“Excuse me?” Daddy stretches out the words, the disgust evident in his tone. “I don’t care who you are. My daughter willnotbe around the likes of you.” And just like that, any hope I had of Daddy being civil is gone. His level of rage is worse than I thought. I keep my gaze on Colt, silently begging him to give me back the phone.
“Sir, I don’t mean any disrespect, but what you need to understand—”
My father cuts him off. “No! What you don’t understand, young man, is—”
It’s Colt’s turn to take over, and he raises his voice this time. “Dee was sinking in that relationship with good ole Joey boy. The Deliah I met was a wreck, thanks to him. Not to mention the guy’s a right arsehole. I mean, seriously, the scum kept Deliah’s Yorkipoo.”
“And what? You have knownmy Deliahfor all of a couple of days, and you think you know whatshe needs? Please. Do us both a favor and go about your drug-enriched life. I know what’s best for my girl. Joseph and Deliah have had amildmisunderstanding.”
I can’t hold my tongue any longer. “Amisunderstanding?Daddy, Joseph told me he never loved me. He packed my things and kicked me out with nowhere to go. That is nomisunderstanding!” I yell, completely in shock that he’s defending Joseph.
“Deliah, stop this nonsense. You’re acting like a lunatic. This is not like you. You are better than this,” Daddy scolds, and his words only make me angrier.
Colt takes over, “Sir, she is not a child. Yes, she’s young, but shouldn’t she experience life in a world where she can learn to rely on herself?”
“Daddy, why can’t you just let me live? This doesn’t have anything to do with you. I love you. But I need this, Daddy.” It might be underhanded, but I’m hoping my sweet use of ‘daddy’ will bend him a little.
“Mr. Norman, if you are worried about Dee being taken care of, I assure you, I will, and I have the means to do so,” Colt declares.
I jerk my head back in shock.
We have just met, and now he’s promising to take care of me.That thought scares me more than a little, but I can’t ignore the warmth spreading through me.
“Slade, is it? I’m sure you mean well for the moment. And that’s all this is, right? Surely you are only using Deliah’s high-class status to clean up your drug-riddled and prostitute-using image,” Daddy states, his tone saying even more than his words.
“Daddy, I—”
Colt cuts me off before I can interject.
“Not that I need to explain myself to you,Mr. Norman. But no one in my band will ever use drugs, and I can assure you, there are no prostitutes on tour with us.”
I smile at Colt, and he winks at me.
“Deliah, I am done with this nonsense. Youarecoming home!Thatismy final word.”
Oh goodness, I can’t believe he just yelled. Daddy rarely lets his temper get the best of him, saying it shows a lack of self-control.
“To be honest, it’s not up to you. Dee’s coming with us. And that, sir, ismyfinal word,” Colt says and ends the call.
I stand there gawking at him with raised eyebrows.
What the heck just happened?
“Did you just hang up on Daddy?”
“Maybe?” he says cautiously with an inkling of a smirk.
“You, Colter Slade, are my hero.” I wrap my arms around his neck and pull him in for a kiss. He takes hold of my waist and pushes me forcefully against the wall. When his tongue finds mine, I can’t stop the soft moan that escapes my lips. My hands tousle his hair as he grinds into me. The door to the penthouse suite swings open, and Johnny walks out, witnessing our passionate moment. He chuckles and walks back inside.
“Yeah, they’re here. They’re just making out,” we hear Johnny yell out before he shuts the door.
Colt smiles brightly. “Your dad’s a bit of an arse,” he says, and I laugh.
“I know, but you handle him well enough.”
“Maybe, but I think he’ll probably hunt me down and cut off my balls to use in his hoity-toity tennis matches.”
“How do you know he plays tennis?”
