Page 73 of His for the Holiday

I grimaced. “I’m sorry.”

“I know.” He sighed, finally turning to face me, and blinked himself out of his thoughts. “Thing is, as soon as I figured out she actually liked the damn idiot, I blamed you.”

“Me?”

He nodded. “You. I kept thinking about how close you were as kids and I still don’t know what happened, but I just kept thinking that if you would just apologize, she would come home.”

“Sutton and I weren’t talking back then.”

“I know that too,” he said. “Mindy and I have been talking about it a lot and I think I’ve finally realized that it wasn’t your fault. You were just a kid yourself. Sutton made her own choices. I just hated the choices she was making and I needed someone to point the finger at who wasn’t my baby girl.”

My gut twisted. “If it helps, I’ve been pointing the finger at myself a lot lately too. Ultimately though, I’ve asked her about it and she said she wouldn’t change a thing because she wouldn’t have had Winnie if not for him, train wreck that he is.”

David exhaled loudly. “That’s what I’ve been thinking too. I love that little girl more than my own self, but I hate her fucking father. Do you know he never let her come home to see us? Discouraged her from working so she wouldn’t have her own money? For years, he was never home, always out drinking and partying, and, apparently, screwing around.”

The words were like hot swords slicing through my insides. “I knew about some of it, yeah.”

“Thank you for being there for my girls, Hawk. I know I told you to stay away, but I’m glad you didn’t listen. You saved the day for Winnie tonight and I want you to know I appreciate it.”

“Does that mean you’ve forgiven me?” I asked, but it seemed like too much to hope for.

He chuckled dryly. “I’m getting there. Don’t push your luck.” As he stood up, he glanced down at me again. “You’re really sticking around to help?”

“Meecham Maritime is as good as gone,” I promised. “My dad will finally be able to enjoy his retirement and Emery can become a lady of leisure if she wants.”

“I wouldn’t tell her that,” he joked lightly. “That sister of yours likes to keep busy, but I’m sure she’d appreciate having a little more flexibility.”

“Have you decided to set up the fryer tonight after all?” I asked, wondering why he’d gotten up.

He shook his head. “I’m going to bed. I’m frozen and it’s been a long day.”

As he started walking away, he turned to arch a brow at me. His eyes flashed with a warning even in the low light. “I don’t know what you did to my little girl back in high school, Hawk, but hear me when I say that you’d better not hurt her again. Or Winnie. Or I’ll fry your ass like tomorrow’s turkey”

Before I could even begin to formulate an appropriate response that would convey to him how serious I was about them, he nodded at me and walked into their house, but the door didn’t shut behind him. Instead, it swung open again and Sutton peeked out, shivering. She glanced up at the sky before looking at me.

“Will you stay tonight?”

“Of course.” I stood and drained the last few sips of my beer, then deposited the bottle in the trash as I followed her.

She wrapped her fingers around my own as we walked to her apartment together. I draped my arm around her shoulders and pulled her into my side, turning my head to press a kiss to her temple.

“Are you okay?” I murmured. “That was quite a night.”

“I’m okay now,” she whispered as we ascended the stairs. Then she turned toward me as soon as her front door shut behind us. “Thank you for everything you did for us tonight. It’s because of you that Winnie isn’t up there crying herself to sleep. Your support meant everything to her.”

“Anytime.” I slid my arms around her hips and gently brought her closer to me. “I meant it when I said that I wanted better for you both and that I wanted to be the one to give it to you. You can count on me, Sutton.”

“I’m starting to believe that.” She smiled softly and tipped her head back. “What did my dad want to talk to you about? I know he can set up the turkey fryer by himself, so what did he want?”

“Well, I don’t have to stay away from you anymore, for starters.” I grinned and wrapped my hand around her ponytail, gripping it tight, and I brought my mouth to hers. “I think he might just let us be together without castrating me now.”

She chuckled against my lips, then crashed into me, kissing me soundly. I walked us toward her bedroom, relishing the soft feel of her body pressed to mine and really looking forward to being able to take my time with her again.