Page 3 of Wilderness Daddy

A few smacks on your dainty little doll ass.

Maybe I am an archaic ass for thinking it but I have never wanted to put someone in their place more. Nothing cures a hissy fit like a good old-fashioned spanking. But the last thing I need is the complication of dealing with a brat when the company I’ve dedicated my life to is being given away.

She opens her pouty mouth to answer but I cut her off by turning away. “Good luck with whatever your issues are. Try not to get eaten by anything out here. Bears and cougars come down from the mountains occasionally this time of year. They’re hungry in the spring.”

“Wait!” I can hear a hint of panic in her voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be such a bitch.”

“What’s done is done,” I say with a dismissive wave and continue to walk. The grass is wet and my socks are damp above my leather shoes and that’s what I concentrate on.

“Whatever,” she shouts at my back. I cringe at the word but ignore her, heading back to the hotel.

As I enter the lodge, the heavy air weighs on me. My brother has some girl pressed against the wall in the lobby and I shake my head. It’s not even someone from the party. It’s the bartender. My brow rises as she looks at me, my brother devouring her neck. Embarrassment deepens the flush on her cheeks.

Maybe if Takahashi saw Grant’s inappropriate behavior he’d be scandalized enough to end merger talks but that would piss off my father and his relationship with Grant is already strained. Golf and brunch with the family next Sunday would be unbearable then and it’s one of the family practices my mother enjoys too much to ruin.

Once I’m back in the ballroom my eyes automatically scan the room for my father, for Takahashi, and for anyone else I want to avoid. I don’t see either man until it’s too late.

“Landon, come meet Mr. Takahashi and his son, George.” My father grabs my arm, stopping me as I pass by. Aggravation stirs in me, but I check my emotions.

“Mr. Takahashi, this is my eldest son, Landon.”

The man examines me closely before nodding. He’s practically expressionless. With my own assessment I decide he’d kill at poker, except there’s no way this man would be that frivolous with his money.

“My son, George,” he says, waving his hand toward the man beside him. “I’m sure you’ll be working closely in the future.”

I shake George’s slight hand, surprised by Mr. Takahashi’s unaccented English. George looks alert but uncomfortable and his hand feels like a dead fish in my palm. I can tell he doesn’t want this merger either and I wonder if he might be an ally. Maybe the two of us can find a way to squelch the union.

“How are you, George? Enjoying the evening?” I thought Takahashi had two sons but it’s only George there. Perhaps that will be to my advantage if I can get Grant to man up.

“It’s a nice place. You’re gracious to host us.” He is taller than his father, close to six feet and while his features are also less obviously Japanese, they’re still fine. I realize why when Takahashi introduces his tall and elegant blonde wife. George looks more like his mother, although he still has straight jet-black hair and dark eyes.

“This is my wife, Sara.” Mr. Takahashi is speaking to me. I take his wife’s hand and finish the formality quickly. My father says hello as if they’re old friends with a kiss to her cheek.

“Where’s our daughter?” Takahashi asks his wife while looking around. So the second spawn is female, I think.

“There,” Mrs. Takahashi answers and points. I only catch the stern look on Mr. Takahashi’s face when I turn to see his daughter approaching. My eyes widen.

Of course the little doll is their daughter.

Miss Takahashi bows slightly to my father and me, but despite her submissive gesture, I still see the severity in her eyes.

“This is our daughter, Akari.” Mr. Takahashi looks at her a moment before looking back at us. “She just finished her degree at the Sauder School of Business at UBC.”

My father pipes up, “Ah, University of British Columbia. Rated number one in Mclean’s magazine for business.”

“Yes, and our Akari received her degree with honors,” Mrs. Takahashi says, smiling at her daughter.

“Hello, Mr. Steed and...” Akari pauses, swallowing hard. Her tongue darts out to lick her lip. The fiery look in her eye is doused. I furrow my brow at the pine needle in her hair.

“Landon,” I say, schooling my expression and taking her hand. Her eyes shifting to her father, she gives me a small smile, but I don’t miss the slight wrinkle of her nose.

Akari, who subtly moves behind her father, is a completely different person than the one who accused me of pawing her outside. I pin her with a hard look. She turns her head, but not before I see her blink back tears. If we were alone, I’d take her chin in my hand and bring her eyes back to mine, make her explain—but we’re not, and as annoyed as I am, my gut tightens at the thought of her in distress.

Grant’s right. My biggest weakness is my heart turning to pudding at the sight of tears.

“I think we’ll retire to our rooms.” Takahashi points to the exit, as if the two women don’t know where that is, and nods at my father. “Good night. Thank you again for hosting this party for us.”

“Yes, thank you for the warm welcome, Mr. Steed,” Akari says, once again bowing to my dad. He smiles kindly at her, absolutely smitten. Mrs. Takahashi says her goodnights as well but I’m too busy watching Akari to pay any real attention. Is she mad at me for the merger? Or am I just competition now? I’d been so intrigued by Akari that I hadn’t noticed the man hovering between her and Takahashi.

---