“I don’t know what to say.”
“Easy. Say, ‘Dad, I’ve decided’,” he shot a look at Poppy, “actually, say ‘Poppy and I have decided we need a business accountant to run our books. Thank you for your help over the years but now we’re growing so much we need more assistance’.”
“I couldn’t say that. I can’t hurt him.”
“If you don’t, you continue to hurt your business. Especially if you want to grow and have a new building or more space. You’re not going to get that if you’re letting money slip through your fingers.” He grimaced. “You probably need an audit, and then get a professional business accountant to help you. I can make some suggestions.”
“I bet you can,” she muttered.
“Bails,” Poppy pleaded. “Hear Luc out. He’s only trying to help.”
Bailey shook her head.
Poppy glanced at him then back at her. “I think it’s a good idea to get an audit done. Then you’ll know for sure and we can confront him if that’s the case.”
“I can’t believe we’re even talking like this,” Bailey murmured. “How can I know who a good auditor is?”
“I have connections,” Luc said.
“Of course you do.” Bailey rolled her eyes.
“Hey, you’re welcome to go find your own people to do that, but I can ask my dad, or those associated with the team and they can recommend people they trust.”
“Look,” she turned to him, “I appreciate that you are trying to help, but this is not something you need to get involved in.”
“But I care about you. I want to help.”
“So does my dad.”
“But what if what he’s doing is not actually helping anymore?”
She stared at him, eyes wide. “I can’t believe you’re saying that. My dad loves me.”
So did he. But now wasn’t the time to say that. “And you love him, I get that.”
“Of course I love him. And I’d never do anything to hurt him. Especially not after Chrissy abandoned the family.”
So this was the heart of the issue. He glanced at Poppy. She grimaced. Great. So no help there. He swallowed his own sigh. “Are you telling me that you want to keep the peace with your folks because of what happened to your sister?”
Bailey lowered her head.
“You can’t keep pandering to him, Bails,” he said as gently as he could. “You can’t keep pretending everything is okay when it’s not. You need to be honest. Sooner or later you have to stand on your own two feet.”
“I do. I have.”
“Honey.” He shifted to grasp her hands. “Please don’t be mad. I’m trying to help.”
She pulled free. “They’re my family. Who have known me a lot longer than you have. Who do you think you are?”
He swallowed. Clearly, this was not going well.
“They love me,” Bailey continued.
“I love you.”
She froze.
He was aware of Poppy quietly exiting the room. “I love you, Bails,” he repeated.
She pushed her head in her hands. “Why do you always have to do that?”
“Say I love you?”
“Yes! First you kiss me for the first time on national TV, then you tell me you love me—while we’re arguing?”
He sighed. He knew he should’ve kept his mouth shut. Still, honesty begged to be spoken. “I’m sorry. I thought that might be something you’d like to hear. I didn’t realize there was a protocol about it.”
From the look in her eyes, that was the path best left untaken.
Man. “I’m sorry, Bails. I shouldn’t have—”
“Can you please leave? I’m really tired.”
So was he. But this wasn’t how he could let today’s fail of a day end. “Bailey, no. We should talk.”
She shook her head, fake-yawned, not looking at him. “I’ve got church tomorrow.”
So did he. Which meant he had one last chance to be with her before the next road trip separated them for a week. “What time do you want me to pick you up?”
