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“You son is a lovely young man.”

“Yeah, Keegan’s great. Thank Hamish again for me, please, for recommending this place.”

“Hamish is a great employee and able to build bridges. I’m lucky to have him working for me at the EAP company. He’s dedicated to community service. Pretty much all of my employees are.”

“That’s awesome.” I’d had access to employee assistance programs before, but had never availed myself of their services. Until my life started spinning out of control with Keegan being bullied.

“How are you doing? Missing Keegan in your daily life? I remember you saying your daughter was away from home for the first time as well.”

“Great memory.”

She shrugged one shoulder as if to deflect the compliment.

“Yes, Alaina’s hiking on Vancouver Island. Keegan hasn’t been apart from me before either. I’m a bit of a protective papa bear.”

“I can see how much you love them. Much as my mother loved me. I lost my father when I was young—to an industrial accident.”

“So you know about losing a parent.”

Allie nodded. “Just me and my mom. I was gutted when she died a few years ago. She never got to meet her grandchild or see the mansion I live in.” She rolled her eyes. “It’s a little much—but Smith’s right in that we need a level of security.”

I didn’t know how to answer. The threats in our family’s lives were the psychological ones made by Keegan’s bullies. “Yeah. Right.”

She turned her gaze to me. “I understand you helped us the other night.”

I cocked my head.

“You drove Jai to the hospital and then ensured he had his vehicle. That was helpful. Smith offered to come down, but Jai said he had things under control.”

“He did.”

“I know.” She offered an enigmatic smile.

Or what I saw as such.

“Jai spoke to me. About you.”

“Oh?”Shit, shit, shit.

“I won’t speak out of school, but he clearly likes you. A lot.”

“Well, I like him too.”

“Having a parent date an administrator isn’t really aboveboard.”

“I know, ma’am. Jai has scruples.”Except when his cock was in my mouth.

Probably the wrong thought.

“We can’t control, sometimes, how we feel about people. My husband and I had a very rocky start to our relationship. Took us a long time to find our footing. And it’s Allie. Not ma’am. That’s…not me.”

I offered a grin. “Okay, I can sort of see that about you.”

“I’m all for forthrightness. Smith and I had a long conversation with Jai. Once camp is over, he’s free to see whomever he wants. We’re just asking for you to hold off another five days.”

“That’s fair.”Except I’m going back to Vancouver. Maybe forever.

“Look…I’m friends with Paisley’s parents. She and her brother are coming to stay with us for a couple of days after camp’s over. Their parents got a chance for a Caribbean cruise at the last minute. Personally, I’m not going anywhere that hot in the middle of July, but I’m all about helping out. Since Keegan and Paisley are close, I was wondering if he might want to stay with us for a night as well? Perhaps we can meet your daughter as well? She’s welcome to stay as well. Kyle, Paisley’s brother, is her age and he’s wicked with pickle ball.”