Page 17 of Ruled Out

Jessie smiled as, finally, the clasp on my bra popped open, and I arched my back to give him the freedom to take it off, for him to see me for the first time.

“That’s the only way I plan on taking you, Sweetheart,” he rasped. “I can’t wait to see you. I’ve been thinking about this moment since the first day I saw you.”

I whimpered with need, “Then see me.”

“What in the ever-loving hell is going on?!”

Oh no.

No.

No.

NO!

I didn’t understand. Why was Dad home? He always played eighteen holes with his friend Mike Burrows on a Sunday—or at least when he was in town and not in Seattle, coaching the Scorpions.

Jessie flew away from me so fast that he almost hit the ceiling fan in the process. Backing away from me, from where I was still lying on the bed, he shook his head vigorously. “Graham, this isn’t what you think. I’m in … I mean, I care so m?—”

“Oh, I know what I see here all right. You trying to take advantage of my daughter!”

My dad strode over to Jessie, who was thankfully still fully dressed, and I quickly refastened the clasp on my bra and reached for my cami.

“I-I’m not trying to take advantage of anyone, let alone Mia,” Jessie replied, and his eyes flashed to mine for a split second.

“Don’t look at her. Don’t even think about her ever again. You disgust me, Callaghan. How many chances—how manylifelines—can I throw you? Hmm?! You’re just like your father, aren’t you? I should’ve listened to your former coach and cut you loose while I still could, before you made a play for my daughter.”

My dad took a step back and screwed his nose up. “I swear to God, I can smell booze on your breath.”

“Dad!” I futilely pleaded into the tense space. “Dad, you’ve got it all wrong. He’s my boyfriend.” I sat up on my bed and pulled my knees up to my chest, giving us a label I knew we didn’t officially have. “We’ve been seeing each other for a while.”

What I’d thought would pacify him only seemed to enrage my dad further.

“How long?” he roared.

“A while. Since September maybe.”

My dad’s head whipped back to Jessie, and he grabbed him by the throat. “You, my boy, are finished. You’d better hope there’s a team out there that’s willing to take your sorry ass because I am done with you. Done!”

My sobs were uncontrollable as I scurried off my bed and chased my dad through the living room. He still had Jessie pinned by the throat. I was sure he could fight back, but he didn’t. He let my dad lead him through the house and toward the front door. Away from me, from us.

“I don’t want you anywhere near my daughter, anywhere near my team, and I never want to see you again. Your agent will hear from me directly.”

Dad slammed the door in Jessie’s face and then turned back to me, fire still burning in his eyes.

“You don’t understand, Dad. It’s not like that. He lov?—”

“He loves no one but himself.” He cut me off. “Boys like him are brought up to survive and take what they can, when they can take it, and I’ll be goddamned if that includes my daughter.Tell me you haven’t been in the car with him after he’s been drinking. Tell me you aren’t that stupid.”

“He wouldn’t do that, Dad. He cares for me.”

Dad pointed behind him and toward the front door. “You keep hanging around him, and you’ll end up like your mother—dead and in some ditch.” He closed his eyes and blew out a long breath. “Have you slept with him?”

Tears started to fall from my eyes, and my voice cracked as I said, “That’s none of your business.”

Enraged, he took a step toward me. “Oh, it really is my business, Mia. You’re both my employees, and you are my daughter, living under my roof. Sneaking him back to your bedroom when you think I’m not around to catch you. So, I’ll ask again. Have you slept with my winger?”

“No!” I croaked out, embarrassment and anger breaking my voice. “No. He was waiting for me to be ready.”

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