Page 112 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

I hated this. Hated. I hadn’t hurt him yet, but I hated that it was coming. This handsome, charming and generous man deserved so much more than the heartache I’d leave him with come Monday.

“Where’s Charlie?” I asked, swallowing down the urge to cry again.

“I told her to get dressed, but she’ll probably need some help.”

“Okay.” I stood on my toes for a soft brush of our lips just as Charlie’s frustrated scream carried down the hallway.

I stepped past Logan, rushing to her room two doors down. “Hey. What’s the matter?”

“I don’t want to wear this dress.” She balled up the light blue dress we’d bought and threw it on the floor. “Why can’t I wear my jeans?”

“Sorry, honey.” I went to her side, picking up the dress. “We’re all going to dress up for dinner tonight.”

“Don’t you like dresses, peanut?” Logan asked, leaning against her bedroom’s doorframe.

She crossed her arms over her chest. “No.”

“Oh.” He came further into the room and sat on her bed. “I didn’t know that. Don’t girls usually like dresses?”

When she glared at him, I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Not this girl.” I took Charlie’s chin. “But you can make it through one more dinner in a dress.”

She turned her glare on me but stripped off her T-shirt.

I slipped the dress over her head after she tugged off her jeans. Then I went to her suitcase and found her ballet flats. “Put these on and then let’s comb your hair.”

Twenty minutes later, her hair was tamed under a thin headband and we were all back at the mansion.

We followed Logan down a series of hallways until we reached a parlor filled with people.

Elegant people.

Aubrey was in the back corner. Her red dress was floor-length and nearly as fancy as the one I’d worn to the gala. Next to her was an older man who I guessed was Logan’s father. He was wearing a suit jacket and tie, drinking what was probably Macallan.

“Logan, dear. You’re finally here.” A woman stood from a wingback chair in the corner, crossing the room in a teal lace dress and a champagne flute in her hand. Her brown hair was pulled back into a fancy twist, revealing strings of aqua jewels dangling from each ear. She kissed Logan on each cheek, then turned to me, her smile cooling as she looked me up and down.

What I wouldn’t give to hide behind Logan.

But I couldn’t because my daughter had already taken up that spot.

“Thea, this is my mother, Lillian.”

“Nice to meet you.” I smiled. “You have a beautiful home.”

“It is.” She nodded, then peered around Logan to get a glimpse of Charlie.

“Please come and say hello.” I touched her shoulder, but she didn’t budge. Come on, kid. Not tonight.

“She’s just shy.” Logan laughed it off and stepped to the side, forcing Charlie into the open. Then he dropped to a knee at her side. “Charlie, this is my mom, Lillian.”

Charlie’s brown eyes tipped up slightly to take in her grandmother.

“Hello, Charlotte.” Lillian didn’t spare Charlie more than a glance before looking over her shoulder to her husband as he approached.

Charlie cringed at her full name, but with Lillian backing away a few steps, I didn’t correct her.

“Hello, son.” Logan’s father held out his hand as Logan stood. “Thea. Welcome. I’m Thomas.”