Page 49 of Until Daddy

Grasping Carissa’s hand, Barron took a long look at her. Jamison slid his hand to her waist, giving her a small squeeze.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Carissa.” He shook her hand and turned to Garrick, seeming to want to get down to business as quickly as possible. Always the businessman and never just the man.

“Mr. Croft, this is my girlfriend, Jade.” Pride carried through Garrick’s expression as he presented Jade. Jamison could see the unease in Jade’s smile, but knew it came from meeting his father and not from the possessive nature of Garrick’s hand on her or his grin. She enjoyed belonging to him. It didn’t frighten her or make her suspicious that the end might crawl around the corner any minute. Jamison could only wish Carissa would start to feel the same way.

“Lovely,” Barron said but barely glanced her over. “Come, let’s eat. I couldn’t wait anymore.”

“I did call,” Jamison stated as he pulled back a chair for Carissa. Once she was seated, he patted her shoulder and took the seat next to her.

“Yes, but I was already hungry.” Barron looked across the table at his son with a blank expression. If Jamison had been bringing along a slew of investors, the meal would have kept just fine in the kitchen until they arrived. As it was, he was merely bringing a friend and their girls. No one of true consequence, even if he was attempting to drag them into his newest project.

Plates appeared before them and dinner officially began. The conversation remained light. Small talk annoyed Jamison, but it was the only sort his father excelled at when it came to killing time before talking about business. It was his warm up before the big race.

“Everything was delicious,” Carissa complimented as she folded her napkin. She’d barely touched her chicken and the green beans still remained piled neatly beside it.

Jamison leaned over to her. “Eat your veggies, little girl.”

Her face reddened within a heartbeat and if they weren’t in mixed company, her shocked expression would have made him laugh. She looked ready to argue, but instead she replaced the napkin back on her lap and picked up her fork, stabbing a green bean and taking a bite out of it.

Jamison took a long sip from his water glass while giving her knee a squeeze beneath the table. A quick glance around the table confirmed he’d been discreet. He wouldn’t want to embarrass her. Although Garrick and Jade understood and accepted the dynamic he shared with Carissa, he wouldn’t want to have to explain any of it to his father—or worse, have his father questioning Carissa.

“Well, if we’re just about done… Boys, we can move to my office. I have some new numbers to show you; I think you’ll like them.”

“Oh, I think we can all move to the office if you want to, but I have some concerns about this project. Garrick and I visited the site and we found one of the buildings—the largest lot, in fact—is a women’s shelter.” Jamison draped his napkin over his plate.

“Yes, and they are giving us the most trouble. But they’ll sell. If the ladies wish to listen to us drivel on about work, of course they are free to join.”

Carissa’s head jerked to the side and Jamison placed his hand on her knee.

“Oh, we’ve sat through plenty of meetings at the hospital where we work, Mr. Croft. Jade and I can keep up just fine.” Carissa’s voice held steady, but Jamison could feel her body tensing beside him.

“Hospital? Are you both physicians, then?” Jamison knew that tone, knew what was coming next, and before he could intervene, Jade spoke up.

“Nurses. We are both nurses. We do the work doctors can’t.” The tension between doctors and nurses was well documented, and the firm thread in Jade’s voice confirmed that.

“Ah. Nurses.” Barron nodded and moved his eyes to meet Jamison’s.

A complete dismissal. Nurses held little value as they weren’t the top dog. And that meant everything to Barron Croft.

“They are both excellent nurses,” Jamison stated, meeting his father’s gaze. He wouldn’t allow him to make any attempt to make Carissa feel small. “In fact, that’s why we were late. Carissa was helping a little girl who had a fever.”

“I didn’t mean to imply her job isn’t important. Of course it is; we all need worker bees, don’t we?” Barron put on a flat smile and stood from his chair. “Let’s go to the office. It’s more comfortable, and there’s brandy in there.” He patted Jamison on the back as he walked past, heading out the door.

Garrick gave Jamison a look and shook his head.

“I know. I know.”

“He’s never going to change,” Garrick stated.

“Why would he? He seems like a perfectly personable and loving man.” Carissa rolled her eyes as she stepped ahead of Jamison.

“Watch your attitude, young lady,” he cautioned with a slap to her rump as they poured out into the hallway. She shot him a look over her shoulder, but it was more of contrition than of irritation.

When they walked into his father’s office, he was already pouring brandies. For the men. For the women, he poured a small glass of sherry.

Carissa and Jade thanked him and took seats near the door.

Considering the way Barron treated women, Jamison was astounded the man had managed to obtain four wives, much less keep them for as long as he had.

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