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Marina doesn’t bother ringing the doorbell, and we walk inside to find the living area empty. It’s a wide, open space, full of comfortable furniture that has seen better days and lots of family photos on every available flat surface. On tables, bookshelves, hung on the walls, I’m surrounded by Molinas and Knights, all of them watching me, making me want to squirm where I stand.
Yeah. I think I’ve lost my damn mind. This is what a case of nerves does to a man.
“Dad!”
Marina lets go of my hand, and I watch as she hurries toward her father who’s just entered the living room. She practically throws herself at him, giving him a big hug, which he returns. I know they’re close. She complains that she hasn’t seen him much lately since he’s been out of town, working all the time.
He’s scrambling. Trying to sell off property and cars and whatever else he can get rid of to gain some cash flow. I know this through friends and acquaintances in the business. They all talk. Knight’s been going into San Francisco a lot lately to broker deals. Yet he’s still holding on to that one property I want.
And I think if I work it just right, I can make it mine.
You are such a complete asshole. Marina’s going to think you’re using her to get to her dad.
That had been true, once upon a time. Not any longer. I care for this woman. Hell, I’m falling in love with her. Being in the middle of this situation, not quite knowing what to do...
It sucks.
“Good to see you, sweetheart.” Her father gives Marina a kiss on the cheek, smiling down at her. “You look happy.”
I stand there, at a loss over what I should do. Approach them? Clear my throat? Yell that his daughter looks happy because I put that smile on her face and the glow in her cheeks?
Yeah. Can’t do that.
“I want you to meet Gage. Remember I told you about him?” She withdraws from her father’s embrace and leads him over to where I stand. “Gage, this is my father, Scott.”
“Nice to meet you.” I offer my hand and he takes it, somewhatreluctantly. Or maybe I’m overreacting. The guy sets me on edge just looking at him.
He’s tall, has a headful of salt-and-pepper hair, and his eyes are a pale, icy blue. Looking at me like he wants to hang me up by my balls too. “Gage. I believe you’ve been trying to get in contact with me.”
“Let’s not talk business today,” Marina starts, but I interrupt her.
“I have been. I know you’re a busy man, but when you get a chance, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you.”
“Call my office. We can set up a meeting,” he offers breezily.
“I’ve been trying to do that for months,” I tell him, needing him to know I’m not in the mood to play games.
Marina shoots me a horrified glare. “Gage,” she whispers, trying to shut me up.
“Don’t get mad at him. He’s right.” Scott’s smile is easy. Too easy. “I have avoided his calls. I believe he’s asking for something I’m not quite ready to give up yet.”
Marina’s mouth drops open. “How do you—”
“Just like you know,” Scott says, smiling at her. “Everyone knows. This town is big, but it has a small-town feel, just like the gossip. And when a stranger comes into town, eager to buy up all the prime real estate he can, he gives everyone something to talk about.”
I can’t tell if this guy is merely tolerating me or hates my guts or... doesn’t mind that I’m here and dating his daughter. His only child who I know he’s very protective of.
Can’t blame him, though. I’m feeling rather protective of her too. Something we definitely have in common.
“Ah, is this your young man?” Maribella Knight breezes into the room, a slight smile curling her lips. This is who Marina gets her looks from. Maribella is a beautiful woman,her features so similar to her daughter’s, I pretty much know what Marina’s going to look like when she’s older.
“Yes. This is Gage.” Marina smiles nervously. Just like her relationship with her father is so strong, the one she shares with her mother is a bit more fragile. “Gage, this is my mom, Maribella.”
“Call me Mari.” She extends her hand toward me, her gaze not as warm as her voice.
I take her hand and give it a shake, notice how limp it is in my grip. “A pleasure,” I say truthfully.
“I’m sure.” The smile she offers me is brittle, and her gaze narrows the slightest bit.
