Page 13 of Wilderness Daddy

When I say that her eyes widen and she darts a fearful look in her father’s direction.

“No merger!” Takahashi slashes his hands in a sideways chopping motion. “Mr. Steed, I am greatly insulted. Your son is not the man you said he was. He has no honor.”

I’m about to tell him I have more honor in my pinky finger than he has in his entire body when my father shoots me a death glare.

“I’m sure this is just a shock,” my father says and I return his glower with one twice as sharp. This is bullshit. “Let’s not be hasty. Our family has golf brunch on Sundays at the club and we’d be delighted if you and your family would join us. We can discuss the union then. Give the kids some time together. Akari has been unwell so they haven’t been able to get to know each other.”

I narrow my eyes. My father uses the word ‘union’ rather than marriage and it gives me hope he doesn’t want this any more than I do. But if he does, he’s not the man I thought he was.

“We’re not kids,” I say and my father pats my back.

“Of course not,” he replies in a pacifying tone. My brows shoot up, anger growing inside me.

I turn to Akari. “How old are you?” I press my lips in annoyance when she looks to her father for approval. His one sharp nod has her answering.

“Twenty-two.”

“And I’ve got several years on that.” I gather a breath. “Not kids in any way.”

Mr. Takahashi looks at me and my jaw tightens so hard it creaks. I won’t make a scene but I definitely won’t be marrying into the Takahashi family!

Over. My. Dead. Body.

“No, you’re right. But to your parents, you’ll always be kids. And we want what’s best for you,” my father says, once again trying to mollify. I open my mouth to tell him that this ridiculous marriage scheme is not for the benefit of Akari or me. It’s to appease the asshole he wants to merge with. And that in itself is reason enough to call off this whole sham.

“We will come to brunch.” Takahashi nods, then grabs Akari by the arm and leaves. She looks back once, apology written all over her face but I look away, anger burning like a five-alarm fire inside me.

I’m thankful Grant and I rode together in his car, because if I had to be in a car with my father now I might blow an artery. I need time to calm the hell down before I confront the man who gave me life.

I shake my head at my father and head for the car. “Let’s go, Grant.”

* * *

It’s late when we pullin the driveway and Grant, wanting nothing to do with the shit storm about to hit hacienda Steed, drops me off. I don’t blame him as I grab my bag and storm to the house, ignoring my father following behind me.

“Please explain to me how on Earth you two decided this was a good idea?” I demand as my father and I enter the house. My father sighs and removes his overcoat.

“Keep your voice down, Landon, your mother is asleep.”

“Goddammit, Dad, you live in a five-thousand square foot house; she can’t hear a thing.”

“Landon!” My father, cheeks flushed, frowns at me. “Do not speak to me that way.” His shoulders slump and he looks older than his sixty years suddenly. “This wasn’t my idea. And I know it makes no sense in this day and age, but you work too hard. You never date and your mother and I worry about you. Maybe it was Takahashi that pushed it, but once I met her... Son, she’s good for you. You deserve to be happy. And I honestly believe you will be with Akari.” His eyes find mine and there is a sincerity in them that hits me in the gut like a sucker punch.

“Do you have any idea how crazy she made me at the retreat? She’s not the person you think. Trust me.” I chuckle humorlessly and roll my neck to ease the tension in it.

“Fine, but that doesn’t change the fact that we’ve got nothing left.” He shoves his hand through his thinning hair and closes his eyes. “Don’t tell your mother, but her care has eaten up everything we have.” He hangs his coat in the closet and shoves his hands in his pockets. “All our savings and you know how business has been in the last few years.”

“If you listened to my ideas...”

He cuts me off. “It’s too late, Landon!” His flare of frustrated temper is gone as quick as it came. “The merger is the only way. We can sell this place and move to a smaller house but that’s just a bandage on a severed limb. And I don’t want your mother to worry. You know stress worsens her condition.”

“But Dad, marriage?” I swallow hard, my heart pounding. “She’s a stranger. She’s a...” I clear my throat, “...not my type. Seriously, Dad, we’ll be miserable.” As much as I hate this whole situation, I can’t stop thinking of her. Especially now that I know the reason for her erratic behavior.

My father claps his hand on my shoulder. “You won’t be. In my gut I know she’s good for you whether you believe it or not. But if you don’t think so in a year, end it. Just give it that. Please. For your mother, for me, and for the wisdom I’ve garnered all these years in a happy marriage.” He shakes his head. “The only other option is for your mother to go into long-term care and we’ll lose everything—our retirement funds, everything.”

I believe in marriage—real marriage, for love, not convenience or necessity or even for comfort and certainly not for business. I would never put a ring on a woman’s finger for any other reason than love. I thought my father felt the same way, but as I’m about to say it my mother rolls her chair into the hallway.

“What did I do to deserve two handsome men calling at my door?” Her voice is soft, almost too low to hear. MS has taken that away too.

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