Total pages in book: 118
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 120838 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 604(@200wpm)___ 483(@250wpm)___ 403(@300wpm)
“You are a Coddington,” Ned went on. “Heir to the title. She can’t keep you out of something you, in essence, own along with her.”
Blake said nothing.
Ned angrily tossed his napkin on the table, ground out, “Excuse me for a moment,” and stormed out of the room.
“Dad!” Blake called.
Ned didn’t stop.
“Excuse me,” Blake said, tossing her own napkin to the table, getting up and rushing after her father.
Dair didn’t hesitate to move even if his mother and sister exchanged an uncertain glance.
He caught up with her and walked beside her to what was clearly Ned’s office.
He had his phone to his ear.
Dair felt his family come up behind them (because, of course curiosity sent them following).
“Yes, it’s me,” Ned snarled into the phone. “Now, if you don’t want yourself embroiled in a massive lawsuit, you will cease packing Blake’s things this fucking instant. You don’t have the privilege of removing her from a family property. And if you fight back on this, the Norton estate will not fund your legal fees, which will be inconvenient for you, considering you ran through the settlement I gave you decades ago.”
He paused to listen, but he didn’t pause pacing with agitation, though he stopped when he spoke again.
“Oh yes, Helena, I am very familiar with the terms of the Norton title, and the entire British peerage system, for this very reason. You are precisely the kind of woman who would use any means necessary to act out against or harm our children to get your way or to strike back. And here you are, doing just that. But I’ll not have it. I believe, during our divorce, you learned not to go against me. I suggest you call that lesson up now. If Blake wants to move out, Blake can move out when she wishes to do so. What she will not do is be put out simply because you’re pissy that your lover shared his true feelings for you, and those are that you were nothing but an easy lay.”
Davi snorted.
Blake choked back a giggle.
Kenna whispered, “Oh my.”
Suddenly, Ned’s back shot straight.
There was a loaded pause before he said, “Do your worst.”
Then he hung up.
“Fuck,” he muttered before he dragged his fingers through his hair and turned around.
“You didn’t have to do that, Daddy,” Blake said.
And Christ, she called him daddy when she was being sweet.
It was cute.
But it was inconvenient.
Dair liked to be daddy.
“Though, that was epic,” she continued.
“I’ve been seeing a woman named Marlo for some time,” Ned said on a rush.
Blake’s frame froze solid.
Dair went to her and pressed his hand to her back.
“She means a great deal to me. Your mother knows. She also knows I haven’t told you girls. And she intends to share it with you. Your phone is probably ringing right now,” Ned finished.
“Why didn’t you tell us?” Blake asked in a small voice.
“Perhaps we should—” his mother started.
“We were building our family back up again, darling,” Ned said softly. “I wanted you girls to have my full attention.”
“She means a great deal to you?” Blake asked.
“Yes,” Ned pushed out. “A great deal.”
“And your daughter just got married and you didn’t invite her?” Blake’s tone was now sharp.
Oh hell.
“Lassie,” Dair murmured.
Her head whipped toward him. “Fuck that, Dair.” She returned to her father. “How did this Marlo feel about that?”
“It upset her,” Ned admitted.
“I’ll fucking bet!” Blake near on shouted.
“We’ll leave you to—” his mother tried again.
“Don’t shout at me, Blake,” Ned ordered. “As disappointed as Marlo was, I made the right decision. I put other things before my daughters their whole lives. That had to stop. You’re my priorities.”
“Well, newsflash, daddy,”—ah, Christ, that “daddy” wasn’t near as nice—“you are our priority too.” She slammed her hands on her hips and yelled, “Oh my God! You froze out your girlfriend from Alex’s wedding. You’re never going to come back from that!”
“Marlo understands,” Ned asserted.
“How long have you been seeing her?” Blake demanded.
“A while,” Ned hedged.
“How long?” Blake pushed.
“Over a year.”
Oh fuck.
“What?” Blake shrieked.
Dair pressed harder into her back.
“Blake—” Ned began.
“You’ve been seeing her over a year?” Blake asked.
“Yes,” Ned confirmed.
“So, is she upset or is she pissed?” Blake demanded.
“Pissed,” Ned confessed.
“As she should be. As am I!” Blake was being loud again. “Call her. Ask her to fly out immediately.”
“She works, darling,” Ned said. “She can’t drop everything and fly out here.”
“What does she do?”
“She’s the Executive Fashion Editor at Millicent.”
With what was wafting off Blake, Dair had the urge to step back.
Instead, he positioned behind her and curled his fingers around her hips in case she physically lost it.
“You’re telling me you’ve been keeping your girlfriend, the Executive Fashion Editor of the greatest fashion magazine ever, from me?” Blake asked in a deceptively quiet voice. Then she screeched, “Me?”
“It had to be the right time to tell you both,” Ned defended himself.