Page 102 of Rayna's Daddy

“Call me when you get settled, okay?” He brought my hand up to his lips and kissed it.

“Okay.” I was not going to cry. I reached out and soothed the crease between his eyes. “You stop being so grouchy, it will shorten your life.”

“I’ll remember that.” He pulled my hand down, leaned in, and kissed me. “Goodbye, my little Ninja.” He kissed me again.

“Bye Bye, Daddy.” I managed to get out over the lump in my throat.

Kyler kissed me on the cheek, and then abruptly stood and left.

CHAPTER27

Iran down the steps of the plane like a bomb was about to go off. I didn’t say goodbye to Tyler or the pilot. I couldn’t stay there any longer. The sadness in her eyes, broke my heart. It took everything in me to be strong for her. She was doing the right thing. It made perfect sense in my head, but in my heart, it was wrong. All logic of allowing her this time to do what she needed to do and make the decision herself all went out the door. All I felt was regret and the impending sense of doom returned with a vengeance, but this time the stakes were much higher than screwing up my business.

While I knew in my heart she was the one for me, I didn’t tell her. I didn’t mention my own plans for our future because she was my future. At a minimum, I should have taken her back to school myself.

I sat in my car, squeezing and releasing the steering wheel and watching the plane taxi down the runway. I had to figure something out because I would not survive a year without her. Hell, I wasn’t going to survive the next minute.

I started the car and drove back to The Quad. I left the car with the keys in the ignition and ignored the staff, who attempted to greet me. I jogged across the lobby and ran up three flights of stairs and barreled into Josh’s office without knocking.

“I can’t let her go.” I blinked and settled back on my heels. The two Asian gentlemen in matching black suits and white shirts and black ties stood up and buttoned their jackets.

“Mr. Grant.” The shorter one, greeted me with outstretched hands. “It’s good to see you.”

“Mr. Takashi.” I shook his hand and gave him a slight bow. He eyed my casual attire up and down. I smoothed down my shirt and shook the other gentlemen’s hand.

“You remember my second, Mr. Soto.” Mr. Takashi said.

“Yes, of course.” I stepped back toward the door.

“Please, Mr. Grant, it seems you have a pressing matter and our business with Mr. Burroughs is complete.” He bowed, his associate followed suit, and they scurried out the door.

I closed the door and shook my head. I collapsed into the chair opposite Josh’s desk and rubbed my beard.

“Well, that was professional.” Josh slunk off his suit jacket and hung it on the coat rack in the corner. “I didn’t think you were giving her up, just giving her some freedom.”

“Yeah, that was the idea.” I sat up.

“But” Josh sat on the edge of his desk.

“But I didn’t think I would miss her so much.” I wrung my hands together. “Or that she would look so sad when she left.”

“What did you think?” Josh chuckled. “Daddy/little relationship is not something easy to walk away from. I saw the way you were with each other . . . all in. It’s going to take a minute for it to settle back to normal.”

“I don’t want to settle back to normal.” I stood up.

“What happened to making sure she was with you because she wanted to be with you and not because she was forced to stay with you? What happened to giving her some freedom to decide what she really wants?” Josh stood and placed his hands on my shoulders. “What happened to letting it be her choice to come back?”

“What if she doesn’t come back?” I asked.

“Well, buddy.” He squeezed my shoulders. “I guess that’s a chance you are just going to have to take.”

His hands dropped to his sides. He shoved them in his pocket and winked at me.

He was right. I had thought this out, and it was the right thing to do. Give her some time and space and the opportunity to make the decision to be with me on her own. She knows how I feel about her. If she wants to come back, she can and if I must wait a few months or God forbid a year for her to come back, then fuck it. I’ll wait.

Right?!?!?!

“Fuck, that.” I shook my head and pushed past Josh into the hallway. He followed close behind.

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