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“And you’re okay with this?” Not that he could change my mind, but in a lot of ways, he’d taken on the role of father figure after hers died of a massive heart attack. So, asking and telling him about my intentions felt right.
“Answer me this much.” I waved him on. “Is she a fling for you?”
How could he ask me that? “No,” I hissed out from between clenched teeth. The glare I sent his way caused him to take a step back and raise a hand in mock surrender. “I’m all in.”
“Then don’t let her slip through your fingers. You have our blessing.” His honest expression melted away the annoyance mounting. It’d been some sort of inane test. Useless, but I understood. “But hurt her, and I’ll return the favor. I helped bring you into this world, son, and I’ll take you out. You treat that girl like a precious gem...you got it?”
“Understood, but does that ‘we’ include her mom?” The girls laughed then, and we turned to look in their direction. They were sitting at one of the picnic tables talking to another girl. My Bailey giggled again and then began to bob her head to the reggaetón playing from the outdoor speakers.
Freaking adorable.
As if sensing my eyes on her, she looked my way. Her cheeks immediately bloomed the most luscious shade of pink. There was just something so sexy about her when she blushed.
That hint of innocence with a touch of the forbidden.
Green on grey, time stood still while we checked the other out. Each sweep from her eyes was a sinful caress to my senses.
Looking lower, I acquainted myself with her exposed skin. Paused at her rounded hips.
Thank you, God. She was wearing a pair of cutoffs now.
When she got them, I had no clue, but I was happy to see her a bit more covered up.
Not by much. But it was something.
“...she’ll be happy to know you manned up and made a move to woo our little B.”
“Where is Daisy? Is she coming later?” Had to play it off as if I hadn’t just eye-fucked her. Son or not, he’d give it to me for being disrespectful in his face.
“Unfortunately, no. She’ll be out of town until the day before the girls graduate.” Ah, made sense. That woman was over here as much as her daughter—our mothers had become best friends over the years. And when she wasn’t here, she was off to some exotic location documenting its beauty through her lens.
“Fair warning.” Dad snorted, eyes crinkling at the edges. “Daisy and your mom have been planning your wedding since you guys met.”
“As crazy as this may sound, I’m not surprised. Love them both, but they’re wacky enough to have it all on hold for the day I ask.” Ignoring my remark, he took the spatula from my hand and flipped a few patties. Looked as though he was contemplating something hard. “Spit it out, old man.”
“That girl was so sad when you left,” he stated, voice low so no one around us could hear. As if he were sharing a big secret. “Her first crush was gone, and no one has ever measured up.”
I’d never put much thought into her dating past, and now that I had, it tasted bitter. Like jealousy and rage.
“How many boys has she dated?”
“I think you’re worrying about the wrong thing, Hunter.” Dad’s laughter carried through the backyard, and the little bit of family that had arrived turned to look our way. I waved as his hand clamped down on my shoulder and squeezed, all the while his other brought the bottle of beer up to his lips. He took in a deep pull and then settled his attention near the house’s side entrance. His grin widened. “Focus on your competition now, because he just walked through the gate and is headed her way.”
The drink in my hand was placed beside the grill, and I found myself walking away and toward her. Toward the dumbass trying to get closer.
I was halfway to her.
The blood in my veins throbbed while I watched him check her ass out once more, lip caught between his teeth. Emily and his brother shook their heads; they glared at him while the idiot continued to look at her with hunger.
My fists clenched, and I walked faster, was almost to her when a body crashed into me. Thin arms wove themselves around my neck, and the greeting that followed filled me with dread.
What the hell was Erica doing here?
I more than felt every eye on me. Her stare.
Guilt gnawed at me. Fuck, this would ruin everything if I didn’t handle it correctly.
“Where have you been, honey?” Erica pulled her body against mine, gyrating her thin hips just a tiny bit. “Why haven’t you come to see me? I’ve missed you.”
