“That this isn’t the place for you. That your business partners...” she sneered as she gazed over at me unblinking, “wanting to buy you out is a God-send. It’s time to go home. Your dad needs you.”
“Gypsy isn’t going anywhere.” I was off my seat and at Gypsy's side in a second, curling my arm around her hip and pulling her into my side. “Her place is here.” With me, I added silently. There was no way I was letting her run home. Not when things were going so well between us.
Not when for the first time in years I was actually happy. Hell would freeze over first.
“The club has retracted its offer. We want her to stay.” I sucked in a breath, looking down at her. “I want you to stay.”
Gypsy's lips pursed, becoming more pouty than ever. “I’m not going anywhere. My dad has never and will never need me.” The distrust on her face was obvious.
Part of me was glad about that.
“Yeah…about that, I probably shouldn’t tell you this, but he's not been doing so well these last few years.” Melanie shrugged her too slim shoulders. “Not since everything happened, his health is…fragile.”
“My dad’s been sick?”
“He's been worried about you a lot, which is why I’m here.”
Turning on her heel, Gypsy disappeared. The phone in her hand was already at her ear before she got to the bedroom door.
I was torn between going after her and making sure she was ok and keeping an eye on Melanie. In the end, my need to be near Gypsy won out.
“Don’t fucking move,” I warned the woman on the couch before trotting out after my woman.
* * *
I had never beenin Gypsy's bedroom I realised as I perched on the end of her bed and watched her pace.
It was exactly how I imagined her private space to be. A riot of colour and texture. A million and one throws and pillows heaped on the bed, which also held the sleeping Irish wolfhound that everyone loved. He was snoring away quietly. Not in the least bit bothered that we were in there.
“It’s…”
My head snapped back in her direction as she froze. Her eyes glued to my face. She didn’t know what to call herself. I nodded my head and went back to looking around. I didn’t want her to feel self-conscious by me staring at her, but I was going to listen in. Closely. I wanted to know what she said and gauge her reaction to what was said to her in return.
“His daughter.”
There was a pause.
“Hi, Dad.”
A low murmur of a man’s voice came through the phone, loud enough so I could hear it, but not loud enough that I could make out what he was saying.
“Yes I’m fine, your PA just turned up at my door and… ah, ok so she is here on your business?” Gypsy gave a shaky laugh, and the smile she threw in my direction was strained. “I know I’m being silly, Dad, I just wanted to make sure… Well, Melanie said-”
Holding out my hand for her, I pulled her between my legs. She was nervous talking to her own father, and I wanted her to know that I was there for her. If I could give her a little bit of emotional support, I would. She came to a stop, resting her free hand on my shoulder, her fingers massaging the muscles self-consciously.
“No, I don't need to come home, and I’m not selling.” Gypsy’s eyes fixed on my face, and I held my breath. Whatever she was going to say next was important, I could feel it. “This is my home now. I have…friends.”
Almost shyly, she glanced down at me, and I grinned back at her.
Friends was certainly underselling what we had, but I would take it. For a while. She was staying, that was the main thing. The rest we could work out later.
“Yes, Daddy, I will go over the paperwork with Melanie.” She rolled her eyes like a child and not a grown ass woman, and the hand I had on her hip slipped around to slap her ass. “And I will stay in touch… Are you sure you are ok?”
There was a muffled reply and she sighed. “Ok, Daddy, I love you.”
I waited until she had tossed the phone down on the bed before pulling her on to my lap. “All sorted?”
“Yeah.” She didn’t look too sure. “Everything’s fine. I’m going to have to make her up a bed for the night or something...”
