“Yes.” There’s no reason to lie.
“Seems like a good guy.”
“He is.”
“I just want you happy, baby girl.”
“I know, Dad.”
“So. My birthday is this week.”
“I know.”
“We’re having a party on Saturday. Cookout. It’ll be at the club but outside. We’re grilling, all the old ladies are cooking and baking. We’ll play some cornhole, have a few beers, nothing hardcore. It’s just family, no bunnies or anything.”
“Okay.” That’s all she says, like she’s waiting for an invitation.
“I’d like you there. And Grim too. If, uh, you’re going to be with him, I’d like to get to know him.”
“Dad.” She hesitates. “Don’t lie to me.”
“How am I lying?” he demands. “It’s my birthday. There’s a party. I want you there. Where did I lie?”
“The lie is that you want me to be there but you’re only inviting Landon so you and your brothers can give him the third degree. I swear to God, if you ask him what his intentions are, I will never speak to you again.”
“Oh, come on!” he protests. “I would do that even if I wasn’t a biker. I’m still your dad, and after all you’ve been through, I want to make sure he’s not just going after a convenient piece of ass. Once this crisis is over, maybe he’s planning to kick you to the curb.”
I arch my brows playfully but she gives me a stern look, indicating she doesn’t want me to speak up.
“I appreciate that. I do. But you have to trust me to know what I’m doing. Besides, I know how these things go at the club—you’re going to drag him out into the woods or something and let the guys try and intimidate him. The thing is, if there are six of them, sure you might be able to kick his ass?—”
I snort. “Not hardly,” I murmur under my breath.
“—but there isn’t a guy in the club who can take him one-on-one. So intimidation only goes so far.”
“I’m not trying to intimidate him,” her father says quietly. “I just want him to look me in the eye and tell me he’s serious about you.”
“It’s fine,” I mouth. “We’ll go.”
She huffs out a breath. “All right. We’ll be there. But if you break this promise?—”
“Honey, does everything have to be a threat?” he asks gently. “Can I just be your dad once in a while?”
She closes her eyes, breathing deeply, like his words are meaningful. Almost like she feels guilty.
“Yes,” she says softly. “You can. I’m sorry. I just know that Pete is going to make a nuisance of himself.”
“He won’t. For that, you have my word. He and I had a long talk after that day at Shadow Security. He’s not going to pull that bullshit ever again.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“See you Saturday. Three o’clock. You know the way.”
“Should I bring anything?”
He hesitates. “You remember how to make your mom’s corn casserole?”
At that she smiles. “Yes, I do.”
