Page 3 of Reckless Encore

“Our girls can’t be judged in the same way as Ethan, angel.” He activated the house alarm and pulled the door shut behind him. “That kid’s entire existence is karma for everything Mason has done in his life.”

Gabi started down the cement path leading to their car parked in the driveway. “Thatkidis entirely brilliant, and you know it.”

“That’s only half true.” He quickened his pace to keep up. “When it comes to music, yeah, I agree he’s doing okay. But with life in general? Fuck, no. He fails on every level. The brat is fifteen, looks like he’s twenty, and acts as if he’s twelve.”

“The way he acts is a given, considering his role models.”

“I’m a great role model, thank you very much.”

“Of course you are, sweetheart,” she drawled, reaching the car. She placed her beauty case in the trunk and gave him another smacking kiss on the lips. “You should show me just how much of a good role model you are this weekend. You could quit swearing. Or drinking. Or even show how much you trust your daughters by letting them run free-range for two days.”

He paused, unable to deny how he now enjoyed more than the occasional beer, and his swearing was constant, but… “I trust the girls.”

The outside world was the problem.

“Then you won’t mind sitting back and letting them do their own thing while we’re away, will you?”

He leaned to the side and glanced into the car, expecting to see his daughters riveted to the conversation, on the edge of their seats with excitement. Mouths wide. Eyes even wider.

Nope.

They had their earphones in. Completely oblivious.

“I can do that… At least until they do something idiotic. Then all bets are off.”

Gabi raised a brow. “That includes leaving the boys alone, too. Trusting the girls means you need to give them the ability to fight their own battles.”

He ground his molars. “Yep.”

“Perfect.” Her eyes glittered with contained laughter. “I think you’ll see a change in them once you loosen the leash.”

Doubtful. Very doubtful. But he could humor her when the weekend in question took place in a controlled environment.

The whole gang—ten adults, six kids—stayed in the same massive holiday home at Deep Creek Lake. An hour would rarely pass without him seeing or hearing what the girls were up to.

“And when they do something stupid, do I get a prize?”

Her face fell. “You want a prize for betting against your girls making the right decisions?”

He chuckled, pretending he didn’t want the potential accolades, when he totally did. He slammed the trunk closed and gave her a wink. “No, of course not.”

Bragging rights would have to be enough.

* * *

Leah dragged her gaze from the road and pulled her cell from her handbag. “Gabi sent me a message over an hour ago.”

“Yeah?” Ryan asked from the driver’s seat. “What did she say?”

She chanced a glance over her shoulder. Tyler sat with his head resting against the window, eyes closed, with his noise-cancelling headphones plastered to his ears.

“The girls are being a handful, and she wanted to know if Tyler had said anything about Sophie lately. I think she might be having a hard time at school.”

Ryan shot her a sideways look but didn’t say anything.

“What?” She frowned, trying to decipher his expression.

“I don’t think she’s having a hard time over school.”

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