Grant laughed. “I doubt it’d come to that.”
“You don’t know my daughter,” he said, laughing. “When she has her mind made up about someone or something, there is no talking her out of it. We could be caught in the fire with no help in sight.”
He knew it came from his ex-wife.
Elise was neglected by her mother. She’d had no good role model either and he wasn’t so sure he did that great of a job parenting the way he could have.
He tried and he knew Elise appreciated it.
“You have no idea why she seems to have an issue with Gabe?” Grant asked. “I find him extremely laid back and likable.”
“Me too,” he said. “He gets along great with Royce also. I’m not sure what the deal is. Maybe he’s too pretty for her.”
Grant laughed. “I thought that too, but I’d never say it to Jim. I think Gabe would be embarrassed.”
“I’m sure Gabe enjoys the way he looks more than most,” Richard said. He did worry if Gabe might have a reputation as a ladies man, but he’d never heard that.
Just because the guy had some model looks and had women looking at him when he walked down the street didn’t mean Gabe did anything with them. At least he hoped not.
He was putting his faith in the Fierces that they knew what they were doing with his daughter since they did so well with his son.
“That’s between him and his conscience,” he said.
Grant laughed. “Trust me, I get it. Not that I’ve got a daughter, but I’ve got two nieces. Jade and Ella are strong women capable of handling those things. From what I know of Elise, she’s one of those strong women too.”
“Very much so,” he said. “Maybe too strong at times. Which I’m sure is why she’s still single.”
He knew Elise just wanted to do her own thing in life.
She liked to call the shots. She liked to come and go when she wanted.
She didn’t like anyone to tell her what to do.
Most likely because Elise’s mother tried to put his daughter in a mold that got broken one too many times.
He’d never do that to Elise. Ever.
He let her have more freedom than maybe he should have, but she was a good kid. More misunderstood than anything, but she knew right from wrong and was respectful when it called for it.
Elise could stand her ground and hold her own and there wasn’t much more a man could want out of his daughter. At least what he could want.
“And that is what we are going to try to help you with,” Grant said. “We just have to figure this out on the down low.”
“Elise will be onto you in a hurry,” he said. “She knows everything that happened with Royce and everyone else. I actually thought you were working on Roni and Trent right now.”
“We are,” Grant said. “Not sure we are making much progress, but no one says we can’t start trying to throw a few chums in the water with your daughter.”
“Good lord, that is the best analogy because I’m positive Elise is going to come out like a shark and someone is going to end up bleeding. I just hope it’s not me.”
2
SMART ASS REPLIES AND RESPONSES
Gabe pulled his truck to a stop in the parking lot of the building his father told him about.
Just another project to add to his list of things to do.
But he couldn’t complain because the last one they had going with the Fierces was working out well.