Page 80 of Primary Seduction
Harper looked at Trent. “Is that okay, Papa?”
Trent smiled at his daughter. “Absolutely. It’s your room now. Just remember that Jocelyn needs to sleep here too when she visits.” He gave Harper “the look” that every parent knows how to give their children.
She smiled. “Yes, Papa.”
Max got to work designing, making sure he included all the furniture that was currently in the room, and Trent and Harper began sorting through the boxes to see what she’d brought. They couldn’t do much proper unpacking until Max had finished.
Twenty minutes later, Max called them over again. “Okay, let me know what you think.” He spun the laptop around so they could both see it.
“Woah!” Harper’s eyebrows went into her hairline and her mouth dropped open.
“Great job. It looks brilliant. What do you think, Harper?” Trent asked.
They both jumped when Harper started crying.
“If you don’t like it…” Max was at a loss. He had no idea why she was crying. He watched as Trent enfolded her in his arms, making soothing noises to her.
When she calmed, she wiped her face with her hand, looked at Max and whispered, “I love it.” She took another deep breath. “No one has ever asked me what I wanted, except if it was for birthday or Christmas. Even…” She looked at Trent and bit her lip—like father like daughter. “Even when you divorced Mum. You didn’t ask what I wanted. I wanted to live with you.” She looked down at her hands.
Max’s heart broke. He looked at Trent and saw the same reflected in his eyes. “Oh, sweetheart,” Trent said, “I am so sorry. I honestly thought I was doing the best for you because she would be able to give you a lot more than I would’ve been able to. I’m sorry I didn’t ask what you wanted. I thought you’d say you wanted to stay with your mother, but I see now even if that was your answer, I should’ve asked.”
“It’s okay, it wasn’t so bad. She was hardly there to be honest.”
“That doesn’t make it any better, Harper. If I’d known what was going on, I would’ve sorted it sooner. I’m so sorry for everything that’s happened.”
“It’s not your fault, Papa. It’sherfault.” She glanced over at Max, then back to her father. “I’m so glad you have Max now. He is way better than Mum.”
It was Max’s turn to get teary, but he refrained from letting them fall, at least most of them. He smiled across at them both. “I’m glad to have your Dad. He means a lot to me. And so do you and Jocelyn. Even though I don’t know you well yet, I hope we can get better acquainted.”
Harper got up and gave Max a hug. “I’d love that.” She pulled back and looked back at the laptop. “And I love this. Thank you.”
“Okay then, let’s get to work.” Max jumped up from his perch and rested the laptop down. “First things first, let’s move the big stuff.”
Over the next hour, Trent and Max humped and dumped the furniture to where Max had advised on his designs. It took a bit of manoeuvring because they had to work around the boxes that were on Jocelyn’s bed, but once they’d got the majority in the right places, they were able to move those boxes, and then move Jocelyn’s bed. It all fitted perfectly and gave the girls more room.
Trent went to the lounge to call for pizza for dinner when they’d finished. Max and Harper got drinks ready for everyone, and Harper had received a phone call from Jocelyn saying she was on her way. They were chatting and laughing when Max’s phone rang. It was an unknown number.
“Hello?”
“Good evening, Mr Hughes. This is a courtesy phone call to let you know that your assailant has been found and dealt with. You will have no issues with him from this moment forward. Enjoy the rest of your evening.” Then the phone went dead.
Max looked at his phone, then pocketed it. He knew who it was who’d called. He also knew he wouldn’t be able to tell anyone it was them; it was how they worked. They looked after their members and took violence seriously. How was he going to explain it to Trent?
“Are you all right?” Trent’s voice cut through his thoughts.
Max looked at him. “Yeah. I’m fine.”
“You sure? You look a little…I don’t know, unsure?”
Max glanced across at Harper, who was doing a good job of pretending not to listen. Max dropped his voice to a whisper. “Can I talk to you about it later?”
Trent frowned at him but nodded. “All right.”
“Thanks.” Max leaned forward and kissed Trent, but they were interrupted by the doorbell. Trent pulled back with a tortured groan. “Always the same.” Max laughed.
Dinner was a lot lighter than it had been the last time they attempted it. There was laughter and smiles, which made up for the small uncertain glances Trent kept giving him. He knew once Jocelyn had gone back to the dorms and Harper had settled in bed, he would have to give Trent something to work with. He just wasn’t sure what.
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