Page 1 of Wilderness Daddy

Chapter One

Landon

I gulp my scotch and scowl around the room. The party is nothing like the usual Steed affair. I can’t decide if it’s the stiffness of the Takahashi family or the melancholy of the Steed employees. Or maybe it’s just me projecting. It’s only the first day of an all weekend retreat and I’ve never liked events like these but I despise this one.

The possible merger is the brainchild of my father. I have my own ideas for bringing Steed Wilderness Outpost back on top, but it seems my opinion doesn’t matter because my father has obviously made up his mind.

John Steed, third generation president and CEO of Steed Wilderness Outpost, has his arm around the back of Mr. Takahashi as they pose for a photo. I grit my teeth.

Takahashi Sporting Goods is nothing like Steed Wilderness Outpost and that’s not just because they’re originally from the east, although that doesn’t help. They’re an Ontario-based company catering to people who play sports. We provide equipment for hunters, anglers, hikers, campers, and survivalists. My vision for Steed Wilderness Outpost is ruined by this ridiculous merger.

I raise a hand to the bartender and she nods at me before ignoring the waiting line of patrons and immediately filling a glass with scotch for me. I wink as she puts it on a server’s tray and sends it to me.

“Landon, dude, have you seen all the hot ass around here? One of these ladies is coming back to my cabin tonight.” My younger brother, Grant, swivels his head to watch a group of ladies walking by. “Maybe more than one,” he says, shooting me a half grin. I shake my head.

Grant empties his whiskey glass in one gulp and sets it on the server’s tray as I grab my scotch. With glassy eyes and a lecherous look, he motions his chin at another group of women on the other side of the room. I gather a slow breath. In my current mood I can’t be bothered with women in general let alone stuffy Takahashi employees who think they’re better than everyone else. Just like their boss.

“I’ve got my eye on that tall one.” He nudges me with an elbow and I look skyward a moment. Grant may not want to admit it but I know he’s sweet on a short curvy brunette already and she’s not in this room. “That little one has been checking you out, bro. She looks like a tiny porcelain doll, but she won’t break on top.” His eyes slide to mine, his mouth curving in an even filthier grin as his lascivious chuckle assaults my ears. “I bet she’d climb you like a mountain.”

I drink from my glass to cover my distaste over his comment—his attitude. Who cares about the women in this room. We’re about to lose our company’s autonomy. The girl my brother refers to stands back with the others and yet still apart from them. She’s been quietly brooding all evening and more than a few times her ire’s been directed at me.

I can’t decide if her gloomy demeanor heightens or hinders her beauty. Not that I’m interested. It’s more of a general fascination. She’s not my type. My eyes sweep the room. None of the women here are. I like cute girls with sturdy figures that fill out their jeans and tees. Fun girls with saucy smiles, spicy wit, and sweet giggles. And girls that like getting messy outdoors and drinking out of a beer bottle. Not a girl that likes dressing up like a Barbie doll and prancing around shopping boutiques. And definitely not a delicately featured girl with large, brooding eyes that pull my attention just by glancing in my direction like some sort of siren.

Even though the woman isn’t lacking male attention, she pays them no mind. Melancholy weighs her down except when she looks to me, and then she’s irritated, maybe even downright pissed off. And once again, as her head turns to me the gloominess is replaced with a fire.

I narrow my eyes on her, assessing, taking another sip of my drink. Her beautiful but delicate features look oddly twisted in agitation. With her fists clenched at her sides and her pretty mouth taut in a tight scowl the only thing that shows sadness rather than fury are those large, dark onyx eyes. I wonder if I’m putting off the same vibe and that’s why we keep catching each other’s stare.

Mr. Takahashi sidles up next to the group and puts his arm at the little doll’s back. My father, there too, speaks to the girl. She bows to him and Dad gives Takahashi his megawatt smile. Disgust burns in me at my father’s woo-ery. That’s what his charm is, some sort of sorcery and when he turns it on someone, there’s no hope.

Kiss his ass, Father. Kiss his ass. Since it’s my father pursuing the Takahashis they have all the control and it irritates the hell out of me. Steed Wilderness Outpost is better on its own. I turn away before anyone can see my scowl deepen.

The doll with Takahashi sticks in my thoughts though so I swallow a liberal gulp of my drink. Why was my father so pleased to meet her? And why does she keep shooting me angry glares? And why the hell does she appear innocent and shy with others but then shows me a fierceness that belies that?

“Come on, Lan, stop pouting. So what if Dad wants this merger. Why not enjoy the freedom? More people running the show means less work, right? You work too much. You always have, even as a teenager. Time you relax, bro. Enjoy life.”

I shoot him a hard look and press my lips. My brother has always had an aversion to work. “You think Takahashi is going to respect us and our ideas? Or those sons of his?”

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