Total pages in book: 99
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 95816 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 479(@200wpm)___ 383(@250wpm)___ 319(@300wpm)
“I’ll save you the trouble.” Heather’s voice came from behind me. She stood on the rocky shore, looking at us, her hands jammed into the pockets of her jacket. She looked sad and worried.
“I’m sorry, Gracie,” she said.
Gracie pushed off the rock and hurried to her sister. She flung her arms around Heather, and the two of them began to talk in low voices. I stood and brushed off my jeans and walked to them. I pressed a kiss to each of their heads.
“You talk then come to the house. Mom will have coffee, and we can all just fucking relax for a while, okay?”
“I’m telling Mom you swore,” Heather mumbled.
“I’ll pay you five bucks to keep it to yourself.”
She sniffled. “Five bucks worked when I was a kid, Daddy. I need twenty.”
I winked. “Done.” Then I walked away, calling over my shoulder, “Don’t come to the house until you’ve settled this.”
“What’s up with him?” Heather asked.
“I think he got a pep talk from Maddox. He keeps talking about rank.”
“Ah. As if he outranks us. Whatever.”
I was laughing as I headed home.
It felt good to smile.
28
RICHARD
I knocked on the open door, waiting until Luc looked up, his expression saying it all. He was shocked to see me, and he wasn’t sure he liked it.
I smiled, trying to hide my nerves. “Hey, Luc.”
He stood, rounding his desk. He accepted my proffered hand, shaking it. “Richard.” He scratched his head. “Was, ah, I expecting you?”
I clapped him on the shoulder. “No, and relax. I come in peace.”
He blew out a huff of air, and I chuckled. “I have dropped by when I’m in town before, Luc. I was at a meeting close by and thought I’d come see your new digs.” I looked around. “Nice.”
“Yeah, it is. How you’d get by the security desk?”
“I said I was your soon-to-be father-in-law, was in town, and wanted to surprise you.” I winked.
“What the hell?” he replied.
I laughed. “Teasing. I asked a couple of guys who looked like they belonged to you. They told me where your office was, and I rode up in the elevator with them.”
“Guess I’m firing some kids today.”
I shook my head. “You wouldn’t do that. When I asked, I happened to flash a picture of us at the golf tournament. Told them we were related.”
“Golf tournament? Is that what you call that debacle?” he asked, amused.
“I call it memories. Good ones.”
He crossed his arms. “Why are you here, Richard? It’s not to talk golf or see my office.”
I paused. “How is she?” I asked, not bothering to pretend.
“I can’t talk about her with you. I thought you’d figured that out.”
“I’m not asking for state secrets, Luc. I’m worried. I know she won’t talk to me, so I have to ask you. Is Ashley okay?”
He pursed his lips, then indicated the chair in front of his desk. I sat across from him. He sat down, crossed his ankle over his knee, and studied me.
“I feel as if I should be asking you that question. You look…weary.”
I waved my hand. “It’s been a wild ride, Luc. The scene with Ashley. The confirmation she is my daughter. Telling my kids. Dealing with the aftermath of that. Making sure my wife was okay with all of it.” I hunched forward, earnest. “But I could check on all of them—even when Gracie wasn’t talking to me, I knew she was okay because Jaxson would fill me in. But I can’t call Ashley. Or go see her. All I can do is ask you if she is okay. So, I’m asking. How is she?”
“You really care?”
I ran a hand through my hair, exasperated. “Of course I fucking care. She’s my daughter, for Christ’s sake.”
Luc grinned suddenly.
“What?” I snapped.
“She does the exact same thing when she’s pissed. She tugs on her hair and gets the same V between her eyes. She glares at me with the same intensity. It’s uncanny.”
For some reason, I liked that fact.
“Is she all right?” I tried again.
“She’s—better. Back at work, busy.”
“Tell me how to connect with her, Luc.”
He shook his head. “You two need to figure that out.”
“How can we if she won’t talk to me? How can I convince her I’m not the bastard she thinks I am?”
He shrugged. “Time, I suppose.”
“Patience is not my strong suit.”
“That runs in the family. Gracie and Heather aren’t exactly laid-back either. Neither was Penny, if I recall correctly.” He paused. “I guess all your girls got that from you.”
“I guess so.”
He frowned, lost in thought for a moment. “I won’t talk about her behind her back. But I will tell you this. I love her. I plan on marrying her one day. She is going to be part of my life, so if possible, I would like it if the two of you figured this out. But if not, I will choose her.”