Lucky Charm by Carly Phillips

the flakes from the box, then added milk and handed her a spoon.
    â€œYou promised to tell me about you and Gabrielle. That man said you dumped her. You said you didn’t. So what’s the real story?” she asked between slurping cereal and milk from a spoon.
    He pinched the bridge of his nose, wondering how to explain adult behavior to a preteen. “We dated in high school and broke up before going away to college,” he said, proud of his concise summary.
    â€œWho broke up with who?”
    â€œI broke up with her.”
    â€œWhy?”
    â€œI had my reasons. Finish your cereal. Grandpa’s coming by to take you to feed the ducks at the pond. You want to be ready.”
    She glanced down and focused on eating what was left. “There. I finished my cereal. I’m just working on the milk.” She picked up the bowl, clearly intending to drink it down in one gulp.
    He shot her a warning look.
    â€œOkay, okay.” She retrieved the spoon and slowly sipped at the milk.
    â€œThat’s better.”
    â€œCan Fred come with us to feed the ducks?” she asked.
    â€œI don’t see why not. Just talk to your grandfather.”
    She finished two more spoonfuls, then asked, “So what are you doing today?”
    Boy, was she talkative this morning. “I’m going to get some work done here.” He had clients in the city who had left messages he needed to return. He didn’t need to go to the office he rented in town, though.
    She finished her cereal with a last, loud slurp and walked the bowl over to the sink. “Do you still like Gabrielle? ’Cause I really like her a lot.”
    He swallowed a groan. “Of course I like her.”
    â€œWill you marry her the way Mom married John?”
    Derek’s palms began to sweat. Suddenly, without warning, the front door creaked opened and Hank’s voice bellowed throughout the house.
    â€œWho wants to go feed the ducks?” he called out to announce his presence.
    â€œI do!” Holly swiveled around and ran into the other room.
    Derek followed her out.
    â€œCan we bring Fred? Please?” Holly asked her grandfather, questions of marriage and Gabrielle temporarily forgotten.
    Bullet dodged, at least for the moment, Derek was grateful for his father’s interruption. “Hey, Dad,” he said, joining them by the front door.
    â€œGrandpa said Fred can come because he’s a lazy old bastard who’d chase his tail before he’d worry about running after a duck,” Holly said, pleased both with her grandfather’s answer and herself for getting to repeat the curse word without reprimand.
    Derek scowled. “Can you both watch your language?” He turned to his daughter. “Holly, go put on some sunscreen and make sure you take your oldest sneakers. Duck poop and dog poop are hard to get out.”
    â€œWill do!” She ran upstairs to the loft, giving Derek some time with his father.
    â€œI need to talk to you before she comes back down,” he said immediately.
    â€œYeah, yeah. I already apologized to you for my behavior last night. Isn’t that enough?” Hank didn’t meet Derek’s gaze, looking down at his feet instead.
    At least the older man was contrite, even if he hid it behind his bluster.
    â€œAn apology to Gabrielle next time you see her would be even better. But I have an important question for you right now. When you walked out in the middle of her speech, where did you go?” Derek watched his father carefully for signs of dishonesty.
    His father raised both eyebrows, clearly surprised at the question. “I told you when you got home last night. I went to the john. Why are you asking?”
    Derek walked to the sofa in the family room and Hank followed.
    â€œSomeone deliberately keyed Gabrielle’s car during her talk. Someone also put a threatening letter under her windshield yesterday afternoon. It sure looks as if somebody