Page 56 of Silver Fox's Surprise Baby

EVAN

Forthelastfewweeks—in Kendall’s mission to take things slow—she has been living at my house and Zara’s, alternating between the two of us every few nights. Even though she agreed to come home, she thinks that the distance is good for us.

I’m getting more work done than I would if she was here, but I still miss her on the nights she’s not.

I hate going home to be alone.

Tonight is one of the nights that Kendall’s staying with me, which is definitely why I leave work an hour early to go home and see her.

As I drive home, my phone blows up with calls from my dad, but I ignore them. The purchase of the waterfront property went through and I start renovations within the next two weeks.

He’s been calling me to yell at me all day since he found out.

I sigh and run my hand through my hair, happy that I get to go home to Kendall instead of sitting around and taking more calls from him. I don’t know how much more of this I can deal with before I explode.

Having him hover around Tucker Realty the way he does is starting to interfere with business.

Last week, I found out that he had taken a meeting with a client and promised to sell their building within two weeks. The property is one that I never would have chosen to sell myself.

There is no value to it, beyond the sentimental aspect to the owner.

I don’t know what Dad was thinking, but I now have no choice but to deal with the ramifications. The contract has been signed and there’s no getting out of it.

Sooner or later, I might have to get a lawyer involved if Dad isn’t willing to step away. I don’t want to do that to my own father. Not unless there’s no other option left.

When I pull into the driveway, I try to release all of the stress my dad is causing. I park the car and roll my shoulders, drumming my fingers on the wheel along with the song until I no longer feel like I’m going to snap.

As soon as I’m in a better mood, I get out of the car and head to the house. But as I round the corner, I see my parents car parked just out of sight. Tension floods through my body in waves and I don’t know what I’m walking into.

My mother’s voice greets me the second I open the door. I can’t make out exactly what she’s saying—her voice is too soft—but I don’t trust it. Especially not after what happened the first time she paid Kendall a visit.

If she thinks that she’s going to get away with that shit again, she has another thing coming.

“Mom, Dad,” I say, walking into the kitchen and looking between the two of them. “What are you doing here?”

“Kendall, if you keep ignoring the sauce, it’s going to burn. You need to stir it and stop adding spices. Nobody wants a sauce that tastes too much like garlic,” Mom says, her voice shrill.

My mouth drops open as she storms around the island and leans over Kendall’s shoulder, looking at the sauce she’s making.

“I can’t believe you eat this.” Mom puts her hands on her hips and looks around the kitchen. “And look at this mess. I don’t know how you can call yourself a woman when you allow the place to be this messy.”

“Enough!” I say, my voice booming through the room as I look at Mom. “Leave her alone.”

Mom spins around and looks at me, her cheeks red and her eyes wide. Kendall glances at me over her shoulder and gives a slight shake of her head.

I know that she doesn’t want me to get in a fight with my parents, but I’m not going to let them sit here and treat her this way.

“Don’t you use that tone with your mother,” Dad says, standing up and pulling himself to his full height. “She is trying to teach Kendall how she should take care of your home.”

My eyebrows shoot up my forehead. “That’s not Kendall’s fucking job.”

“I thought it was as your house manager,” Mom says, smirking as she crosses her arms and looks at Kendall. “Unless she is a useless little gold digger like we all think she is.”

Kendall’s eyes water as she looks at me, but she holds her head a little higher and grabs the garlic salt, dumping more into the sauce.

“Insolent girl.” Dad shakes his head. “You really ought to do better. I already told you once that I could get a recommendation for you. Someone who might do their job the way they’re supposed to.”

“I thought I told you to stop adding garlic to that sauce?” Mom turns to scowl at Kendall.

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