Page 50 of Her Bossy Daddy

“He hasn’t exactly asked for my opinion on the whole situation,” I mentioned off-handedly.

“Right. Liam likes to handle things himself. I nearly fell out of my chair when he called me.” Raegan surveyed the kitchen, and then leaned against one of the counters. “I, em, don’t really chit-chat.”

“Oh.” We stared at each other for a moment. “Do you live nearby?”

“No, I practice law down in Virginia.” She glanced to the stove. “The water boils faster if you turn on the burner.”

“It’s been a stressful weekend. Actually, no, that’s not quite true. It’s been intense, but this past few weeks were stressful.” Heat crept up my face, and I adjusted the dial. Raegan intimidated me for some reason.

“Are you my brother’s girlfriend?”

“Girlfriend sounds so high school.”

“Well, are you fucking him?”

“What?”

“I told you I don’t chit-chat.” Raegan had the grace to look embarrassed. “I don’t know who you are. You answer my brother’s door in a skimpy outfit, and I’m not sure what to make of it.”

“Oh! Well, it’s just I didn’t know you were coming over. I can take off the outfit if it will make you more comfortable. Just give me a minute so I can change.”

“No, it’s all right.” Raegan shook her head with conviction.

“What are the two of you talking about?” Liam entered the kitchen, a perplexed look splashed across his features. “Spill it.”

“I’m going to get dressed,” I mumbled, and then dashed up the steps, not bothering to think how my ass looked on the way up.

* * *

Liam

I watched as Lacey excused herself from the kitchen, and she rushed off. Raegan could be formidable in a courtroom, but she wasn’t typically tough as nails when someone first met her. “What’s this all about?”

“I’m here,” she shrugged. “I should have called first.”

“Yeah, but don’t worry about it.” I reached out to my sister and hugged her. To my surprise, she hugged back. We had some rough patches in our lives, but it had been almost six years since I’d seen her in person. “Thank you for coming up here.”

“I made your guest uncomfortable.” Raegan pulled away first. “I didn’t mean to. She just, em, well, her outfit sort of threw me a bit.”

“Pajamas threw you?” I smiled. “Lacey is very special to me. We’ve had a bit of an intense weekend. We started dating online a few years ago. After I relocated to New York, I became her boss. It wasn’t known, we never disclosed our places of work but it’s been a bit of a learning curve for the two of us.”

“Are you sure no one knows? Could the harassment have something to do with your relationship?” She blinked wide eyes up at me. “I’m not saying it was Lacey, but if she ever gossiped to her gal pals?”

“Trust me, Lacey keeps our relationship far away from the office.” I pinched the bridge of my nose and released it. “She also dislikes Ms. Craven on a personal basis, so she would not be talking to her unless she had to.”

“Right. Well, does she always dress like that?”

“No, usually I order her to be naked.”

“Liam!” Rae smacked my arm. “What the bloody hell? I’m serious.”

“Who says I’m not?” I wondered if she read deeper into my meaning as her cheeks pinkened. Being the oldest sibling and only male, I stepped into a semi-parental role after our father died some eighteen years ago. Sometimes my actions included tough love, but I never pegged Raegan as having a submissive mindset. Not by a long shot. Unless the topic embarrassed her. Before I went away to college, no topic could embarrass her. She had always been the raunchiest woman at any table at the pub.

The last time we saw each other, I doubted our ability to ever put the past behind us. We didn’t take the chance to talk through it, though I may have interpreted it wrong. We were at a family wedding, but she couldn’t stay long since she was in her second year of law school. Anyhow, the window of time to hash it all out closed before I sought the opportunity. Since then it appeared something might have shifted in her mind. Maybe the two of us could get close again after my case was done with after all. Thankfully the teakettle whistled and she busied herself with making three cups.

“So, em, she likes that sort of thing?” she muttered while rifling through my cabinets, probably wanting something sweet. Rae found a jar of honey within two tries. Our mother put honey in everything, and she knew I’d have it in the house. “Being ordered about, right?”

“Jesus.” I dragged my hand along the scruff of my beard. “So what if she does?” I hadn’t expected to get into a deep conversation about my relationship with Lacey, but I promised her once I’d always be honest even if the topic were uncomfortable.

---