Page 22 of Wilderness Daddy

I stick my sandwich in a baggy and stare toward the doorway my mother left through.

Now I need time on the lake even more.

* * *

I pull into her drivewayand despite my awful mood, put a smile on my face. I didn’t catch a thing when I went fishing earlier and worse than that, I hit a rock and tore a hole in the bottom of my canoe.

I will get both Akari and me out of this and fast so she doesn’t get attached. I think my plan will work and once I have Steed back on top, Takahashi will be begging us to merge with him. And that’s when I’ll end this sham marriage and any marriage Takahashi tries to force on his daughter. Not because she needs a man to save her, but because it’s the right thing to do.

I chat with Akari’s parents as I wait for her to come downstairs. Mrs. Takahashi is a nice woman, but dotes on her husband too much for my liking. I hate men like him and I’m not a big fan of women like her either. She’s your wife, not your slave, I want to say, as Mrs. Takahashi meekly hands her husband a small glass of sherry and the book he wants off the shelf. I want to tell her to show him some backbone but I just smile. Insulting them will not help Akari.

“Here, Landon. I want you to look through our catalogue to acquaint yourself.”

I take the book he hands me and politely nod. He’s testing me, but I can handle any test he gives me. I am more than capable of running the businesses, Steed Outpost and Takahashi Sports, only I don’t give a damn about his sports store.

“I’d like to courier you some information and numbers gathered by our department heads. It’ll be good to have some fresh eyes. Can you write me up a proposal before you go? Your father says you have talent in marketing.”

I nod. “Of course. How soon can you have it to me?” I scoff internally. If my father thought I had talent, he’d give my ideas a chance and we could tell Takahashi to...

“I’ll have someone get it to your house in the morning.”

I nod again, this time distracted as Akari comes down the stairs.

I give her a genuine smile. Saved by the bratty beauty, I think as I take her by the hand and spin her around when she reaches the bottom.

“Beautiful as always, Akari,” I say. She’s gorgeous, but all business in her little black dress, blazer, and heels with simple pearls. I turn to say goodnight to her parents but pause when I see her father’s frown. He isn’t impressed. It makes me think of my mother’s words. A glance at Akari and I’m instantly protective. She’s hurt.

“Thank you, Landon,” she answers as her mother looks at her with a blush.

“What happened to the dress we picked out, dear?”

“Go change,” her father demands. “You think Landon is taking you out to have a business meeting? Dress like a lady!” He points to the stairs. Ire rises in me.

“Actually, Mr. Takahashi,” I say, looking firmly at the older man before giving Akari a soft smile. “Akari looks perfect for our first date. The pearls and loose hair say I like you, but the blazer over the little black dress says impress me if you want me to let my guard down.”

Takahashi looks at his daughter again, the corner of his mouth crinkling and his eyes just slightly narrowed before he looks back to me and gives a tight nod. “Not too late, Landon.”

“Yes, sir.” I give Mrs. Takahashi a peck on the cheek and wink at Akari. “Ready?”

She nods, her lips tight and we leave the house and the tension it holds behind. I’m a little shocked that this woman, who is well into her twenties, has a curfew, but I keep my mouth shut once again thinking of my mother’s observations and what I now know of the Takahashis’ harsh expectations of their daughter.

“You can drop me off after dinner. We don’t need to stay out until eleven.” I eye Akari as she speaks, noting the insecurity in her expression, although her words are pure snark.

I shrug as I open the truck door for her. She doesn’t argue this time. “I figured we might keep an open mind tonight. It’s possible we might enjoy each other’s company.”

She looks over her shoulder at me as she climbs into my truck. Her eyes, a beautiful shiny onyx, search mine. I can see she’s assessing me but for what? Seriousness? Sarcasm? My gut pulls with empathy for this girl. It makes sense, I decide as I look back to the house.

Jesus. I may have wanted to spank the attitude out of her since we met, but suddenly I want to hold her too. This girl makes my inner daddy dom come alive.

“Don’t hold your breath, Landon. I doubt that with every fiber of my being.”

I give her a smile. “I can be quite charming, you know.” As much as she infuriates me with her bitchiness I see this other side to her now and I’m incredibly intrigued. Akari Takahashi is broken and damn it if I don’t want to try to glue her back together.

She looks away. “I bet,” she mumbles.

At the restaurant Joanie, my brother’s ex, greets me with a hug. “Landon, it’s so good to see you.”

“Sunday dinner’s not the same without you.” I pull back to introduce her to Akari. “This is Akari Takahashi, my fiancée.”

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