Daisy's Choice (A Tale of Three Hearts) (77 page)

****

There was an art to enjoying the first inhale of a fine cigar. Only a true connoisseur would understand. Each hand rolled and packed tight with the richest of tobacco should be properly stored somewhere humid, dark and accessible to keep the cigar fresh. To not do so, changed the taste dramatically. A connoisseur would tell you that everything about his love affair with a cigar is strictly a personal preference. One man’s taste is one man’s taste after all. Just like the love affair of a man with his woman. Nurtured, protected, shielded from harm, each hit even better than the last because she’s yours, handpicked from the heavens just for you.

Yes, Aiden Keane loved his woman just as he loved his cigars. He preferred his private stock dipped in cognac to add spice. It soothed him, like Daisy's touch. It calmed him, like the soft sound of her voice when she drifted to sleep in his arms. His cigar was all he had when business separated them as it often did lately.

The staff was under strict orders to keep his imports in a special cabinet where the damp temperature never reached above 70 degrees. And when his mood soured over missing his woman too long, he preferred to smoke it alone in the dark with a whiskey
bulliet
neat.

Where is she? Has she missed the ferry?

On a miserable day like today, he should be alone. He wasn't. Aiden rolled his choice cigar between fingers loosening the paper, his gaze slowly lifting to his new attorney. He tuned him back in. A man named Harvey Epstein. Epstein worked out of Donovan’s firm. He was efficient, trustworthy, but he
wasn’t
the old man. Aiden missed Donovan’s counsel, especially now. Despite the bitterness and anger that rested like a stone in his gut over his friend’s betrayal, he was the only friend he had.  

“
Yes sir, the contracts will be drawn in the morning before the doors to the Shamrock open. The Prime Minister himself has sent his regards and welcome along with two bottles of wine. Milan is overrun by the press and paparazzi.”

Epstein went on. Aiden tuned him out. He puffed his cigar letting the sticky smoke fill his jaws and seep to his lungs.
Where is she?
She should have been there an hour ago. He was beginning to think that she did miss the ferry. The thought of her having to wait for the next irked him. She was so stubborn. The fight to get her to agree to this sabbatical in Italy took a month of convincing. He chose the island for Amy and her but the isolation cut both ways. He scratched his brow exhaling a plume of smoke and reconsidering. He had a place in Milan equally sufficient. Maybe they’d stay there, instead. Maybe.  

“
The Italian press wants an interview with you and Mrs. Keane, of course.”

The mention of Daisy doing another interview drove a light chuckle to tickle in his throat. Her country twang and excitement always took over any interviews he granted. He loved how worked up she got to see herself quoted as Mrs. Keane in a magazine. The corner of his mouth curled upward. Yes, he admittedly missed his woman. He needed her with him.
Always
. Aiden leaned back in office chair. He turned his attention to the safe. It was concealed behind a portrait of Daisy and Amy. He had it hung when he arrived. Copies of that same portrait hung in several offices of his around the globe. Daisy had the artist design duplicates. She left her mark every place he went. A reminder of his family.

Behind the portrait, he secured away his proof.

“
My gift for Mrs. Keane?” he asked, his eyes returning to Harvey, dismissing the rest.

“
It’s being brought up from the vault. It will be here tonight.”

He flicked an ash. “Good.”

“
My daughter’s gifts?”

“
They should be arriving in Kentucky this evening. The horse however—”

Aiden frowned.

“
It’s no problem, sir. No problem at all. I have it under control. We just had to find the proper ranch for the mare. We have. The information has been forwarded to Mrs. Keane. She has all the details.”

He relaxed. The tightness in his chest loosened a degree. Amy had called him every hour on the hour since she left for Kentucky, reminding him of her horse or just asking ‘what he was doing’. He’s had to take her calls in between meetings. Strange, but he looked forward to her tiny high-pitched voice as demanding as her mother’s.

Aiden rubbed his brow. Thinking of Amy returned his dark mood. She should be there with him. She was his daughter. It was
their
first Christmas. He knew it as sure as he knew that what lay in the safe proved it—sort of. His eyes cut over to it once more. If that were true, then why was he being a coward about it?

“
We’re done.”

Harvey gave a nod, closed his leather binder, and rose. “One last thing. I’m told you will be flying out in the morning to return to America?”

“
So?”

“
I just wanted to confirm, sir. The casino will be open and, well your attendance is requested.”

“
I pay you and your army to make sure that it opens without incident. Besides, I’m going to America to collect my daughter. We will return the next day. I plan to be here to oversee New Year’s Eve.”

“
Yes sir.”

The door flew opened and his Daisy strolled in.  She was the only woman on the planet that could and would bypass any of his security and enter any closed door of his on her whim. He smirked at her arrival, now a little more at ease.

“
Hi, baby. Who’s been naughty or nice?” Daisy grinned.

Harvey Epstein made a hasty exist. Daisy greeted him briefly, shedding her mink and dropping her purse. She wore a dark green pantsuit that hit every curve. Her coppery brown hair was cut in long layers that fell over to cover her brow just above her shadowy eyes. Damn, he missed her.

“
Come here,” he said, extinguishing his cigar. Daisy didn’t hesitate. She walked around his desk with a smile that kept him weak. “How was your flight and why are you late?”

“
I’m sorry, sweetie. I took the scenic route. I had to stop to get your Christmas gift.”

He frowned. “Scenic, what the hell does that mean? You don’t know these—”

“
Hey, mama’s home. Don’t be like that.” She leaned in, pressing her full lips to his, filling him with her rose fragrant scent. Her tongue warm and minty, her hand soft as a baby’s behind slipped inside of his shirt to rub at his chest. He took her by the wrist and pulled her down so she landed in his lap, her legs going over the arm of his chair. He continued and deepened the kiss, while his hand rubbed her thigh.

“
Aiden, you’ve been smoking that stinky cigar,” she chuckled, trying to turn her mouth away. He pinched her chin and returned her mouth to his to kiss her once more. Visions of loving her on the desk filled his mind, rushing heat and blood to his groin. He wanted to lay up with her immediately. His kisses went to her neck while he squeezed her left breast.

She pushed back on him, resisting. “I’m serious. Who’s been naughty or nice?”

“
What?” he frowned.

“
I spoke to Janette. She said you told Amy that you were her ‘real’ daddy. Please tell me you aren’t doing that again. She’s a baby and she hangs on your every word. You promised to be good, Aiden.”

He sighed. Moment lost. Dropping his head back, he didn’t answer. Instead his eyes went back to the safe.

6 months earlier –

“
Mr. Keane?”

Aiden set the magazine down. Amy emerged in a blue jean skirt and pink top, licking a grape lollipop. She grinned, then stuck out her purple tongue for him. Aiden winked. “Everything okay?”

“
Yes, daddy! They stuck me with a needle in my finger. See. It didn’t hurt.” She showed him the Dora the Explorer band-aid. “See? Look.”

“
Come here.” She ran over to him. He took her finger and kissed the tip. “You are a big girl. My big girl.”

“
Mr. Keane, the test results will be delivered to you by courier in two day,” the nurse said. “Would you like to speak with the doctor?”

“
No, we understand each other,” he said, lifting Amy up into his arms as he rose. She hugged his neck, licking her lollipop. “Thank you.” He nodded and the nurse blushed, smiling as if his gratitude was a flirt. She heaved her rack up to him, having loosened a few buttons to make sure his eyes were drawn there.

“
Remember, my name is Amanda. You can call me if you have any questions,” she offered.

Daisy would read something into that offer. She read something into any smile another woman gave him. Her jealousy sometimes confused him. If she trusted him, then why be jealous? He had to smile, with Amy begging to go to McDonald’s in his ear, as he carried her to the waiting limo. Here he was going behind Daisy’s back to get a DNA test. That in itself was the ultimate abandonment of trust.

“
Daddy, I want a horse. I drew a picture,” Amy said, once seated next to him. She knocked his hands away as he tried to buckle her in.

“
Amy, sit still.”

She reached for her bag. Aiden struggled, but didn’t abandon the effort. He was now more aware of safety than ever. He travelled only by limo when she was with him. Amy pulled out her drawing and handed it to him.

He smiled. “What’s this?”

“
My horse. Gonna name him Dexter.”

“
Why Dexter?”

“
I dunno.”

Aiden looked at her curiously. She licked her lollipop, kicking her feet. “Can I have one?”

“
We’ll get you a stable full.”

“
I don’t want a stable. I want a horse. Please, daddy. I promise I’ll be your friend forever.”

He chuckled. “Listen, this is important. Today, this visit to the doctor is our secret, okay? Just something you and me did. Okay?”

She blinked twice then replied in all her innocence, “Okay.”

****

“
What's this Amy tells me that you took her to the doctors today?”

Aiden looked up from brushing his teeth. Daisy stood in the door, staring at him with those large brown Bambi eyes. He was caught. Rinsing and spitting, he turned off the tap then reset his electric toothbrush.

“
Aiden?”

“
I had to visit the hospital, um, make a stop.”

“
She said somebody stuck her finger?”

“
She played with the nurses, they simulated her getting a shot and gave her a band-aid, I guess. It was business, nothing more.”

“
Business? Are you okay?” she asked, moving closer to him. He found it hard to look her in the eye and lie. The concern in her voice made the air burn in his lungs. He could tell her of Donovan’s sins. He struggled with that for weeks. But why put her through that and put Amy through it to be disappointed all over again. She was doing great with her visits to Pete with Daisy, and he was managing. It was the selfless thing to do, to keep them clueless unless he truly had news.

“
Aiden, baby, what is it?”

“
I’m fine.” He licked the paste off his lip, took her palm and kissed it. “I’m good.”

She seemed to trust him. Her shoulders relaxed and the tiny concentration lines around her eyes disappeared.  He lowered his to the pearl white robe she wore, opened at the waist, tied securely there. The bra-top to the lace camisole fitted like a second skin against her brown petite frame.

“
Is this for me?” he whispered, running his finger over her collarbone.

“
About this doctor visit. Are you sure you’re okay? You aren’t keeping anything from me?”