Page 87 of The Reluctant Siren
Natalie Dawson stood and frowned her husband’s way. “Weagreed that you’re risking losing your daughter. By we, I mean Ben and me.”
Lucas raised a hand. “I also agreed.”
Nat pointed a finger his way. “Did you fix things with Jacktonight?”
Lucas suddenly seemed fascinated by the trees around them.“I’ll be in the car.”
“Coward,” Chase muttered and then moved toward his daughter.“Harlow…”
She stood up and walked to the man she called Deranged Dadand threw her arms around him. “I love you, Dad. I wish you would trust me toknow what I want.”
A shudder went through Chase Dawson as he hugged hisdaughter tight. “I love you, too, baby girl. So fucking much. I’m going to bebetter. The last thing I want is to make your life harder. If you want thosetwo idiots over there, I’ll make sure it happens.”
Now, see, somehow he managed to make that sound like athreat. But given the fact that Jensen sometimes made poor choices, maybehaving a deranged Dawson around wasn’t such a bad idea.
Harlow pulled back with a laugh. “I think I can handle them,Dad.” She moved to her papa and hugged him, too. “Thank you for bringing Momand Uncle Lucas out here.”
Ben hugged his daughter. “You’re welcome. We’ll talk somemore in the morning. Your dad has already put in his request with the chef.”
Harlow was still smiling as she stepped back. “Niall is goodwith breakfast. Maybe we can sit down and talk this all out. Did Jensen fireUncle Lucas yet?”
“No.” Niall moved in. “But he is being stubborn.”
“Then we’ll work on him.” Harlow took his hand.
He brought it to his chest, placing it right over his heart.“It’s not going to fall apart, baby. I will do everything I can to make sure itdoesn’t.”
She leaned into him.
“Niall, I look forward to getting to know you.” Nat Dawsonwas a lovely woman who looked far too young to have two grown daughters. Maybeit was the pink hair or the vibrant smile.
This was the woman who hadn’t thought she deserved the loveshe was offered.
She did now.
Could Jensen someday smile like that? Look comfortable inhis own skin because he trusted his family?
He held her hand for a moment. “I look forward to it, too.”
She told Jensen the same thing, and Jensen was saying allthe right words.
“Come on, Cotton Candy,” Chase said, taking his wife’s hand.“You know you want to get to whatever passes for a hotel in this place so youcan yell at me.”
Nat gave her husband a grin. “Nah. I’m just going to pointout all the things that housekeeping might have missed, and that can be myrevenge.”
Chase’s eyes closed. “A proper revenge. The only thing worsethan public buffets? Public beds.”
Ben snorted. “Then you can sleep in the car and I’ll playout some hooker fantasies with our wife.”
“Papa,” Harlow protested.
Ben started to lead their wife away. “Nope. If you’re goingto talk about sex, then we’re free to as well. I’ll tell you all about whatyour dad and I are going to do to your mom.”
“I’ll be silent,” Harlow yelled out. She looked to him, afrown on her face. “He’s supposed to be the nice one.”
She was so freaking adorable. He was madly in love with her.And so scared they were about to lose Jensen. He needed to show Jensen thatthey were together. They were a team. If he could show Jensen how good it couldbe, maybe he would be more willing to listen in the morning.
“Princess, I think he just doesn’t want to listen to storiesabout our sex life,” Niall pointed out. “And I do not blame him.”
