Compulsive (Liar #1) by Lia Fairchild Page B

saying you’re a bad influence on
Alyssa?”
    “No!”
    “Do you put her at risk? Or...engage in unhealthy
activities with or around her?”
    “No!” I’d kill to protect Alyssa.
    “Do you…lie to her?” His inquisitive expression froze
on me.
    I glanced down at intertwined fingers twisting in my
lap before popping my eyes back to Daniel. “Yes,” I said emphatically.
    His gaze dropped back down to the pad as his hand
began working again. I could see that pencil would become the annoying third
wheel. I might have to plan its untimely demise.
    “But…” I said before he countered. “No more than any
other parents do.” My smile showed the satisfaction from my answer.
    “You seem to be extremely fond of her, yet your
response earlier felt somewhat incensed.”
    “I’m not angry with her.”
    “But, there are some resentful feelings there. Am I
correct?”
    When I didn’t answer, he prodded me further. “Does
this have to do with her new friendship with Jessie? Are you feeling…”
    “If you’re going to say jealous, that’s not it. I
guess her new friendship reminds me that Alyssa will start to find her own
space more and more. She’ll get new friends, start dating…”
    “And you’ll lose that connection with her?”
    I cringed inwardly. The bastard. He chose a
topic I wouldn’t suspect I’d get emotional about. The increase in my pulse
irritated the hell out of me. And then it hit me. I had steered the
conversation in this direction, not Daniel. I pulled in a deep breath and
sighed it out. Daniel put pencil to paper. “Really?” I shot out. “What could
you possibly have to make notes about on that?”
    “Does this bother you?”
    This man of few words conveyed plenty with his eyes,
his voice, his body language. I was losing control and with little effort on
his part. “Yes…is it necessary?”
    He paused with feigned contemplation. “For me…it is.
At least for now. Please bear with me.” He looked down and continued his
movements as if I had no say in the matter. My mouth hung open. “You were
saying…?”
    What the hell was I saying ? Between those midnight
blue eyes, the sexy black glasses, and his irritating repartee, concentration challenged
me. “I don’t remember.” That was the convenient truth. “Why don’t you read back
your transcript?” I gestured to his notepad. A startled look played across his
face before disappearing.
    “We were discussing your relationship with Alyssa. Do
you worry you’ll lose that connection with her because you’re not her
mother.”
    “Maybe…I don’t know. I don’t think that far ahead most
times.” I thrust my fingers through my hair, wondering if he was right on some
level. “It’s possible.”
    “Do have feelings for Alyssa you want to share? Is
there a mothering instinct that draws you to her?”
    I narrowed my eyes on him before answering. “So, you
think because my mother died I’m trying to mother Alyssa?”
    Daniel set the pencil down, pulled off his glasses
with a sigh, and then rubbed the sides of his nose. “Gray, it would help us
both if you didn’t try to analyze everything I ask you.”
    My cheeks flushed to scarlet. “Oh…sorry.”
    “It’s okay. Try to remember I’m here to help you.” His
teeth shined at me, and he replaced his glasses. “Just leave the analyzing to
me.”
    I returned the expression back to him. “Got it. No
analyzing your analyzation.”
    He tilted his head and gave me a scolding expression.
    “Yes,” I said flatly. “I care a great deal about
Alyssa. But, I don’t think it was ever about anything other than the fact that
she needed someone…and I was there for her. I didn’t seek her out. Hell, I
thought she was a pain in the ass when I first met her. She never shut up, was
demanding, nosy, always had some mangy, flea-ridden animal tucked somewhere on
her body. And at the same time, she was merely a sweet innocent little girl who
felt lost and alone. So, yeah, I care for her.