I glance past Ethan and catch sight of Worth down the hall, just outside his office. He’s standing still, his eyes locked on us, watching.
My stomach flips.
Ethan doesn’t notice. He just gives me a final smile before heading off, leaving me standing in the middle of the hall like my pulse isn’t going haywire.
When I look back, Worth is still there, and the intensity in his stare makes me almost trip over myself to get to my desk.
Only when I sit down and pretend to be busy with my computer does he finally turn and disappear into his office.
Singapore is going to be… interesting.
And I don’t believe for a second that Worth Miller is going to leave me alone.
19
WORTH
“And don’t forget to call me if anything goes wrong while I’m away,” I tell Brianna as I fold the last of my shirts and drop them into the suitcase.
I’m leaving for Singapore on a red eye tonight, and worry sits heavy on my chest.
A week away doesn’t sound long, but when it comes to my daughter, it’ll feel like forever. Maggie will be here the whole time, and I trust her more than anyone, but the thought of leaving makes my gut tighten.
“Yes, Dad,” Brianna says with a dramatic eye roll. “We’ll be fine.”
I grunt. “I know you’ll be fine. I’m worried about Maggie.”
Sitting nearby with a notebook in her lap, she frowns. “Why?”
“Because she’ll have to deal with a little menace like you for an entire week.” I cross the room in two strides and dig my fingers into her armpits. Brianna squeals, laughter bubbling out of her as she shoves me away.
“What do you mean? I’m an angel!”
“The devil was once an angel, too, Brianna,” I deadpan.
She gasps, clutching her chest in mock offense. “Dad!”
I chuckle. “I’m just kidding, Piglet. But in all seriousness, I programmed all of our emergency contacts into your phone, and Dre printed a copy for the fridge so you and Maggie have them handy. I also gave Uncle Henson and Uncle Griffin a spare key and the garage code. They’ll be checking in, too.”
“Such a helicopter dad,” she teases.
Hell yeah, maybe I am. But I don’t care. Bri is my whole world, and I’d rather smother her than ever let her feel unprotected.
“Come help me pack the rest,” I say, handing her a pile of pants.
She sighs but joins me, folding with exaggerated slowness just to get under my skin. I let her.
As I watch her hands move, a thought cuts deep through me. Her mom is missing this. Every new piece of the young woman Brianna is becoming. And though I’ll never forgive her for walking away, sometimes I wonder if Brianna feels that absence more than she lets on. It makes me wonder if I should give Vanessa another chance?
It’s been incredible to watch my daughter grow, to see her find her voice and her confidence. I wouldn’t trade a second of being a single dad to her. But there’s always a sliver of fear gnawing at me—that I’m not enough. That one day she’ll realize the gap her mom left and think I could never fill it.
I shove the thought away and zip up the suitcase. “See? We make a pretty good team.”
Brianna smirks. “Obviously. You’d be lost without me.”
And she’s right.
The runway lightsglow against the tarmac as I step out of the car and towards the company jet. Our plane isn’t flashy, but it’s large enough to hold the six members of our team comfortably.