Total pages in book: 144
Estimated words: 147415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 737(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 491(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 147415 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 737(@200wpm)___ 590(@250wpm)___ 491(@300wpm)
For the longest second of my life, he raises his head and looks at us.
And looks.
Well, crap.
Maybe this meeting was doomed from the start, no matter how much Shepherd paid his good karma forward.
Still, he sticks out his hand and approaches my father, fearless and undaunted.
“Mr. Lancaster.”
“Foster,” Dad clips.
The way they shake hands looks more like two bears fighting over a salmon.
Dad never once looks away from Shepherd, his eyes flashing like gunmetal.
Oof, this is bad.
As far as Dad’s concerned, I’ll be his little girl until the day he dies. He’s an open-minded guy and not a complete Neanderthal, but I worry he’ll never get over the age gap.
It’s hard not to cringe, just imagining what kind of cradle-robbing sex fiend he imagines Shepherd to be.
A squeal from upstairs saves us just in time.
Eliza sails through the door with my little brother, Elijah, her airy perfume swirling around her. The wide smile on her face could tame a hurricane.
“Shepherd! The man of the hour,” she gushes.
The way Dad’s evil eye softens ever so slightly tells me that we just might survive this. Thank God for his wife.
If Eliza decided she’s giving Shepherd a fair shake, there’s no freaking way Dad will pull out a loaded shotgun.
He’ll never admit it, but he can never hold out against her, and it’s comically adorable.
Shepherd’s face relaxes into a smile as Eliza embraces him warmly.
I grab his hand, lacing my fingers through his. I squeeze like I’m hoping I can transfer every bit of goodwill in my bones.
“Something smells tasty,” I say, sniffing the air. “What did you make us this time, Eliza? New drink?”
“Let her show you. She’s only been fussing over it all week,” Dad grumps, leading us inside.
He leads us to the great room with a palace-worthy fireplace and mantle while Eliza disappears into the cave-sized kitchen.
I sit beside Shepherd and my knee knocks against his.
Dad notices the contact like an owl spotting a field mouse. I can practically feel his brain blowing a fuse at the mere thought that we ever do more than hold hands like Amish kids.
Nope, he doesn’t like that.
Or the rumors, the pictures.
Oh, God, has he seen the pictures?
I swallow, smothering the awkward cough.
“I heard Miss Cerva already accepted a plea deal,” Dad says, choosing each word carefully.
Shepherd nods. “Didn’t have much choice. I put my best guys on the case, but she threw herself on the mercy of the court. Still, don’t think she’ll get up to much trouble if she’s let out on parole in thirty years, totally bankrupt.”
“Not a bad outcome, especially for this judicial district. I looked at your legal team. Impressive credentials,” Dad admits.
Oh, boy, so he’s decided to be all business.
I guess that’s better than yelling.
Still, I roll my eyes.
If they’re going to talk status the whole time, we’re never getting anywhere.
“Yes, guys. The wicked witch is gone and even Meghan got a happy ending. She’s rebranded to show off her healing, talking through her problems and her experiences with therapy, hoping it’ll help other folks with abusive situations. I’m proud of her. But can we get off the big bad? Like, why don’t we talk about the fact that we’re dating?” I say brightly.
“Dating,” Dad spits.
His face tightens like a lion's, trying to decide if that pesky hyena is worth the mauling.
I barely refrain from reminding him I’m a grown woman, totally capable of making my own decisions—and choosing who to date, with no shotgun approval from my father necessary.
“It’s good to finally meet you,” Shepherd says, still formal. Still wary.
When he said he knew it would go well and that he didn’t need my dad’s permission, I didn’t believe him.
This is way more intense than I expected. I’m practically sweating, even if I’m the one egging them on.
“It’s not good,” Dad growls.
My heart stops. I fight the urge to pinch my eyes shut, bracing for impact.
Oh, yup, here we go...
“You saved my daughter,” Dad says abruptly. “She told me everything that happened on the yacht. After I got past the urge to dismember Miss Cerva with my bare hands, and then Destiny herself for lying to me while she was trapped on a sinking ship, I decided I wanted you a little less dead, Foster. You saved her life.”
What what?
That's—not what I expected.
My heart flutters hopefully.
“He did,” I manage. “Without Shepherd, I would’ve been fish food for sure.”
“I’m glad to hear you can tolerate me breathing, Mr. Lancaster. However, even if you planned to throw me off Mount Rainier one bloody chunk at a time, I’d have saved her anyway. There’s no way I'd ever let anything happen,” Shepherd says, glancing at me and squeezing my hand so tightly.
There’s a glimmer in his glacial-blue eyes like spring, and his mouth curls up very slightly.
It’s the kind of smile he only ever gives me.