to get to know each other, and I told her she can do a date with you to get to know you."

Sam nearly choked on his drink. "Why did you tell her that?"

"Because you don't know her yet, silly Daddy. And she's nice. Maybe I'll do dates with her too. I think I will."

Sam couldn't help but laugh as his daughter turned her attention to her pasta.

Nina said, "Dating isn't simple, and it's certainly not for children, Lilly dear. It's an adult thing."

Lilly looked up at Nina and said firmly, "I'm going to ask Chan out on a date." Then she jumped down from her seat and ran out the door.

"Lilly!" Sam called out. "Lilly!" He rushed out the door after the little girl. He saw her running along the street and looking wildly about her surroundings.

Sam got to her and pulled her into his arms. "Sweetheart, what's gotten into you?"

Lilly buried her face against her dad's chest and said, "I want to go on dates with Chan. Please, Daddy, can you help me?"

"Chan?"

Lilly drew her head back as tears rolled down her bright-red cheeks. "Chan. You don't remember her? The pretty lady from the market. She gave me five dollars for the monkey show."

Sam swallowed hard and felt his heart skip a beat. She was here, after all. He couldn't believe it. She was here, and he didn't see her.

He looked around, searching, but nowhere was the woman who haunted him with her soft voice, spring fragrance, and sweet smile.

"Lilly, sweetheart…" He began. "Are you sure it was her? Are you sure you didn't mistake someone else for her?"

Lilly shook her head. "She just left. She should be here somewhere." She turned around to look for her, but there were too many people along the beach.

Nina came out just then and folded her arms across her chest impatiently as father and daughter walked back toward her.

"The food is getting cold," she said and wanted to say aloud, What a spoiled child. She frowned darkly at Lilly for misbehaving but quickly smiled when she noted Sam glancing her way.

"Sorry about that, Nina. Lilly is a bit upset," he said.

She laughed softly. "Don't worry about it. Children are children." She crouched down and took Lilly into her arms. Lilly became stiff and refused to hug the woman.

"My poor darling girl," Nina said. "Come on." She got up, took Lilly by the wrist, and led the reluctant little girl back into the café where their meal from then on went smoothly. Once they finished their lunch, Sam dropped Nina off at her luxurious apartment and drove himself and Lilly home.

They were just getting through the front door when Jeremy came out, saying, "Hey, there's my girl."

When Lilly didn't respond but snuggled her face deeper into her father's neck, Jeremy cocked his head to one side and looked at his cousin.

"She's tired," Sam said.

Jeremy nuzzled his nose against Lilly's hair and started to whimper like an upset pup. "Lilly doesn't like me today," he said. "I'm a poor pup." He continued to whimper some more.

Lilly finally turned, tears still in her eyes.

Jeremy widened his eyes in shock. "The princess is crying?"

Lilly wiped her face with the back of her hand and said, "Uncle Jeremy, can you help me ask a girl out on a date?"

Jeremy burst out with laughter. He laughed so hard his stomach hurt, and Lilly started scolding him.

They came into the living area, and he placed Lilly on the sofa. Jeremy crashed beside Lilly and said, "No. I don't live here. But it certainly does feel like it. Wait! Don't tell me you're pissed with me and now don't want me to come visit."

"Don't be silly," Sam said, heading around the corner to the open-plan kitchen to grab himself a cold beer. "Want one?"

"Yeah, sure," Jeremy replied.

Sam took two out of the fridge and threw one can across the room to Jeremy. The younger cousin caught it and put on a great parade like he'd just caught a rugby ball, which they both loved playing.

"Want something to drink, sweetheart?"

Lilly shook her head.

Sam came around and sat on the other side of his daughter. "What I mean is"—Sam continued their conversation—"I never gave you a key. How did you get into the house? Or know the combination for that matter?"

"Marian," Jeremy said. "She told me the combination to open the door and the gate. And, of course, I know where the spare key is."

Lilly turned to her uncle. "Uncle Jeremy, are you going to help me ask a girl on a date?"

Again, Jeremy couldn't help himself. He laughed until his stomach hurt.

"She's serious," Sam said.

That made Jeremy stop short. He cleared his throat and then said, "Of course I will, darling. In fact, I just got back from mydate."

Lilly clapped her hands excitedly. "Really, Uncle Jeremy. Really?"

"Yes, really, darling."

"Then you have to help me."

"All right. I'll teach you all the secrets there is to dating and make the boys fall head over heels in love with you." He rubbed his hands together in anticipation. "So who's the boy? Is he from your school? Short? Tall? Dark hair like your dad? Or blond like me. Trust me, sweetheart. Blond is way more handsome than dark-haired guys."

"Jeremy, I think I might just kick you out of the house if you continue this type of conversation with my daughter."

"Hold your horses, bro. Just, you know, just… Never mind you." He waved his cousin away and turned his attention back to his niece. "So who's the boy?"

It was Sam's turn to laugh. Jeremy stared at his cousin and gave him a look. "What?"

"It's not a boy, Uncle Jeremy. Haven't you been listening? It's a girl. I want to ask a girl out on a date."

Jeremy did a dramatic draw back and a freaked-out face, which made Lilly giggle. Then he turned to look at Sam and said, "What?"

"She wants to ask this girl out, which I think is a marvelous idea. Help her out, Jeremy. You know a lot of people. In fact, you might just know her as well."

"Are you serious, Sam? I don't know any little girl except Lilly. Can't help you there, my love."

"Fine," Lilly said and got down from the sofa. "I'm going to read my books, then. See if I care." With that, she was out the door.

Jeremy looked at Sam and said jokingly, "How did you raise your kid to be like that, Sam?"

Sam laughed and said, "I'm doing my best." Then he changed the subject. "Jayden will be arriving this coming Wednesday. I've prepared him to stay at The Harrington. Presidential suite."

"Yeah, good ol' Jayden. And his wife?"

"Yeah, Alexandra. Jay told me his wife is bringing some friends. They'll be staying at the hotel as well."

"Alexandra's friends? All girls?"

Sam raised his brows. "You're not going to do another round of serial dating, are you?"

"Are you kidding me? No way. Not on this one, but then again, if it doesn't look so promising, it doesn't hurt to have backup."

Sam frowned at his cousin and said firmly, "Maybe for once you should just stick with one girl for a while."

Jeremy became serious and looked his cousin in the eyes. "Why are you suddenly angry?"

"What? I'm not angry?"

"Your tone, bro, your tone."

"I'm sorry, Jeremy. I'm just a little tired; that's all." He made the excuse. Fact was he was pissed that Jeremy was planning on serial dating on Chan, if it was indeed the same Chan he had kind of met at the market.

Shit! He was confused as hell. Why should he care what Jeremy did? It was none of his business.

"Look, I'm going to go and see Lilly, get dinner ready, and then get her to bed."

"Yeah, I suck at being a dad and am no help," Jeremy said.

"I love being a dad, Jeremy. And I love Lilly," Sam said and headed out the door.