Daisy went slightly stiff in his arms.
Nate knew how to handle O’Donnell.“No.”
Liam got red in the face.“What do you mean no?”
“I think he means he’s not leaving.”Ian Taggart was abastard who obviously enjoyed a good show.
Well, he had to admit his baby knew how to play out a beautyof a scene.“I mean, you can fire me, but I’m not leaving Daisy.Tell mesomething, Liam.Was it you or Aidan who scared all the Doms off her at TheHideout?”
Devi walked in with a pitcher of water, and her eyes wentwide.“Scared off the Doms?No one would do that.The club is a place where wecan be honest.You don’t understand.We have rules, and no one is going toshame anyone or scare them off.Daisy just… She hasn’t had any luck.”
“Sure, the stunningly gorgeous submissive with an hourglassfigure who looks like she’ll melt in your fucking mouth can’t find a guy to topher for a night,” Nate shot back.
Daisy’s eyes fluttered open.“You think I’m gorgeous?”
Her father had done her no favors.“Of course you’regorgeous.I thought you were gorgeous with a silly mask on your face.Taking itoff didn’t make you any less stunning, love.”
“What the hell are you on about?”Liam stood, the conferencetable between them.“Daisy, get up.We’re leaving and we won’t come back untilyour uncle gets rid of the dead weight.”
“You know now that I think about it, itiskind ofweird,” Devi said.“When we go out to clubs in the city, Daisy is always theone who gets hit on.Like dance clubs or bars.”
“My Daisy doesn’t go to clubs or bars,” her father insisted.“The only reason she goes to The Hideout is to be around her friends.Shedoesn’t play there.Daisy is a good girl.”
“And my Devi isn’t?”Erin was back, staring at her long-termpartner.
Liam froze.“I didn’t say that, Erin.”
“No, you said Daisy doesn’t go to clubs because she’s a goodgirl.”Erin’s tone had gone cold.“Devi does go to clubs.She dances andparties and has fun because she’s young and she gets to do that.So I’ll askagain, partner, are you slut shaming my daughter?”
“Mom, I’m not… I mean the word slut is really triggering,”Devi said with a frown.
“Devi, darling, you know I adore you.”Liam O’Donnell seemedto realize the trap he was in.“Of course you’re a good girl.But Daisy is veryinnocent.”
Her father started going over all the ways Daisy was naïve,just a sweet babe out in the woods.
Daisy looked up at him, shifting.“What did you mean I mademy choice?Are you mad?”
“I’m not particularly happy you left me sleeping lastnight,” he admitted.Then he looked at Liam, who was still arguing with theTaggart women.Charlotte had joined in.He totally deserved it.“Though I kindof understand.Is he always like this?”
Daisy nodded.“I don’t think he likes who I actually am verymuch.I love him but he doesn’t know me.But I want to know what you meant by Imade my choice.”
He should be plain with her and her father.“I mean yousought me out last night.You knew who I was and you chose me, and now you’restuck with me.You might decide to walk away after you’re safe, but from thismoment until the second they put the bastard in jail, you’re mine.While I’myour bodyguard, you’re going to be my sub.So take this time, Daisy.Enjoy it.See if it’s something you want on a permanent basis.”
She sat up, looking him right in the eyes.“Are you sayingyou want me?”
“I think I proved how much I want you last night.I knowwhen you walked in the kitchen this morning, you brought the sunshine with you.Maybe it’ll all go to hell, but damn, I want the ride either way.”He ran athumb over her plump bottom lip.“Typhoon Daisy.”
Big emerald eyes stared at him.Protect me eyes.Love meeyes.“You’ll change your mind.”
“I don’t think so.Never felt this way in my life, and I’mgoing to trust it.So we know where I stand, and this is about you decidingwhat you’re willing to risk,” he replied.
“My father…”
He could put the fear to rest.“O’Donnell, you need tounderstand something here and now.You can’t scare me off.You can’t pay me toleave her alone.You can’t threaten me.Words won’t work and neither willfists.You won’t come between me and Daisy and if you try, well, there’s a niceplace in Australia where we can hide.You’ll see her again in a couple ofyears.”
Liam looked like he was about to have a stroke.
“Nathan, that’s rude,” Daisy said primly.
