“Not yet, surely,” Luther said. “Why don’t we take a seat? Get to know each other a little.”
Before Sloane could reply, Luther was already heading over to the large sectional sofa. He unbuttoned his suit jacket and took a seat, then waited for Sloane to sit down opposite him before speaking.
“So, how long have you and my daughter been dating?”
“Not for very long,” Sloane said.
“And how did you meet?”
“We met at a bar.”
“I see.”
The man seemed to find that information distasteful, and Sloane barely refrained from rolling his eyes.
“And did you grow up here in Miami?” he asked.
“Since I was eight,” Sloane said.
“And before then?”
“Alaska.”
“You know, I find it curious that my daughter has never mentioned you before. That means thisrelationshipbetween you is fairly new. My daughter is cautious around new people, so I have to wonder how you ingratiated yourself into her life so quickly.”
Sloane could understand why Ray’s father might be cautious of the men his daughter dated, but the bombardment of questions was ridiculous. Now Sloane understood how the suspects he questioned at work felt when he was giving them the third degree. He half expected someone to slap the coffee table and demand answers while shining a bright light in his eyes.
Luther glanced toward the kitchen before leaning forward in his seat. “What’s it going to take to get you out of my daughter’s life?”
Sloane’s jaw just about hit the floor. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me,” he said. “What will it take?”
Sloane clenched his jaw, furious that the man should even suggest such a thing. Inside, his bear roared his indignation, wanting to get out so that he could teach the man some manners.
“What exactly are you suggesting?” Sloane bit out.
“Come now,” Luther said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “You know what I’m talking about. Money. How much do you want to leave and never come back?”
“How dare you!”
“A million dollars?”
“You’d pay me a million bucks to get out of Ray’s life?”
“You’d have to sign something, of course,” Luther said. “That stated you’d never see her again…”
Sloane had heard enough. He got to his feet. “Tell me, how many more of the men your daughter has dated have you tried to pay off?”
When the man said nothing, Sloane shook his head. Luther’s silence spoke volumes. This was obviously not the first time he’d tried to pull a stunt like this. Sloane took a deep breath, for Ray’s sake, and somehow his voice managed to come out more human than animal when he spoke.
“I’m sorry,sir, but my love for your daughter isn’t for sale. Ever.”
A moment later, Ray came back into the room carrying Luther’s coffee. After she’d handed it to him, Sloane pulled her into his side then kissed the top of her head.
“Everything okay?” she asked.
“Everything’s fine, beautiful,” he said, shooting a quick glare at Luther.
He couldn’t believe the man’s audacity, but as Sloane was going to be in Ray’s life for the duration of it, he supposed he would have to at least try to be civil to the infuriating man. What Sloane couldn’t understand was with a father like that, how had Ray turned out so well adjusted?
