Page 12 of Protecting Clove (Loved by the SEAL #5)

T he days stretched on as she waited for news from Bud, Neo’s test results, and anything on Keith. She guessed no news was good news, though Neo was starting to climb the walls and wanted her results.

Classes at the culinary school were winding down, and soon, it would be summer, which meant a reduced load on her work but an increase in time spent with Neo.

She always looked forward to summers spent with her daughter.

This would be her first summer living close to a beach.

She hoped Neo wanted to spend time at the beach instead of just reading.

She hated pushing Neo into activities because, eventually, she would hate them, but she knew she needed Neo to do more than just sit at a desk.

Clove was in the bathroom when her phone rang. She thought the person hung up, but when she stepped into the main room, she saw Neo on the phone, her lips down in a frown.

“Sweetie, give me the phone.” Clove reached out, fear mingling with worry. Her hands shook as she reached out to take the phone.

Neo shook her head. “He said he is my father.”

Clove’s lips thinned as panic started working through her. “No, give me the phone.”

Her daughter was obstinate and did what she wanted to do sometimes.

This was one of those times, she guessed.

There had been times Neo had been curious about her father, but she’d never demanded the chance to get to know him.

Clove had kept the subject vague. Of course, Keith hadn’t tried to get in contact.

Now, with Keith calling, she would have to come up with a plan to negate his interference.

“Phone.” Her expression was set, giving Neo no chance to say she didn’t understand.

After a second hesitation, Neo handed over the phone and then made a face before she turned and headed to her room.

“Hello,” Clove said, hoping it really wasn’t Keith. Maybe it was just some random jerk.

“Clove. You need to give me custody of Neo.”

“No.”

“I don’t think you understand the power I have.”

“Fine. Stop calling.”

She ended the call and blocked his number. Now she would have to deal with questions from Neo and somehow get her to understand she couldn’t answer the phone. They’d talked about this, and she understood facts, but relationships and all that mess wasn’t her strong side.

Dealing with Keith was difficult. He wasn’t interested in having a relationship with Neo. It was always money that he wanted, but for him, a relationship with Neo wasn’t on his radar.