Total pages in book: 20
Estimated words: 18430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 18430 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 92(@200wpm)___ 74(@250wpm)___ 61(@300wpm)
“Yeah. Luckily enough, Liam here helped me out,” I say, doing my best to point at Liam, who is standing behind me.
My mom slowly releases her death-grip but still maintains a hold on me. I can see both her and Emily’s eyes widen when they finally look over at Liam.
“And who is this?” she asks. My older sister and I have always been quite competitive, and she’s always given me a hard time for never having had a boyfriend, so I take full advantage of the opportunity set out in front of me.
“This,” I say with a smile, “is my man Liam.”
“Your man?” she all but gasps. I can see a mixture of disbelief and jealousy in her eyes as she examines him, taking in every inch of his rugged, muscular body. My mom opens her mouth like she wants to say something—something motherly, no doubt—but she stops herself before she does.
She married my dad when she was quite young and just turned forty-four this year, and I can see a similar expression on her face as on my sister’s.
“Let’s get you inside,” she says. “Your father will want to know you’re home.”
“Of course,” I say. I grin at Liam as we follow my mother and sister inside and to the massive conference room he uses when men from work come over. My mom knocks, and I hear my dad’s voice call out from inside.
“Yes?”
“Terrence! Your daughter is home!”
“Well, send her in for Christ’s sake!” My heart is racing as Mom opens the door for me. I catch a glimpse of Emily stealthily checking out Liam as we step inside the room. She tries to hide it from me, but it’s no use. For the first time since I can remember, I’ve got one up on my sister.
The conference table is absolutely packed with men in suits, with my dad seated at the head of it like a king. This isn’t the first time he’s held meetings like this at the house or the first time I’ve seen so many men in suits. In fact, hey all used to intimidate me—coming off as so hypermasculine, confident, and overpowering.
But now with Liam standing beside me and having experienced what it’s like to submit to a man like him, I have a whole new perspective when I look at them.
“Jessica!” my father cries out, launching up from his chair when he sets eyes on me. He comes right over to me, throws his arms around me, then quickly looks me up and down to ensure I’m okay. “You’re all right? You’re not hurt?”
“I’m fine, Dad.” I smile. “Liam here took care of me.”
He turns his eyes to Liam, somewhat skeptically at first, but then extends a hand to him. “Terrence Griffen. Appreciate all your help, sir.”
Liam nods. “Of course, sir. It’s the least I could do. We see a young lady needs a hand down here in Texas, that’s what we do. We give her a hand.”
Charming. Utterly charming. How could my family not like this man?
Maybe this isn’t the time, seeing as how Dad’s in the middle of a meeting with his guys, but there’s never any telling how long these things will go on for, and my heart is racing. I also don’t want to keep Liam tied up here for too long giving me moral support. If I’m going to talk to him, I need to do it now.
“Hey, Dad?” I say somewhat quietly. “Can I…talk to you for a second?”
“Sure, honey,” he says. “You’re not pregnant, are you?”
He snorts with a laugh and gives me a little poke in the ribs. Clearly he thinks he’s joking, but little does he know…
Liam and I both laugh awkwardly, forcing it and hoping he doesn’t notice.
“Mr. Griffen, do you have a restroom I could…?” Liam asks.
“Sure, son,” my dad replies. “Just out the door to the left.
“Thank you.” Liam smiles and gives me a little look before turning and exiting out the door. My dad takes me by the hand and pulls me into the private area of the conference room and closes the door behind him.
This is it. Time to finally break the news to my dad that I am not going to college, that I’ve just met the man of my dreams, and that chances are I’m going to go and work on a farm with him instead of becoming a lawyer.
There’s no universe in which I see this going over well.
Just tell him, Jess. Liam is outside waiting for you. It will all be okay.
My dad leans against his desk and looks at me, clearly with no idea what I’m about to tell him.
“Now, honey. What was it you wanted to tell me?”
9
Jess
Well, that went better than I thought it would go. My dad didn’t freak out, didn’t raise his voice, and didn’t go into some long discussion about how he knows so much better than me and how I need to just listen to him about school and everything else in my life.