He’s always been protective of his baby girl, and now I have to admit that I’ve been lying to him for almost a year.
“Would you stop rubbing your hands together? You’re going to rub the skin clear off! It’s just Daddy.” She stares at me from the bathroom mirror.
“It’s notjust Daddytonight. Tonight it’s Mr. Davies who wants to kill any man that dares to touch his baby. And usually, I’m down with that attitude, except it’s my ass on the line now.”
She rolls her eyes while shaking her head. “He’ll be fine. He loves you. You know that.”
“He loved me when I was your friend, Reeces Pieces. He won’t love me when he knows that you’ve been in my bed every night that you’ve been on this ranch.”
She puts the curling iron down on the counter, unplugging it. “You sir,”—she walks into my space between my thighs—“worry, way too much. Daddy loves you. Mom loves you. And they’re going to be thrilled for us.”
Wrapping my arms around her middle, I tug her toward me. “I’m going to trust you then, because I’m nervous as fuck.”
She leans down, kissing me. “It’ll be fine. Let’s go and get this over with though. Hopefully you can come home with me tonight and you’re not missing somewhere out on the outer edges by the broken camera.”
She walks away from me laughing at her own joke, but I’m not laughing. It’s averyreal possibility.
Parking the truck next to Cal’s Sanders Hollow work truck, my palms are sweating. I’m not fucking ready for this.
Walking up the front porch, she knocks on the door and Cal opens it.
“Mom, Dad.” She draws their attention to us and my stomach flips.
“Hey, baby girl, what are you doing? Come in here.”
“Dad, do not freak out,” she warns.
“Why would I—” We both step into the house. “Jaycob?”
“Reece?” Her mom is staring at both of us.
“I told you guys not to freak out. But, Jaycob is who I’ve been dating.” When they both continue to just stare she adds, “We’re in love.”
“Mr. Cal…” I start.
“Nope. Not happening. You are almost twenty-five Jaycob! My girl is only nineteen! How the hell long has this been going on?”
Juliette places her hand on his forearm. “Come in, dinner is almost ready and we can talk then.”
“I’m not coming in until I know Daddy is going to be nice.” Reece stands up for me.
“Don’tDaddyme now, baby girl! How long have you been dating?” Cal’s stare is burning a hole into me.
“A year, sir.”
“Oh, well shit, I mean at least you waited until she was legal. Jesus fucking Christ. Do you hear this, Jules?”
She shakes her head curtly. “Not. Now. Cal.”
He walks toward the door and me. “Jaycob and I need to have a chat.” He grabs me by the collar and drags me out toward the barns.
“Son, you better start talking and fast.”
“I promise, sir, nothing happened between us but friendship until a year ago. I swear it.” He scrutinizes my face as I talk.
“Why my daughter?”
“She’s my everything. I know we’re young, well she’s young. But I can’t imagine my life without her. It’d mean the world to us to have your blessing.”
