Smart girl.
But as she left, she choked out, “Ryker?”
My blood gelled.
I couldn’t see him since I was sitting in the chair behind the door, but my father could, and fire blazed in his green eyes.
“Not dating him? If you keep lying, Haven, I’ll add more rules to your list.” Father’s tone oozed with scorn. “Why is he here?”
I flew off the chair to find Vicki trying to tug the big, bad quarterback down the hall.
Inwardly, I laughed. Ryker wasn’t budging. But he was glaring at my father. That silent laugh died.
Ryker sauntered into the room. His biceps were bulging, his features were hard, and he had a scowl that would frighten a puppy.
Vicki mouthed, “Sorry.” Then she left. I couldn’t blame her. I wouldn’t hang around either, but if I didn’t want Ryker and my father to kill each other, then I had to stay.
I flattened my hand on Ryker’s chest, trying to guide him out the door. “I’ll call you later.”
Ryker sidestepped around me and went over to shake my father’s hand. “Senator Hale. Nice to see you again.” His tone was saturated with sugar.
The air crackled with the calm before the storm, and there was nothing but lightning sparking in Ryker’s gray eyes as he waited for my father to shake his hand.
But Father ignored him and pushed to his feet, almost meeting Ryker in height. “I can’t say the same.” He gathered his phone, buttoned his suit jacket, then regarded me. “Our conversation isn’t finished. I expect you to have your things packed. I’ll send a car to pick you up this weekend.”
I felt as though he’d slapped me in the face. “Dad, if you insist on making a big deal out of the university paper or Ryker and me, then I will have to take matters into my own hands.” I had my own gauntlet to throw down. He wasn’t getting away with his powerful threats, although I knew when push came to shove, he would win. He had the financial purse to pluck me from the university like I was a pawn in his game.
“Why are you such a dick?” Ryker asked, his voice as hard as the floor beneath his feet.
Father got nose to nose with Ryker. “I don’t appreciate you speaking to me that way, son.”
“I’m not your son.”
Tension as thick as an iceberg floated into the room.
“You’re right. You’re not. But let’s not forget that I support the sports program. I could have you removed from football.”
Crap!
Ryker balled his hands into fists, and evil etched into a grin that frightened me. “I bring in money for this university. Let’s not forget either that the team has won the last three games since my return. Also, let’s not forget that you fucked over my father and his company.”
Father and I fighting and threatening one another was one thing, but now that he was threatening Ryker’s livelihood, we were playing a whole new game. As much as I wanted to stick it to my father, I couldn’t let him ruin Ryker’s life. The big guy needed football, especially if he wanted to get drafted into the NFL.
I slid my petite frame in between the two large men, or I tried to and failed. So I grasped my father’s arm. “Daddy.” My tone sounded like I was ten again. “I’ll come home. No need to send a car either. I have mine.” I didn’t sound convincing. But I didn’t want Ryker to do something stupid to get benched or kicked off the team.
The red in my father’s cheeks started to fade. “Smart girl.” Then he kissed me on the forehead. “I’ll expect you no later than Sunday.”
So much for college life.
“Senator.” Ryker’s jaw hardened like steel. “Why not just come clean that you had a hand in slowing down the approval process for James Enterprises to get a certificate from the water board to operate again.”
“Would it matter? Would it change how I feel about you or you about me? What’s done is done. Now play football and stay away from my daughter.”
“I’m not staying away from Haven.” Ryker spat venom. “We’re friends. Get used to it.”
I gritted my teeth, bit my tongue, silently screamed with joy, and held my breath. The top was ready to blow off my father’s thick head of hair, but I was elated that Ryker wasn’t backing down.
Father’s jaw was stone. “As I said, stay away from my daughter.”
