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“Aw, that’s adorable.”
“Who is this guy? Where does he work?” my dad asks curiously.
“No,” I say, pointing my fork at him. “There’s nothing going on between me and him. Retract your claws, Daddy.”
He beams at that. The conversation dies down and we finish our meal. I help Priya load the plates into the dishwasher and once we’re done, the three of us head into the living room.
“Alright, come on,” my dad says, leaning forward in his chair. He’s fond of a direct approach. He’s always saying that whatever problems we have, we bring them straight to him. “Lay it on us, darling. What’s wrong?”
Priya bumps her shoulder with mine at my side, a silent encouragement.
“I wouldn’t say something’s wrong, per se. I might just… need a lawyer.”
The both of them are momentarily silent at that. Then my dad chuckles.
“What did you do, baby? Kill someone?”
“What? No! But it’s nice to know you’d have my back if I did.” I grin.
“We’d bury the body for you if you needed us to, honey,” Priya adds supportively.
“I need the lawyer because I might be entering into a legal battle with Harrington Holdings.”
Dad’s eyes widen in surprise. “Why?”
“I had a visit from Sterling Harrington earlier today?—”
“Oh, yeah,” he interrupts. “I heard Sterling was back in town. How is he doing?”
I huff out a breath. “I couldn’t care less about how he’s doing, Dad. They want me to sell them my café. They’re looking to acquire the land my shop and the surrounding shops are on for some new development project.”
“Hmm,” he says thoughtfully. “That’s a tricky situation. And you have no interest in selling?”
I shake my head, “Absolutely not. And even if I did, I wouldn’t sell it to them.”
“The Harringtons aren’t bad people, sweetheart,” Dad says on a laugh. “I’m good friends with Sterling’s dad, actually. Although I haven’t seen him in years.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better or worse about the hell I’m about to raise on them?” I question.
My dad’s blue eyes narrow.
“Just kidding, Dad,” I mutter. “Maybe. It’s just Sterling Harrington really pissed me off. And I was already angry about that shopping mall and how it’s making things so bad for small businesses in town.”
“But you can’t blame Harrington Holdings for wanting to make the town better, sweetheart,” my dad offers.
“Sure I can,” I reply cheerfully. “At the very least, I can stop them from building whatever resort or golf course they plan to put on the land they acquire.”
“I don’t think you can stop them, honey. But you can delay them,” he says, eyes twinkling. “First, tell me what Sterling did to piss you off?”
“What didn’t he do? He was just really rude and arrogant, Dad. He was a jerk.”
“Sterling’s a good kid, though,” Priya interjects with a small smile. “I remember when they were little. Sterling would be at our house all the time. He practically ate dinner here every single night as a teenager. He and Carson were glued at the hip.”
“I’m sure he was the most adorable teenager,” I say sarcastically. “Now he’s a man intent on ruining my livelihood.”
Dad chuckles. “Sterling can be a little rough around the edges, from what I can remember. I blame that on him being raised mostly by Sebestian. His grandfather was especially hard on him.”
“Everyone in that house except Steven was hard on him,” Priya adds. “I can’t imagine how he’s feeling now with all the rumors. Steven was his only support in that house, and if it turns out that he’s not his real father…”