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What happened? Did I do something I didn’t know about? Was the hug at the front door too much? Fuck, did she meet someone in Queensland?
I’d kill them.
Shaking my head, I greeted everyone, but I couldn’t stop thinking that something had changed. Maya kept glancing at me and looking away.
“How’s business?” Talon asked when I sat at the table. Zara, Maya, and the twins were in the kitchen, still preparing the meal, but Ruby had pushed me towards the table to take a seat.
“Good. Still can’t believe how busy it’s been since I opened.”
“People are gonna look you and your work up. Your place in Melbourne’s got a good rep.”
A beer was placed in front of me. I tipped my head back and caught Maya’s gentle grin. “Thanks, babe.”
As soon as the words were out, I fucking froze. I was sure I hadn’t called Maya “babe” in front of Talon. While he knew we were friends, he didn’t have a clue I wanted his daughter as mine, right? Fuck, what if he knew? That was a whole conversation I hadn’t been prepared for tonight.
When Maya went back to help her mum, I swallowed thickly and slowly looked back at Talon. His jaw clenched, his hand tightening around his drink.
Fuck.
Did he read into the words? The look? Had I stared at his daughter too long?
The bastard was a smart man. A guy I looked up to in many ways. Like I did Dodge.
He wasn’t stupid. Would he brush it off or say something?
Could I fix this before it blew up in my face and he started saying shit in front of Maya, who didn’t even know how deep my feelings went for her?
Did I man up and take him out of the room to talk with him myself? Ask his blessing or whatever? Was it too soon, since I didn’t even have a clue where Maya’s head and heart were at about me?
Jesus fucking Christ, I was going to break my damn brain thinking this hard.
“Prez, can I have a word?” The words were out of my mouth before I could backtrack and second-guess myself.
I didn’t know if his daughter would even be on board with something with me, but I wanted to show respect to Talon and let him know where my head was at.
Talon stood. When his chair scooted back on the floor, the noise caught the attention of everyone else.
“What’s going on?” Maya asked.
“Nothin’. We just gotta talk about work,” Talon said, his tone hard.
“Talon?” Zara called.
“It’s fine, kitten. Won’t be long.”
Maya frowned, worry clear in her eyes when she looked at me. I tried for a reassuring smile, but I wasn’t sure I pulled it off.
My heart damn trembled inside my chest. I wasn’t scared of Talon, but he was Maya’s father, and if he couldn’t see me in his daughter’s life, he could make my life hell. He could sway Maya against me.
Talon took me into his office. “Take a seat,” he ordered and closed the door.
Shit, sweat licked the back of my neck and palms.
Suddenly, it felt like my life was on the line.
In a way, it was, because Mayawasmy life.
Talon walked around his desk to sit behind it. He rocked back on his chair and stared at me. I waited a beat to see if he would say anything. To see if he’d noticed my attraction to Maya was more than friendship. Would Maya be pissed I went to her father to share my feelings first? To get his permission to court his daughter like the old-fashioned way?
