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I’ve always hated this fucking seat.
Even as a kid, he’d bring me to his office to scold me when he was the one doing the scolding. Mom had a different approach. Less confrontational. I preferred her handling things like this.
I sit down because I want to know what’s going on, but I drop my duffel with a loud thunk and cross my arms over my chest so he knows I’m not happy to be here.
I wait for him to say something, but he just sits there, watching me.
“What?” I snap.
“You’ve made it very clear you don’t want the girls living here. I just thought I should congratulate you on getting your way yet again. Gemma has decided that moving in here was a mistake, and she and Parker should move back into their old house.”
My heart stops beating for a second. I don’t want to look too fucking alarmed, but… “It’s been one week.”
“Yep.” He nods grimly.
“What did Parker say I did?”
His gaze is already cool, but it drops several degrees when I ask that. “Parker didn’t tell anybody you did anything to her. Should she have?”
“Then why are they leaving?”
“You know why they’re leaving. In fact, I would say you probably have a more accurate idea than I do. Anyway, it’s as good as done. I just thought you should know.”
“So, what? The engagement’s off? Gemma’s car is still parked outside.”
“It was an emotional day. Gemma and Parker both needed a breather. I sent them to a spa resort for the night because I’m trying to change Gemma’s mind, but I don’t think I’ll be able to. Gemma is a sweet, confrontation-hating soul, but there is nothing she wouldn’t do to protect her daughter. If that means not marrying me, then… that’s what it means.”
For all his coolness, the temperature in the room seems to be rising judging from the heat beneath my skin. “So, what? You’re going to let her go, just like that? I thought this dancer chick was the next coming of Christ as far as you’re concerned. You proposed after like two minutes, and now you’re just going to let her move out and be done?”
“Well, obviously it’s not what I want, Landon, but it’s not as if I can keep her captive,” he says dryly.
Sounds like quitter talk to me, but I don’t say that.
“I tried reassuring her, but she doesn’t believe me. I had to make a lot of hollow promises to get her to move in to begin with, and I didn’t follow through, so I don’t have much leverage. You’ve rejected every attempt made to bring you into the fold, and you’ve made trouble every chance you got. I can’t tell her things will get better. She doesn’t believe me anymore. What else would you have me do?” he asks, sounding like he’s all but given up already.
Un-fucking-believable.
“When did you turn into such a pussy?” I ask him. His eyes flash, but I don’t give him a chance to respond. “I, personally, don’t give a fuck about Gemma, but if you like her enough tomarry herafter years of not even dating, I would assume you fucking do. So, you do whatever you have to do to keep her here. Burn her fucking house down. Then she doesn’t have anything to go back to.”
Dad stares at me. “That’s illegal.”
I roll my eyes. “Right, sorry. Hire someoneelseto burn her fucking house down. Make sure you’re with her so she knows it wasn’t you.”
Despite himself, a faint smile tugs at his lips. “I suppose that’s one way of doing things—if I’m not worried about starting a wildfire.”
“I refuse to believe thatyoucan’t control a fucking ballerina. We’re talking about the same woman, right? About five feet tall, weighs three pounds, has the intimidation factor of a fucking country mouse? I swear I saw a spider walk in front of her and do a little dance because it was so unafraid.”
Dad cracks a smile. “Her gentleness is one of my favorite things about her.”
“So, use it. You’re far from gentle. Unleash the beast. What the fuck are you waiting for?”
“I suppose there are a couple of things I haven’t tried.”
“So try them,” I say, wide-eyed. “Jesus Christ. It’s not rocket science.”
As soon as the words are out, I hear them.
I look at him sitting there, not looking one bit panicked for a man supposedly on the brink of losing his newest high-value prize.
