Chapter 10

Liam

After we eat breakfast together, I show Kayla around my house. She seems to view it like it's a mansion instead of a tiny cottage, in awe at what a neat freak I am.

"Hey, I work around dirty cars and motors all day. This is my, no, our sanctuary." I narrow my eyes. "Don't tell me you're a slob."

She knows I'm teasing and knows I'd love her even if she was. But the daunting task of facing her father later and getting more of her things is weighing on her. Worry is etched into her beautiful face, even under her bright smile. She shyly asks if she can make some room in the bedroom closet, and I leave her in there to go clean up the breakfast dishes so she can show me how to make chocolate chip cookies later.

I never thought I'd be so excited to bake cookies, but it's on par with winning the lottery. Even though I stayed up half the night working out my plan, I'm revitalized by Kayla's confession of love.

The last pan is drying in the rack when there's a loud knock at the door. I open it to find none other than the man who put the anxiety in my girl's eyes. Her father glares at me, stepping past me into the house without an invitation.

"Where is she?" he demands.

I don't glance at my closed bedroom door. Kayla can come out if she wants. I hold out my hand. "I'm Liam Chase. I don't think we've actually introduced ourselves yet."

Ignoring my hand, he glares around the living room and into the kitchen. "I'm not interested in knowing you. If Kayla's really not here, I'll get down to business."

"What business is that?" I don't like the look in his eyes one bit.

He pulls out a piece of paper and thrusts it at me, along with a check. "That's fifty thousand dollars, along with a contract you have to sign in order to accept it. You'll see the monthly payment is more than generous and will continue for at least the next two years. Until Kayla graduates from college or until she's engaged to someone I deem suitable."

I'm seething, my fists clenched. His self-satisfied face as he waves his bribe at me makes me see red.

"What happens if she still loves me after two years?" I ask coolly, pleased to see this shakes his confidence.

"She won't," he snaps. "Look at what I'm offering. You can expand your business to something that might actually be profitable. If you're inclined to be lazy, you can live well off my monthly allowance."

I still don't reach for his contract, and now I'm barely holding back from taking a swing. He's not only insulting Kayla, he's taking a shot at everything I've worked for. Despite wanting to shout and rip his head off, I speak in a low growl.

"You can take that contract and that check and shove them up your ass. Respectfully," I add, without an ounce of respect. "Kayla's an adult. You should consider letting her live how she wants, instead of forcing her to be something she's not, and do things she hates."

"How dare you tell me how to raise my daughter," he bellows, lunging toward me.

I step away and he stumbles, just as Kayla swings open the bedroom door. She's sobbing.

"Dad, how can you do this?"

My heart breaks for her and I hurry to her side. She leans into me as I wrap my arm around her. Her father goes pale with rage.

"Come home with me right now or lose everything," he warns. "You'll never see another dime from me."

"I never wanted your money," she chokes through her tears. "Just acceptance and support. Can't you let me try life on my own terms for once?"

"You'll fail," he says bitterly. "You don't know how hard it is without backing, without connections. I do—"

"That's right," she interrupts. "You made it on your own. Why do you think I can't? Do you think so little of me?"

He scowls, caught in his own trap. "This isn't what I have planned for you. Stop being childish and stubborn. You won't have a safety net. Your mother and I won't look kindly on you when you crawl back after he's bored of you. Or sooner once you get a taste of hard work and decide you don't like it."

I grip her tighter, and she looks up at me. Through her tears I see the love shining there. "Liam won't get bored of me."

"Damn right," I snarl.

She keeps going. "And I've never been afraid of hard work. I've done everything you ever asked and never enjoyed any of it. The future might be difficult, but I'll love every minute of it because it's what I want."

There's a moment of silence between them. Kayla pleading and her father looking like he might explode. Once more he waves the papers at me.

"Last chance for someone in this room to see reason."

"Once again, respectfully?" I say. "Fuck all the way off. Try giving your daughter what she needs from you. Not money, but unconditional love."

Kayla gasps as he storms out, slamming the door behind him. I pull her against my chest and wrap her tight in a hug. "I'm so sorry," I murmur into her hair.

After a moment, she looks up at me, a tremulous smile on her face. I kiss away her tears and her smile grows.

"Don't be. You stood up for me."

"For us," I correct. "I'm always going to do that."

"Is this really happening?" Her eyes are wide with wonder at all the possibilities ahead of us, then her brows knit together. "There's so much work to do. Should we start cleaning that apartment today? When do you think we can put it up for rent? I can probably get a job at the deli if your friend Debbie really needs help, and—"

I stop her with a kiss, tangling my fingers in her hair. Her body melts against mine and her hands clasp behind my neck. Our tongues tangle and our hearts pound, pressed close together. My cock twitches against her soft curves as she moans into my mouth, writhing against me.

"You're mine," I remind her, barely coming up for air before I claim her lips again. She answers with a sigh and wriggle, driving me wild.

When she's good and limp in my arms, I pull back, grinning down at her glazed eyes.

"We can start on the apartment tomorrow. Today we're celebrating our first day as an official couple."

She beams at me. "What do you want to do first?" she asks, glancing at the bedroom with a mischievous look.

I pick her up and carry her toward it, all thoughts of baking cookies forgotten for now. Everything is forgotten except the pure joy welling in my chest, and her trusting smile.

"The list is way too long, Kayla."

She nestles her head against my shoulder. "Good thing we have the rest of our lives."