Page 31 of Lucky Shot
Dad’s smile is all pride. He likes her. Maybe I would too under different circumstances.
“I answered all her damn questions so you can stop yapping about doing the right thing.” I sit in one of the patio chairs. Dad leans back against the deck railing.
“That’s why you asked me to pick up Aidan.”
“Yeah. We went to MVP.”
“You could have at least taken her somewhere the food is edible.”
“It wasn’t a date,” I remind him. “And I like MVP.”
He makes a rumble of disapproval. “What made you change your mind about helping her?”
“It seemed like the quickest way to get rid of her.”
Dad stares at me a beat, so intently I have to resist squirming with unease, then his lips curl into a grin that stretches across his face. “She got under your skin, didn’t she?”
“No. She didn’t,” I protest too quickly. “I just felt bad. It isn’t her fault you went behind my back like you did.” It was guilt. Has to be. “And Travis threatened to help her if I wouldn’t.”
He would have done it too.
“Ha!” Dad’s laughter gets lost in another loud, ear-piercing chord from Aidan. “He was busting your chops, wasn’t he? I always liked that boy.”
“Yeah, well he’s pretty fond of you too. Maybe you should focus your matchmaking skills on him.”
“He doesn’t need my help.”
“But I do?”
He doesn’t respond, which I guess is all the answer I need. I’m not interested in my dad meddling in my love life. I date when I want and how I want and it’s none of his damn business.
“She is more Travis’s type than yours,” Dad says, staring over toward the cabin.
Jesus, since when did everyone start categorizing women as my type or not?
He looks back to me. “One question.”
“What’s that?”
“If you weren’t interested, why do you care if Travis helps her or not?”
“I don’t.”
Dad cocks his head to the side, silently calling my bluff. “Where’s she heading now? Back home?”
I hesitate and consider lying outright, but that would be admitting some sort of blame and it’s not my fault she’s headed to the roach-infested, sketchy as fuck hotel. I did warn her. “Hotel Fourteen.”
Dad’s brows rise and his mouth opens. Several seconds of silence stretch out between us before he pushes off the railing and steps forward. “She can’t stay there.”
“I told her it wasn’t a good idea, but she wouldn’t listen. She’s stubborn,” I grit out. “And it sounds like it’s only for a night or two anyway.”
“Why doesn’t she just stay at the cabin until she’s ready to leave town? She isn’t hurting anything.” He looks like he’s two seconds from marching over there and insisting she unload her bags and stay.
“She’s a grown woman and this was her choice.”
“Sure, after you made it very clear she isn’t welcome here.”
That guilt is back, prodding at my sternum. “She’ll be fine. Like you said, she’s a determined thing.”
