Total pages in book: 38
Estimated words: 35660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35660 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 178(@200wpm)___ 143(@250wpm)___ 119(@300wpm)
“Then let’s do it.” She squeezes my hand, opens the door, and walks in ahead of me. We got here an hour before Sable would be here, giving us the time we’ll need with her parents first.
“Hello! Mom, Dad!” she announces once we’re in the foyer, never letting me go. I smirk. My Doe is nervous. I’m not. Jack is going to be pissed; any father would be. He asked me to give her a job, not a love life. Add in I’m more than ten years older than she is, divorced, and from what he can see, set in my ways, a confirmed bachelor for a long fucking time, and he’s not going to be happy. If I were in his shoes, I’d lose my shit, too.
“Out back!” Jack’s voice carries through the house. He and his wife, Stella, live in Hoboken. They have since he and I worked together at the last law firm, which we each left for a different reason. He did it for a more relaxed atmosphere now that his girls were older, and I left because I was ready to do my own thing. We walk the length of the house, meandering through a few rooms in order to make it to the French doors. Jack’s back is to me, but Stella’s isn’t, and there’s shock on her face before instantly, a smile takes its place.
“Hi, sweet girl. Sylvester, it’s always a pleasure. I wasn’t aware you were stopping by today.” Stella side-eyes Jack, who perks up at my name and spins around in his chair, noticing my hand in Fawn’s.
“Hello, Stella. Jack, you want to have that meeting we spoke about earlier this week?” I’m going to try my damnedest to persuade her father not to do this in front of the women. Fawn’s body moves closer to mine, almost putting herself in Jack’s line of sight, which also causes him to see her arm in a sling. I know she’s already talked to her mom about the burn and having another incident in which she’d tell them everything when she was home on Sunday.
“That depends. Are you the reason my baby girl’s arm is in a sling?” Stella visibly recoils while Fawn attempts to stand up for me. I disengage my hand from hers, sliding it around her back and along the curve of her hip, squeezing while also reassuring her that I’ve got this under control.
“I think you know me better than that, both of you. I’ve never once raised my hand to anyone in anger, and damn sure not a woman. Say what you need to, then I’ll tell you the truth about everything, including the reason she’s currently injured.” Jack stands up, pulling himself up to his full height. “Go stand by your mom, Doe,” I whisper in her ear. She’s hesitant to leave my side, rightfully so judging by the way Jack’s cheeks and the tips of his ears are turning red, unable to keep his poker face like he would in court.
“Sly, no. I’m not moving,” she stands up for me. “Dad, sit down. You’re going to raise your blood pressure, and you know what the cardiologist said. Mom, help me out, please?” She looks to Stella for help. Her mom’s eyes bounce from Jack’s to Fawn’s then to mine. She decides to stand up, placing herself in front of her husband, hand going to his chest.
“Mom, Dad, Fawn, what did I miss?” Sable walks in, her hand in Blaire’s. It seems we’re not the only one who like to make a grand entrance.
“Well, honey, your father and Sly are going to Dad’s office. Us girls are going to make lemonade with a heavy dose of vodka. Your sister is going to catch us up on all things Sylvester and Fawn, and you and Blaire are going to do the same thing.” Stella isn’t leaving anything up for discussion.
“Mom, I don’t think that’s a good idea,” Fawn interjects.
“Oh shit. Yeah, Mom, I’m with Fawn. Bad, bad, bad idea,” Sable reiterates Fawn’s words.
“I’ll be okay. Go do your thing with your mom and sister. She needs you. I promise nothing bad is going to happen.” I dip my head and nudge her hair to the side, placing a kiss below her ear, holding her for a moment longer before softly pushing her toward Stella, Sable, and Blaire.
“Sylvester, my office,” Jack demands. I shake my head. I’ll be damned if he’ll treat me like a fucking dog. Issue or not, commands are not meant for me. I wait until he leaves. I already know where his office is, but I’m making him wait, pissing him off further. The main reason for this? Making sure Fawn is okay with her mom and sister. Only then do I leave the woman who fucking owns my black heart.