Page 4 of Wilderness Daddy

Akari turns to me and bows, although significantly less than she did to my father. The man watches her and eyes me. I wonder who he is. He’s closer to Takahashi’s age than hers so unlikely a lover, but the way he looks at her gives me a chill. I narrow my eyes on him, feeling protective suddenly.

“Breakfast meeting?” my father asks Takahashi, but I don’t hear the answer because my eyes are still on the strange older man who was never introduced. As they all leave, Takahashi speaks to him.

“Mr. Hattori, please escort Akari to her cabin.”

I wonder if he’s who she was running from and my hackles rise. He takes Akari by the elbow and smiles down at her, giving her a tug in the direction of the exit.

Hattori nods at Takahashi as he passes and then looks over his shoulder at me with a small tight smile. He’s short, although still taller than Akari, pudgy and balding, so definitely not a bodyguard.

“I’m heading to my cabin as well,” I say to my father, still watching Akari.

“She’s a lovely girl, Landon. Beautiful, intelligent, and sweet. Maybe you should offer to walk her.”

I only grunt in response.

The whole family is cracked. A controlling father, with a weird little Mr. Miyagi sidekick, a daughter who seems to hate me for no reason, a brother who looks like he might faint if someone talks to him too loudly, and a mother who watches her husband as if she needs permission to breathe. I shake my head and glance back at my father.

What the hell have you gotten us into?

“Landon? It’s early. You can’t be tired yet.” His words come out like accusations.

“I’ve got a headache and I need to call and check on Mom.” That shuts him up.

As I head through the lobby, Akari and her mother are off to the side in an alcove arguing while Takahashi speaks with a bellboy. Hattori hovers. Akari’s mother is clearly upset but I’m too far away to hear what’s being said. When Akari’s eyes search the room and land on mine, she stiffens.

She looks away quickly but not before I see her eyes shining with tears. Tears fall down her flawless, flushed cheeks at the exact moment I pass, making my gut fall. I don’t know why she’s angry or hurt but I do know I want to fix it.

I head toward them, hearing Akari say ‘that’s not why I went to University’ but Sara notices me and shoots her daughter a look that quiets her.

“Hello, ladies.”

“I’ll leave you two alone,” Sara says and moves away like a ghost.

“What’s going on?”

Her mouth curves into a snarl before she shoves away from the wall and rushes away out the door, apparently not interested in waiting for the club car or her escort. Hattori rushes after her.

I wait a few minutes before heading out after them. I don’t want to be around anyone either, but I’m sure as hell keeping an eye on Akari.

As soon as this stupid retreat is over, my father and I are going to have a long chat about this. I untie my tie, breathing in the crisp night air.

I shove a hand through my hair. I can’t let this merger happen.

* * *

My cabin is farthestfrom the lodge and a little more private. Still next to the other cabins but further around the lake. I’m satisfied Akari is safely in her cabin when Hattori passes me on his way back to the lodge, so I walk toward the lake instead of checking on her.

Mist rises off the water and a wolf howls from somewhere in the distance. The hoot of an owl follows. All of it helps placate me for the moment.

Each cabin has its own dock but mine has a small boat tied to it. I walk up and listen as the water laps gently against the boat. I plop down beside it, nudging it away from the dock.

“Watch it!” Surprised, I lean over to look in the boat. Akari’s lying on the bottom, her hair splayed fan-like around her.

“What are you doing out here? You okay?”

“Go away. I don’t want company, especially yours.” She fairly spits the last two words, making my brow shoot up. Long gone is the submissive girl. Then again after our encounter on the grounds, I knew that was just an act.

I rise, fighting the urge to teach her some manners. Instead, I issue a warning for her own good. “This lake is glacier fed. Be careful. You don’t want to fall in. Hypothermia is serious business.”

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