Page 111 of Can't Win 'Em All
“I’m pretty sure you did that to yourself.” I crossed my arms over my chest and realized I could actually rest them on my stomach, like it was a small shelf or something. Well, that was kind of convenient. “It’s done, Dad. You should go.”
“It’s not done!” Dad exploded, causing me to jolt.
Rex closed the distance between them and had my father by the front of his shirt before I could even exhale. “It’s done,” he growled. The fierceness in his eyes should’ve been terrifying—and it probably was to Dad—but it turned me on. “You’re done. Don’t ever come back here.”
“Stop.” Dad slapped at Rex’s hand. “I’m your boss.”
“You’re nothing to me, and I’m not going to let you be anything to Ruby and our child. I’m sick of you. I’m sick of the games. I’m sick of the indifference. You have four amazing children, and you don’t care about any of them.”
“They sided with their mother!”
“Because their mother loves them,” Rex fired back. “Cora might not be perfect, but she tries, and that’s the thing that matters most. You never tried.”
“I can be better.” Dad threw me a desperate look as Rex maneuvered him toward the door. “I can be the father you want me to be.”
“No.” I shook my head. “I don’t even want you to be my father any longer. I just want to be a good mother.” My eyes locked with Rex’s, and I grinned. “I want to be a good partner, too.”
“You already are,” Rex assured me. He didn’t even have to flex to open the door with one hand and unceremoniously shove Dad through it with the other. Cal was waiting on the other side. “Show him to Cora’s office,” he instructed Cal. “They’re expecting him. From there, he’ll be removed from the property for good.”
Cal nodded. He was grim as he grabbed the back of Dad’s shirt. “Let’s go.”
“Wait!” Dad cast me one final look, a plea in his eyes. “I’m your father. You can’t do this to me.”
There was no hesitation when I responded. “It’s already done.”
The suite was silent as we waited for the door to fall shut. Then Rex started for me.
“He didn’t hurt you, did he?” he asked as he pulled me into his arms.
“No.” I shook my head. “There was a moment when I wondered if he could, but he didn’t. I think he’s too lazy even for that.”
Rex stroked his hand over my hair and rested his cheek against the top of my head. “I knew he was here. I almost panicked. Then I remembered that you’re the most capable person I know.”
I laughed. “And I didn’t panic because I knew you were coming. Although … I don’t see that snack you promised.”
“We’ll order room service.” He swayed back and forth, keeping me close. “You’re okay, right?”
“I’m better than okay. You’re here, so I’m perfect.” It was getting easier for me to say the things that needed to be said. I was never going to be Ryder Stone. I was going to be better than him, and that started with telling Rex how I felt. “Um … so … I have to tell you something.”
He pulled back, his eyes dark. “Do I have to kill your father?”
“No.” My smile was easy. “This is a good thing.”
He waited.
“I love you.” My voice was shaky, but the words were clear.
He broke out in a wide grin. “I love you too.”
“You do?”
“Of course I do.”
“Then how come you didn’t bring my snack?”
He sighed and pulled me back to him. “I’ll handle the snack. As for the love, you just wait. I’m going to show you how much I love you for the rest of our lives.”
That sounded like a pretty good deal to me.
