After our first glass of wine, I feel her relax. We are in our own world, with only the waiter appearing briefly to refill our glasses and bring our next course. I’m trying to talk Lia into splitting dessert with me when someone clears their throat, bringing both of our heads up. I stiffen in anger when I see Lee Jacks standing before us; there is no way that him being here is a coincidence. I was sure he’d had someone watching Lia, but now I’m certain. It fucking pisses me off after telling him he needed to give her time to recover before trying to spring her long-lost father on her. I know I’ll lose my shit if he tries to make any revelations to her tonight. I wasn’t lying to him when I said she wasn’t ready. After what happened earlier in the shower, I’m more certain than ever that she needs more time.
Lia looks at me apprehensively when I continue to sit woodenly, not acknowledging the other man. Finally, he steps forward with his hand extended and an amused expression on his face. Fucker. “Quinn, it’s good to see you again.”
Yeah, I just bet it is. I have little choice but to return his handshake, saying simply, “Jacks.” He makes a point to turn to Lia next, and my good manners won’t allow me to exclude her from the greeting. “Lia, this is Lee Jacks.” I turn back to the other man, narrowing my eyes before I add, “Lee, this is my girlfriend, Lia Adams.”
Two things happen when I finish the introduction. First, Lee takes Lia’s hand gently, surprising me with the level of emotion that seems to flit across his usually impassive face. Second, I think of how absurd it sounds for someone my age to be addressing the woman who lives with him as his ‘girlfriend.’ It seems so high school to me, but I’m not sure what a more appropriate word would be. I guess, truthfully, I wasn’t much older than a teenager the last time I had a woman in my life who qualified for a status other than one-night stand, or in Laurie’s case, more like a high-class hooker. Lia had been a bit angry over my description of Laurie’s former place in my life, but as I assured her, there was no comparison between the two. Lia might have had a tough time financially trying to put herself through school, but Laurie’s need to spend more money than she had on frivolous items to keep up with her high-society friends made her as different from Lia as night and day in my mind. That left Lia being the only woman to occupy a close place in my life since Cassie. So, yeah, I was treading water every day balancing my need to protect what is left of my heart with my overwhelming desire for the woman sitting next to me. I’d been fucking lost the first moment I met her, and the days that pass only make my desire to keep her in my life impossible to resist.
Lee makes no mention of the bandages on Lia’s nose as he says, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Lia. I believe we saw each other briefly at Lucian’s apartment a few days ago.” I wonder if she even remembers since she was still taking pain pills then, but she seems to recognize him.
“That’s right,” she answers shyly. “I remember seeing you in Luc’s office. I’m sorry I didn’t speak, but I wasn’t feeling well then.” I doubt that Lia notices, but I see Lee’s mouth tighten briefly before he relaxes. It’s obvious that Lia’s injuries bother him a great deal. I recall Max saying something about not knowing if Lee would be more interested in a daughter because she was family or a possible social problem for him if the knowledge fell into the wrong hands. Seeing his reaction to her tonight, I almost think it’s the first. Whatever the reason, he seems to feel something for her; trapping me into this informal meeting so he can be near her attests to that fact.
They both look at me when he continues to stand there, and I reluctantly indicate the other side of the table to him. “Would you like to join us for a moment?” I hope like hell that he’ll turn the invitation down, but he wastes no time seating himself opposite from us. I dart a quick glance at Lia and find her self-consciously rubbing the bandages over her nose as if trying to hide them from our unwanted guest. I shoot a glare at Lee, hoping he’ll get the message, but the bastard completely ignores me and turns his attention back to Lia…his daughter.
“So, Miss Adams, Lucian mentioned that you are in college. What is your major?” I feel the childish urge to kick Lee under the table. No doubt, he already knows the answer to the question he is asking.
We both turn to Lia and I have to give her credit; if she is surprised by his knowledge, she doesn’t let on. “I’m majoring in Business Administration.”
“And what type of position do you hope to obtain after graduation?” he continues to probe. I see Lia loosen up slightly because this is a comfort zone for her. She knows exactly what she wants to do and the passion comes through as she tells Lee about her desire to be a business analyst to help a company remain competitive by proposing ways to improve their structure, efficiency, and profits.
Dammit to Hell, if I wanted to lessen his growing obsession with her, then I should have steered this conversation another way, because Lia is glowing as she talks about her career goals and Lee looks like exactly what he is: a proud father. “That’s very impressive,” he praises when she’s finished. I can tell they aren’t just meaningless words to him, either. Hearing Lia detail her business knowledge to me the first time was the sexiest fucking thing I’d ever heard from a woman’s lips. I know Lee is blown away by her intelligence and drive, which comes across so clearly when she speaks. Even if he wasn’t her father, her little spiel would have wowed him, I have no doubt. He talks with her about his company and his real estate holdings. He also adds in the fact that I purchased my apartment from him. When he tells her, “I hope you’ll keep my company in mind when you graduate,” I decide I’ve had enough. When Lia finds out he’s her father, it’s going to be even worse that Lee and I sat here with her for an hour and didn’t tell her the truth. This needs to end—now.
I begin sliding from the booth, surprising Lia with the abruptness of the movement. When I’m standing, I throw some money on the check the server had dropped sometime during Lee’s visit and offer my hand to help her up. Lee stands before she reaches my side, raising a brow at my hasty departure. He knows he holds all of the cards here. When he’s ready, he’ll find a way to tell her, and there is damn little I’ll be able to do to stop him; tonight has proven that to me. “It was good to see you again, Lee,” I say as she slips under my arm.