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“One set of hands is more than plenty.”
“Damn straight.”
An hour later he pulled into her drive and cut the motor. Carrie A
“Home, Red. We go home. We’re going to walk through that door, pack up your things, slap a For Sale sign in the yard and go home.”
“It’s a rental.”
“Even better. Consider your rent paid for the remainder of your lease.”
“I really need to handle a few things. Catch up on emails, work, call Sara and Shayla.” She hesitated ruefully, adding with a grumble, “Plus, have a chat with my dad. Which I should probably do in person.”
“Red, you’re go
“I’ll make a pot of coffee.”
A frown wove between his brows.
“For packing,” she clarified with a flirty smile. “And for the record I won’t need to micromanage your ravishing. I gladly welcome it.”
“Good thing,” he touted in a tone of authority.
“Oh, it’s a damn good thing.”
It took a few hours to make a dent in her belongings. They filled every piece of luggage and laundry hamper, loading her favorites into his Rover and her Cadillac. They left the rest for movers.
“Should we stop by and see your father?”
“No.” The reply whooshed out so fast it sounded panic-stricken. Her relaxed mood instantly shifted to dread. “Did you really need to kill the euphoric buzz I had going?”
“Let’s just say, you should probably check your text messages.” His warning raised the hair on her arms. “I’d be happy to come with you. Act as a buffer. I’m sure it won’t be an easy conversation.”
“Summer, this isn’t a pissing match between the two of you.” The deep indention between his troublesome eyes indicated his disbelief. “I can handle my dad, now.”
“Carrie A
Irritably she yanked the front door open, spi
“You started it.”
“You’re right. I did. I’d prefer to get it over with, so we can go about our life together. With or without his approval. If he thinks he’s got one, tiny fissure of space to exploit, he’ll sniff it out and turn it into a three foot gap.”
Reaching up, her hands traced along the dense muscles of his shoulders. “Summer, as much as I hate to admit this, I just need a bit of time to strategize before seeing him. I don’t let him push me around anymore, but I want to handle it the right way. He’s go
Summer’s expression softened. He held her secure, reassuring her with small squeezing rotations to the tight muscles of her nape. “You’re right. Maybe we should see him separately.”
“Separately? Whoa, whoa, whoa, hold on. I don’t—”
“I’m not going to take any shit from your father this time. Not ever again. He can ignore me, or hate me, or treat me however he wants, but I won’t allow him to intimidate you or whatever the fuck else runs through his calculated mind.” Summer paused. “And it’s not because I think you’re too fragile to handle your father, it’s because if he thinks he’s going to mistreat you for any reason…he’s going to have to come through me.”
Carrie A
“I’ll talk with him on the phone, for now, and make arrangements for lunch or di
Their gazes caught. His left brow arched to a point. “Face it, Red. You’re a procrastinator when it comes to confrontations, especially when it involves getting things off your chest. I don’t want…I would be grateful…if the issue doesn’t get drug out for a month. Deal?”
“Deal. In the near future.”
The long drive to Summer’s secluded Malibu hilltop home gave Carrie A
It didn’t even make it through the second ring, before hearing her father’s gravelly voice on the other end of the line, excusing himself from a conversation. “I’ve got to take this call. That sounds like a perfect place to settle the score. I’ll see you on the course at seven Sunday morning.”
Carrie A
“No, no. I’m here, just finishing up a meeting,” he assured brusquely. She heard the sound of his office door clicking shut. “Are you home from your vacation now?”
“Hi to you too.” She attempted to keep a calmness to her tone, prepping for his eruption. “Yes, we just got back a few hours ago.”
“I’m not sure what’s in that head of yours, Carrie A
“Some of that’s true,” she interjected, her tone set firm. “Except the part about Summer being useless or a son-of-a-bitch or my ex-boyfriend. I’m so glad you’re more concerned about my relationship with Summer than the fact that someone drugged me. I really…”
“What makes you think it wasn’t that boy who drugged you? I spoke with Jason and…”
“Excuse me? I’m warning you, Dad. Don’t you dare imply that Summer had anything to do with that.”
“Warning me?”
Fighting off the intimidation in his tone, she squared her shoulders. “Yes, you heard me correctly. Considering that I only drank a few glasses of champagne, which Jason happened to hand to me, I think he’s the one who has some explaining to do.”
“Are you insinuating that Jason Calver put something in your drink? I’ve known his parents…”
“I’m not insinuating anything, Dad. You’re the lawyer. You tell me.”