She turned to her papa, putting her hands on his cheeks.“Papa, I’m in love, and it’s time to get on board.”
“You don’t know…” Papa began.
“I’ve spent days with them both, uncle.They’re good men.Ilike them.I’m going to give them Hideout memberships,” Gabe explained.
Her papa nodded.“Okay.”He turned to Deputy Morgan.“Pleasearrest my daughter.”
When the cuffs went on, she sighed in relief.
* * * *
Garrett stared up at the man he never thought wouldbe his enemy.Hell, he still didn’t think Jack Barnes was his enemy, but it wasclear the man didn’t have the same belief.“Mr.Barnes, if you would listen.”
“He’s not going to listen.He’s made up his mind.”One ofthe deputies had a hand on Keane’s elbow and started to lead him out.
Garrett couldn’t stand the thought of him going into thatcell.“They weren’t through questioning him.”
“He’s said all he needed to say.”Jack Barnes stared atKeane, his arms crossed over his big, muscular chest.“There was a witness andthe security cameras.”
Keane shook his head as he started to walk off.“Tell herI’m sorry.Tell her I was never good enough for her.”
“The first smart thing you’ve said, son,” Jack shot back.
Keane glanced at the older man, a hollow look in his eyes.“I’m not anyone’s son, sir.”
And then he was gone.
Garrett was pissed at Jack Barnes.He turned to the otherman as the door closed between him and his best friend.“I think I’ll quitbefore you fire me.I don’t want to work for a man who judges someone asquickly as you do.”
Something had changed in Jack’s expression.He didn’t lookhappy or even vengeful.If anything, Garrett would describe it as thoughtful.It was a moment before he turned from the door to Garrett.He frowned, but itwas clear there was something going on in the man’s head.“You don’t have toquit.I’m sorry about what I said earlier.My problem isn’t with you, though Isuspect you had something to do with your friend’s lies.I can understand it.Iprobably would have done anything for Sam.”
“What lies?”Garrett suddenly realized what he was talkingabout.“We didn’t lie about his record.When we first applied for the jobs, wewere open and honest.Lucas…”
“Lucas is up shit creek right now,” Jack announced.
He needed to calm down.This was a man who loved hisdaughter.This was a man who understood what it meant to be in the system.Heshould be able to talk to him.They had something in common.They both lovedOlivia.“Lucas understood.Sir, are you trying to tell me you’ve never hired ahand with a record?Because I happen to know that’s not true.You’ve oftentaken young men in and given them the stability they need to put the pastbehind them.”
“They’re not fucking my daughter.”
“So you’re okay with me fucking her but not my Dom?”Heneeded to use words Jack understood.His language.
Jack sighed and sat down, one big hand scrubbing over hishead.“Well, of course you’re in the lifestyle.”
“Is it so surprising that Olivia would want the kind ofrelationship she grew up admiring?”
“She never has until now,” Jack replied.
“She never met the right partners.I assure you that man yousent away would die for her.Tell me something.Did you approve of those twinsin Colorado?”
“It would have been easier, but she and Will didn’t have aspark, and I wasn’t surprised to find out Bobby is gay.They’re good for eachother but only in a friendship way.”
“How about Scott?”He was getting somewhere with this lineof questioning.That’s how he had to view it.He was questioning someone in atrial.Keane’s trial.Or maybe theirs.Their trial to see if they could be goodenough to belong in this family.He knew if he couldn’t win over her father,Olivia would never be happy.“You liked Scott, didn’t you?”
Jack sighed.“He seemed okay.I never thought he was the onefor Olivia, but he did his job well.”
“And Keane does his well.Ask Aidan.We didn’t lie.Please,Mr.Barnes.I assure you this is all a huge mistake.Keane would never putOlivia in a position where she could be hurt.He takes his place as her Domseriously.”
“He’s calling himself her Dom?”
