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This isright. This feels too good to be wrong.
But I force myself to end the kiss before really getting what I want.
She stares at me with a mixture of desire and fear, that perfect place where lust rests.
“You’re gorgeous,” I say, touching her chin. “You can do this. Just stay close to me, okay?”
“Okay,” she answers, sounding breathless.
I turn, taking her hand in mine, and lead her to my father’s study.
Chapter27
Finn
Dara holds my arm tightly, but she keeps her chin raised like she’s a royal daughter walking through court.
I couldn’t be prouder of her in this moment.
My father calls out as soon as we knock. I catch a glimpse of a staff member standing nearby, the same girl from the front door, which means she warned him of our arrival.
Why the hell did we come in through the guest entry? Why are we being treated like he knew Dara was on the way? I only told him that I was coming for dinner and wanted to speak before everyone sat down to eat. There shouldn’t be anything out of the ordinary here.
Except I feel the tension the moment we step into his lavish room. It’s half executive suite, half blue-blood library. A crackling fire in the hearth, an elk head above the mantle. Leather-bound books, expensive hardwoods, a full display of rare liquors. Then there’s the desk: huge, carved from a single solid piece of redwood tree, one of the last ancient behemoths felled before they were protected.
Father’s sitting behind that desk with a glass of whiskey in front of him, his shirtsleeves rolled up, glaring at me with a hard stare. Mom’s standing slightly behind him and to the left, smiling a tight smile like she’s not sure if she’s happy or if she’s ready to start screaming.
They fucking know.
“Close the door,” Dad says, practically barking at me.
I obey, letting it shut with a soft click. I take Dara by the arm and lead her to stand in front of the desk while my parents remain staring at us, my mother’s smile plastered on, my father’s scowl deepening.
“Dad, Mom,” I say, looking at them in turn. “I want to introduce—”
Dad cuts me off. “I know who she is,” he says with a snarl. “How the fuck could you, Finn? How could you disobey me, betray your family, and embarrass yourself like this, after everything I’ve done for you? Forthis?” His face gets progressively redder as his tone rises. He gestures at Dara like she’s a cheap piece of furniture.
Dara squeezes my hand. I feel her wilt beneath the onslaught of my father’s contempt.Be strong.
I squeeze back tightly, stepping forward to put her slightly behind me. “How did you find out?” I ask, keeping my voice as level as I can, but I’m trembling with rage. “Was it Nolan?”
“Nolan?” Dad’s face contorts. “He knows and didn’t tell me? You assholes are all fucked, do you hear me?” He slams his fists on the desk, standing. “The girl called me. Robin, your actual fiancée. She called and told me about your plan.”
I stare at him in surprise. Robin told him? What the hell was she thinking? I don’t understand and I can’t begin to guess at her intentions, and frankly, it doesn’t even matter.
I have to deal with the problem in front of me.
“It’s not a plan,” I say, glancing at Dara. “We’re married. It’s done.”
“Like hell you are,” Dad growls. “Marriages can be ended almost as easily as lives. I don’t know who this girl is, but you’ll take her back to where you found her, propose to Robin again, and maybe we can forget you ever made this foolish mistake.”
“No,” I say, working my jaw. “Dara’s pregnant with my child.”
That surprises him. He knew about the engagement, but not about the baby. Dad sinks back into his seat, looking stunned for a moment.
I glance from him to my mother, and she’s only looking at me with a fierce consideration. Mom’s always been hard to read in situations like this.
Where Dad leads with anger, Mom leads with stone-cold logic.
