Page 89 of Taming Grumpy Dr. Beast

Chapter Twenty-Six

Lily

The sights and soundsof the carnival permeated the air. I hadn’t been to one in years, but the excited shouts of glee from children echoing all around us were the same as I remembered.

“What is this I hear about your father coming to stay with us?” Angela asked as we walked down the row of tents housing handmade items from local artisans.

We’d been told to go for a walk when Jaxon and Paul decided to accompany seven-year-old Davie on the rides at the other end of the fairway. Not being a fan of thrill rides, Angela and I were happy to let the boys do their thing.

“It’s a terrible idea, isn’t it?” I feared what everyone would think about Dad staying with us. Not waiting for Angela to reply, I blurted out, “He’s not well and requires a lot of care. I should just tell Jaxon no.”

“Lily, that’s not what I was getting at. You’ll have medical staff there to help with him.”

“Yes, but he’s not always the easiest patient and could drive you all crazy.” I wrung my hands together.

“Did you forget who I work for?” she asked, raising one brow in a knowing smirk.

I snort-giggled. “True. Although, he’s really just a big softie.”

“He can be, but more often than not, he can be an ass.” She smiled to soften her words. “And I’ll always love him like he’s my own.”

“Why does he still call you Ms. Ketill, then? I don’t get it.”

“I’ve been around since he was a child, and back then I reinforced proper manners and addressing adults with formality. It stuck.” She waved her hand around. “But enough about me. I was asking about you and your father.”

My stomach tightened. “I don’t know what to do. It’s incredibly generous of Jaxon.”

“It is. And we both know he can afford it.” She gave me a side-eyed glance.

“I know, but—”

She abruptly stopped. “What are you afraid of, Lily?”

Saying the words out loud to someone else was harder than I thought it’d be. “I don’t want him to regret it later.”

Angela looped her arm through mine and continued walking. “Have you talked to him about this?”

“I have. I told him I don’t want him to lump me in with the women who wanted him for his money. And if it might remotely happen, I’d rather not accept his help at all.”

“I get it.” Her voice gentled. “I’ve known him a long time, and I’ve never seen him let his walls down like he does with you. Too often, I think his gruffness is to hide that scared little boy who thinks he’s never going to be good enough. So he pushes people away before they can get too close.”

Jaxon was worthy of love. Fury simmered in my gut. Damn the people in his life that had taught him to expect less. “Yeah, he’s pretty good at that.”

“It’s true.” Angela paused. “He’s never offered to help someone like this. He cares about you Lily, and by extension, your father. Even if things don’t work out between you, I don’t think he’ll ever regret letting your father stay with us.”