CHAPTER TWELVE

CHAPTER TWELVE

BLAKE

I know we are getting close when she starts white-knuckling the steering wheel. I feel bad, but she needs to do this.

She pulls into a parking space and turns the car off. Passersby check us out as we sit in the car. I’m waiting for her to make the first move.

She takes a steadying breath. "Are you going in with me?" she asks while looking straight ahead.

"I won’t leave your side." I can see everything going through her mind.

She doesn’t say another word but gets out of the car, and I follow. She walks into the office.

There is a receptionist at the front desk. She’s a nice lady, an older woman who must have been working here for a while. She gives my Lily a sad look of understanding. I’m sure if she stayed in town, she would get that look all the time. I wonder if she knew what a jackass Ted is or if he fooled everybody in town. Lily stops in front of the desk.

"Is my dad around?"

"Yes, you can go right back, Lily," she replies.

"Thanks, Martha."

I notice Martha trying to figure out what’s going on with Lily showing up out of the blue. Plus, bringing a strange man with her, the gossip mill will be going wild with speculation. I love it. The news will get back to Ted.

I give Martha a smile but don’t say anything when I pass her.

I follow Lily down the hallway as people along the way pause to stare. She doesn’t stop until she comes to a closed door. She hesitates, then knocks. Doesn’t wait for an answer, opens the door, and we walk in.

The man sitting behind the desk is exactly how I pictured Lily’s dad to look. He is a tall, distinguished-looking man with gray running through his hair. There is a slight resemblance to her, but he’s an older, stern-looking guy. She must take after her mom more.

Mr. Chambers stands when we walk in.

"Lily?"

The guy actually looks worried.

"I’m okay, Dad. I came here to talk to you."

I stand next to her. I want her to know that she has my support.

Her dad looks at me with an unfriendly perusal. "Who is this, Lily?"

I knew he wouldn’t be happy seeing his daughter with someone else.

"This is Blake."

I shake Mr. Chambers’ hand. "Nice to meet you."

He gives me another look before addressing his daughter.

"Are you finally going to explain why you took off? Your mom had a hard time explaining things to our relatives and most of the town."

The man sits back down and glares at his daughter. Lily and I sit down across from him. I take her hand in mine. Her dad’s eyes narrow.

"I found out the night before my wedding that Ted had been seeing someone else. He’s been sleeping with this other person since we started dating. I’m sorry, but I couldn’t marry him."

I give Lily all my attention while she’s talking to her dad. After her explanation, my eyes swing back to her dad. The man appears stricken by the news. His complexion is lighter. I don’t think he had a clue about what was really going on.

"That bastard. How could he do that to you? He’s been acting heartbroken. He even asked for some time off. That lying peace of––"

He stops and looks over at Lily.

"You should have told me. I would have taken care of him."

"Thanks, Dad. I needed time to think everything through." She looks over at me.

"Mr. Chambers, Ted’s been bothering Lily. He thinks they can get back together, even though she never wants to see him again."

Her dad taps his finger on the desk, thinking. He looks back over at me. "How did you meet my daughter? I don’t think we’ve met before, but you look familiar."

"Sorry, Sir. I’m Blake Dalton. A good friend of your daughter’s."

I won’t elaborate any more. He doesn’t stop glaring at me. I’m sure he’s heard about me and my brothers.

Lily doesn’t want her dad to know about us being close, which I hate. But I understand with her just leaving her fiancé, she’s not ready to go public yet. I’ll give her a little time getting used to us. Not very long, though.

Her dad’s attention returns to her.

"Who is this other person Ted has been seeing?"

The man looks like he has indigestion every time he mentions his daughter’s ex. I bet it pisses him off that he worried for him and never suspected his future son-in-law was a dog.

"I’d rather not say. It doesn’t matter who he was with; it was just that he found someone else. I thought it was time to tell you the truth. I didn’t mean to make you or Mom upset with me. I just needed to think and figure things out."

As much as I hate Ted, I’m so grateful that he fucked up, meaning I got the girl. Another thing, I don’t care if her dad likes me or not; she is staying with me. The man must have been reading my thoughts because he turns toward me.

"Where do you fit into all of this?" He leans back and gives me a look like I better have the right answer.

"I want to make sure Lily is happy. I don’t plan on making any mistakes to cause her to leave me," I tell him straight out with a stare-down of my own.

Lily stands, forcing us to break our connection.

"Dad, is Mom home?"

She plans on talking to her today as well.

"Sorry, dear, but she went to visit her sister in Texas for a couple of days. Your sister went with her." Lily’s shoulders slump.

"I’ll talk to her when she gets back." She walks over to the window and looks out. She turns when her dad speaks.

"Dear, if you want, you can move back into the house. We could use some extra help here at the office, too, if you’re up for it." I expected her dad to try to get her to stay. I tense up, waiting for her response.

She walks over to him and gives him a hug.

"Thanks, Dad, but I think I’ll go back to the city with Blake."

There was no way I was going back without her. I didn’t know what I would have to do. Luckily, she wants to come home with me. I give her a little nod. Time to head back.

"Dad, take care. And if you could talk to Ted, I’d really appreciate it."

She gives her dad another hug before I take her hand and get her out of there. I know I will spend rest of the day with her. I didn’t know someone was following and things were going to get worse.