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Christ, I felt screwed either way, and no matter what, I was going to mess up with someone.
Talon cleared his throat. “You’re the one who wanted to talk, so talk.”
“Didyouneed me to talk?”
His brow rose. “What do you think I would want you to talk about?”
I rubbed my sweaty palms down my thighs. Shit, I had to go with my gut. He was the President of Hawks, but he also meant a lot more than that, and he was Maya’s father.
But before I could open my mouth, he demanded, “Tell me the real reason you moved to Ballarat.”
And there it was. He knew. He’d always known, and yet he’d accepted me in Ballarat, into his club.
“Because there was someone I wanted to get close to.”
He gripped his armrests. “My daughter that someone?”
“Yes, Prez.”
“You think I’m fuckin’ stupid, brother?”
“No.”
He leaned forward, resting his arms on his desk. “I reckon you do.”
“I don’t.”
“I know when I see a man lose his shit over his woman bein’ hurt”—I stilled as he continued—“that the man is a good one. One who cares a great fuckin’ deal for his woman. One who’ll protect her, do anythin’ for her. Back her in anythin’ she picks to do.”
I ground my teeth together to try and stop the onslaught of emotions coursing through me.
“It goddamn kills me to see my kids grow up, brother. One day you’ll understand it. One day when you’ve got your old lady at your side and a brood of your own, you’ll get the torment a father goes through.”
Hope fucking lit inside of me.
“At least I’ll know Maya’s in good hands, and, Texas,ifshe accepts you, I know she’ll have a good life with a hardworkin’ man who knows he’d have his arse handed to him if he fucks over my daughter in any way.”
The threat didn’t surprise me. I’d expected it. Being protective was in his blood. Having heard his blessing, though…. Fuck, I didn’t fully understand how much it would mean. It was like a weight had been lifted off me even as the emotions from it all held my chest in a tight clamp.
Clenching my jaw, I closed my eyes and nodded. Opening them after a beat, I cleared my throat. “She’ll be treasured each and every fuckin’ day.”
Talon held my gaze and grunted. “Ifshe accepts you.”
Nodding again, I agreed by saying, “If.”
And if I could ask for luck, I would when it came to having Maya accept me as her man.
CHAPTERFIFTEEN
MAYA
“What do you think that was about?” I whispered to Mum after she sprinkled the chicken with cheese and slipped the dish back into the oven. Ruby and Drake were arguing about something as they made the salad.
Mum leaned against the counter. “I’m not completely sure.”
Tearing my eyes away from the hallway, I faced her. “But you have an idea?”
She sighed. “Sweetie, we all heard Texas call you ‘babe.’”
