I put the phone down on the bed and nuzzle my nose against Dax’s jaw. The phone buzzes again, but I don’t budge.
“Vanessa?”
I squeeze my eyes shut. “I’m not talking to him.”
The buzzing stops, and a moment later, starts again.
Dax motions to my phone. “He keeps calling. You should answer it.”
“No. I don’t care what he has to say.”
“Make things right with your dad,” he urges. “Don’t let it get worse. I’m not worth it.”
“Don’t say that.” My voice becomes raspy with desperation. “Of course you’re worth it.”
He shakes his head. “I’m not worth ignoring your family. You’re taken care of here. You can’t risk that.”
“But it doesn’t make me happy.” I scoop his hand in mine and rest it against my chest. “You make me happy.”
Sadness dulls his blue-gray eyes. “Don’t put it on me. I don’t want to get between you and your family.”
I lift his hand and kiss it. “I’ll talk to my dad purely because I hate seeing you sad.”
A hint of a smile twitches at the corners of his mouth. “Thanks.”
I move off the bed and leave the bedroom. As I move down the hallway, I grip the phone so tight it might snap in two. When I reach the living area, I hit answer and lift the phone to my ear.
“Dad?”
“Vanessa.” He’s breathless. “Where are you? I’ll send a car. I need you back home.”
“I didn’t leave the grounds.”
Surprise litters his tone. “You didn’t?”
I nod against the phone. “I’m still at Ashworth Estate. I just need some time to myself.”
“As long as you’re not with that boy, we can talk about this.”
I huff, raking a hand through my hair. “Meaning the alternative would be, if you saw me with him, you’d ignore me?”
Dad pauses, and I can almost hear his nostrils flaring. “No, honey. I just want you at home and safe.”
I spent a whole night out of the house with him, and you didn’t even notice. Even though it’s on the tip of my tongue, I dare not say it.
“You don’t even know him. He’s not dangerous.”
“LJ told me about his tattoos.”
“Wait,” it hisses out of me as anger injects into my veins. “LJ went running to you, and that’s why you flipped out when you saw me with Dax?”
“Do you have any idea what that scorpion tattoo means?”
I huff and throw my hand up. “It’s a motorcycle club.”
“It’s more than that.” Frustration gets the better of him, and his tone grows urgent. “You shouldn’t know about these things.”
A deep scowl embeds in my face. “Why? Because I’m just a simple girl?”
