Page 31

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

JACK

A s I pull up outside the restaurant Dad booked for us, Kendra swivels toward me in the passenger seat, her jaw hanging open. “You realize this place doesn’t sell anything under two hundred dollars, right? Even the breadsticks require a remortgage.”

I shift into park and glance over her shoulder as I watch my dad and his brunette girlfriend walk through the entrance, thankfully not noticing us sitting in my truck. I guess he wouldn’t know what I drive.

“You’re telling me your dad and brother aren’t into fancy places like this?”

She shakes her head instantly and then twists her lips. “Hmm … Dad? Definitely no. We live on a farm in Ohio, and he keeps bees. Looking at our place and lifestyle, you wouldn’t know he earned millions during his career.” She chuckles. “But you’re right about Ollie. He’s a flashy bastard.”

I snort a laugh and lean across to run my fingers through her soft hair. “Are you wearing this down for me tonight? ”

She lifts a brow. “If I say yeah, will you buy my dinner so I don’t spend all that I’ve saved in rent on an entrée?”

I run my tongue across her bottom lip, and she gasps in surprise.

“You’re cute when you’re feisty. But for the sake of my inflating dick, can you be a good girl tonight and not give me backchat?”

She’s wearing the black dress she wore that first night in Lloyd’s, and that, combined with the knee-high leather boots and badass attitude she’s giving me, I’m about ready to blow in my pants. Judging by the way her skin pebbles over her bare arms, I conclude we’re both feeling similar.

On a wink, I release my hand from her hair and throw open my driver’s door, the cold December air hitting me straight in the face, bringing me down to reality as I round my truck and swing her door open.

“Are you nervous?” Kendra asks, clearly sensing my shift.

When she steps onto the sidewalk, I take her jacket from over her arm and wrap it around her shoulders, pulling the collar—and consequently her—toward me. I’m not nervous about seeing my dad, but I am over my girlfriend meeting him.

The wind swirls around us, whipping her hair around my face, her classic scent pulling me deeper under her spell.

“I don’t want you to go into tonight thinking he’s anything like Mum, Darcy, or Jon. Elliott Thompson is the kind of person you’ll hate. The only part of me that’s anxious about tonight is making sure you know I’m not the same person he is.”

She frowns, and I reach up and smooth my thumb over the crease forming between her brows.

Fuck, I hope she’s as crazy about me as I am her.

“And to answer your earlier question”—I interlace our fingers and walk toward the entrance as the doorman pushes it inward and we step into the warmth—“your dinner’s already covered. I only need one thing from you tonight. ”

“What’s that?” She shrugs off her jacket as the host makes their way over to us.

I lean down to whisper into the shell of her ear. “Those cute little gasps you make when you unravel for me later.”

“So, tell me, Kendra, do you see yourself playing across the pond one day?” Dad leans forward and refills our water glasses, and I watch as my girlfriend visibly stiffens from beside me.

We’ve only been in his company for fifteen minutes, but in that time, he’s managed to patronize his girlfriend, Debbie, on at least three separate occasions. The second she saw me, she flushed, and it was at that exact moment the pieces fell into place—she was his secretary back when he and Mum were still married. I remember her face from the days when he hauled me down to the office, trying to convince me that my future was in finance.

So far, all she’s done is take sips of her wine and smile sweetly at my dad while he focuses his attention on us.

“Maybe. I had an opportunity a year ago, but I didn’t take it at the time.” Kendra reaches into the middle of the table and plucks a breadstick from the shared pot.

“Not interested in following in your brother’s footsteps then, no?”

What the fuck is this? Quiz Kendra night?

I clear my throat and decide to bring Debbie into the conversation, given my dad has fuck all intention.

“How do you like New York, Debbie?”

From the corner of my vision, I watch as Kendra relaxes, the focus away from her and finally elsewhere.

Like a deer being hunted, Debbie startles and looks across at Dad .

Please tell me you aren’t seeking permission to speak.

She clears her throat and fidgets with the knife and fork in front of her, never meeting my eyes. “Well, we haven’t had much time for sightseeing. Your dad has been busy with work. But, yes, it’s really nice. Definitely a lot of people here.” She giggles nervously. “It really is the city that never sleeps?—”

Like she never existed, Dad cuts across her. “I have to say, I’m surprised you haven’t made more changes, given the success you’ve been enjoying, Jack.”

I wouldn’t describe Debbie as petite, but she loses several inches as I watch her shrink back into her seat.

Fucking prick.

“Jack,” he repeats as I offer Kendra an apologetic smile.

I should’ve never brought her to meet him.

“What do you mean?” I finally answer as our first course is brought to the table.

Dad picks up his napkin and sets it across his knees. “That agent of yours—I’m not convinced he’s got your best intentions at heart.”

I bristle. My agent is the same guy who represented Jon throughout his career. He knows the NHL better than the layout of his house, but more than that, he cares about the fate of his clients.

Bracing my elbows on the table, I clasp my hands together and shake my head down at the untouched plate of food in front of me. This was never about seeing me or meeting my girl. I can’t say I ever thought it was, to be honest.

“He’s a good guy. Not everything centers around money.”

I swear Debbie gets smaller as she squirms at my dad’s brash approach. If his behavior surprises her, then she can’t know him all that well.

“So, passing up hundreds of thousands of dollars isn’t a problem for you?”

“What are you talking about? ”

Dad shrugs and takes a bite of his food. “I’m just wondering if there’s a cut in there somewhere for ex-client referrals.”

If it were just Dad and me tonight, this would signal the point where I get up and walk off. But for the sake of my girl and the woman my dad is supposed to care about, I fight with my rage.

“What do you do for a living, Debbie?” Kendra sits up straighter in her chair, dismissing my dad, giving him a taste of his own medicine.

Dad’s face twists with annoyance but mainly confusion.

Yeah, it’s official. I’m in love with her.

Despite the discomfort she’s clearly in, Debbie forces an appreciative smile. “I work for Elliott and his team. Mostly, I work in admin, but I’m training as a stockbroker. I know I said I’ve not had much chance to sightsee and all, but actually, we’re here on business.”

Kendra takes a sip of water and nods. “I’ve heard there’s a lot involved in that kind of work. My cousin is a financial adviser back in Ohio. I remember him saying he spent longer training to be qualified than he did at college.”

Although my focus is solely on Kendra, I’m distracted when my dad shifts uncomfortably.

“Are you close with your cousin?” he asks.

Kendra nods innocently. She has no idea where this is going, but I’ve seen enough of it over the years to know exactly what his game is.

What this entire meal was geared around.

“Yeah, he’s family, but he works with Dad and my brother. Manages their finances and everything.”

A smirk traces his lips. It’s not smug or humored. It’s disappointed. And with that smirk goes my last shred of patience.

“That’s why we’re here, isn’t it?”

Dad lifts a casual shoulder, his voice completely even. “We’re here for a meal as family. ”

I shake my head, fire burning through my veins. “That’s why you came to New York, isn’t it?” I tip my head toward my girlfriend. “You’d found out I was dating Kendra Hart, daughter of an ex–pro footballer and sister of one of the biggest La Liga names.” I lean back in my chair and look up at the ceiling, throwing my napkin on the table in front of me. “You wanted me to switch agents, no doubt to someone who would sweeten the deal for you personally, and then move in on my girlfriend’s family.”

I lean forward and rest my elbows on the table as Dad’s face burns redder. He can’t look at me as his eyes dart around the restaurant.

“Trouble is, Kendra’s cousin beat you to it. You and I both know the hardest client conquest is when the current adviser is family.”

When I turn to Kendra, my heart hits the floor. All the blood has drained from her face.

“I’d say Jon has twisted your mind up something good, Jack,” he replies, his tone still as unaffected.

“Is that true?” Debbie looks at my dad, realization all over her face.

Clearing his throat, he raises a hand to attract a server. “I think we’re ready for our mains now.”

When Kendra pushes her seat back and stands, I’m not ashamed to admit that despite everything going on right now, I’m hard as fuck at the sight in front of me.

Kendra snatches up her bag and jacket and pins my dad with a glare. “And I think we’re ready to leave. Jack was absolutely right when he said I wouldn’t like you. I wouldn’t want you to do my family’s grocery shopping, let alone look after their finances. The only thing I want from you is to stay the hell away from me and my boyfriend.”

She turns on her heel and then back around to Debbie, not giving Dad a second glance. “It was nice to meet you, Debbie.” Kendra smiles sweetly at her. “I’m not sure we’ll ever meet again, so let me say this while I’ve still got the chance: know your worth because you can do so much better.”

As she marches toward the exit, I stand and consider heading straight after my girl, but instead, I pull out the keys to my truck and unlock it through the window.

“Quite the firecracker you have there, son.”

“Fucking amazing, isn’t she?” I repocket my key and down the remaining water in my glass, setting it back on the pristine white tablecloth.

I know this is likely the last I’ll see or speak to him in a very long time, but that thought alone still isn’t enough to make me want to look at him.

“I’m sure, at some point, you met my mum.” I focus my attention directly on Debbie. “Though I’m not sure if you were seeing my dad while he was still married.”

My dad motions to speak, but I hold up a hand, silencing him.

“To be honest, that doesn’t really matter, and I don’t particularly care. But my girl is right. Get out. Out of my dad’s firm and his grasp. Do your qualifications somewhere else and don’t look back. Take it from the son who’s spent years watching him manipulate everyone around him.”

I was convinced I wouldn’t, but I do. I look at him. I want him to see how serious these next few words are. “Tonight, you crossed a line I hadn’t known existed. No one messes with my girl or the people she loves. I never want to see you again. I’m ashamed to call you my dad.”

He scoffs in the condescending way he’s honed to perfection over the years. “You talk like things are serious between you both. I always thought you didn’t do serious.”

I smirk at his pathetic attempt to get a rise out of me. “You’re right. I’m not just serious about Kendra; I’m way past that, and I’ll crush anyone who tries to hurt her. Shit excuse for a father included.”