Page 57 of Property of Anchor

I turned to Bert.“How’s the job going?”

He looked me in the eyes without turning.“I know about you and my daughter.”

That had punched me in the gut because I didn’t think Pearl had told him yet.

My jaw was set, ready for whatever he had to say to me.

He nodded slowly, his silence thick with meaning.Finally, he said, “My daughter makes her own decisions.But at the end of the day, I’m her family, and I don’t want anything to happen to her.”

“Nor do I, sir.”I shifted my respect.

There was that pause before he said, “We’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Have a good night,” I responded and watched him turn and walk inside.

Inside the haunted house, I re-centered myself as I passed into the musty light.I could hear Pearl’s hammer clink and tap as she finished off lids on paint cans.

Lost was there too, sitting on an overturned crate.

“Everything good today?”I asked.

Lost frowned.“Your ol’ lady put me to work, Anchor.”

I chuckled.“It’s good for you.You’d be bored all day watching paint dry if she didn’t give you something to do.”

He shot me a look.“I’m okay with being bored every now and then.I’m hoping tonight I can enjoy being bored.”

“I’ve got her tonight,” I told Lost.“You can take off.”

He nodded, heaved himself up, and headed out.“See you tomorrow, Prez.”

The moment the door clicked behind him, it was quiet again.

She looked up.Wearing cutoff denim shorts and a light blue shirt, elbow-length sleeves rolled, and a smear of paint on her knee.

I swallowed.“Putting my guys to work?”I asked, my voice softer than I intended.

Pearl dipped her head and tucked her hair behind her ear.“I mean… didn’t want him standing there all day doing nothing.Anyone can paint with direction.”

“Are you going to put me to work now?”I teased.

She shrugged slowly.“I can think of a thing or two I could… use you for.”

She’d said it with enough innocent banter, but her eyes widened when I lunged and pulled her into my arms.

She squealed, breathy and light, and I kissed her.Passion flared, close and desperate; our lips battled and melded, and her arms wrapped around my neck.When we pulled away, both of us were wheezing.

“I missed you.”Pearl’s voice shook in the humid air.

“I missed you too, doll,” I said, and brushed a stray lock from her face.

Her smile was so small, fragile, and I felt my chest tense all over again.

“Talked to your dad outside.”

Her shoulders stiffened.“What’d he say?”

I took her hand and led her toward the stairwell.“That he knows about us.Wants to protect you.”