Page 63 of Jag

Chapter Twenty-One

River

The sound of the doorbeing opened and closed had me patting under my eyes. I hadn’t wanted to explain the few tears that escaped, but as soon as the sound of the footsteps reached me, I knew who it was, and I wasn’t going to get out of it.

“There you are. Why’re you standing out here? It’s almost time.”

“Just needed a few minutes to myself, Dad.” I forced a smile when he stepped in front of me and hoped my mascara wasn’t smeared to give me away.

“Hey, what’s wrong, baby?”

I should’ve known there would be no getting around him; the man was too observant.

“Nothing, Dad. Please don’t make a big deal of it.”

“If you’re having second thou—”

“No... No. I’m not.”

“Damn fucking straight you’re not.” I jumped and whipped around at the voice, and if my dad hadn’t grabbed my arm, I would have fallen when my heel got caught in the grass.

“For fuck’s sake, would it kill you men to make a damn sound instead of sneaking up on people and scaring the living the crap out of them. I swear I’m going to sew bells on all your clothes. No, I’m going to sew a bell on your cut because you never go anywhere without it!”

Dom’s lips twitched, and he looked at my dad. When I glanced over my shoulder, he was fighting not to laugh, too.

“I’m glad you both find humor in the fact I almost fell.”

“Told you not to wear those ‘fuck me’ shoes, sweetheart. Not that I don’t appreciate them or plan to take advan—”

“Stop right there! I know we’ve had this discussion and if we haven’t, well let’s clear it up right now.” It was my turn to grin. “Don’t you laugh, little girl. I mean it. I don’t want, nor do I need, to hear about your sex life. Ever.”

“She’s carrying my kid. I know you aren’t so old you’ve forgotten how they’re made,” Dom said, and I elbowed him.

“Christ, son. I swear I’m going to end up shooting you next. And damn, I just got cleared from one investigation for shooting that piece of shit weasel. If I put a bullet in the soon-to-be son-in-law, I’m sure they will take the badge. Once, you can write off as a fluke. Twice, I’m sure would be considered premeditated. Plus, I don’t need the whole club after me. So maybe the two of you can give an old man a break.”

“Dad, eventually you are going to have to get over the whole,” I waved my hand around, “my daughter has sex phobia. I’m a grown woman.” At Dad’s glare, Dom lost the hold on his laughter. “Oh, come on, I’m going to be pushing a cantaloupe out of my hoo-haw. How are you going to handle that?”

“That’s it, I’m going inside. Young people haven’t a bit of damn respect for their elders. And I will handle the birth of my grandchild like I handled your birth—in the waiting area.”

I laughed as my dad headed for the door.

“And, River, nice try deflecting away from the tears you had in your eyes when I came out.”

I glared at my dad’s back as he opened the door.

“Enjoy your payback—maybe you’ll explain to Dom why you had them in the first place. And for Christ’s sake be careful in those shoes, my grandbaby doesn’t need to be jostled around because of the stilts,” he said, then let the door close behind him.

“Between your dad and mine with the kids, we might have to fight to spend time with our own children.”

When I faced Dom, he was staring at me, and the expression on his face said he was waiting for an explanation. Which I had every intention of avoiding.

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