There with You (Adair Family 2)

I grinned in understanding. Dad wasn’t really a movie guy. But he liked good action movies, and while Lachlan hadn’t branched out into the “serious” movies Brodan had, he had made great action flicks.

“Yeah, it’s weird. I still do a double take when I see a movie star in the village. It’s like we’re living in this weird bubble.”

Dad’s amusement suddenly died, and he turned to me. “You happy here?”

My stomach fluttered with uneasiness. “Like I said yesterday, I am very happy here, Dad.”

“I see a change in you. You seem … more comfortable in your skin.”

That was a good way to describe it. “I feel that way.”

Striding to me, he clutched my hands in his and squeezed, pain flashing across his features. “Robyn told me about that piece of shit Austin.”

Heart in my throat, I whispered, “Dad, not here.”

“I know.” He hauled me into a hug. “But I just wanted you to know how sorry I am that you didn’t think you could come to me.”

Tightening my arms around him, I shook my head against his chest. “Dad, no, please don’t think that. I didn’t tell anyone. It’s hard to explain … but I buried it. Okay? It was like my mind didn’t even want to know about it.”

“He came to the house again.”

I jerked out of his arms. “He what?”

Dad’s face was a mask of fury. “I got out my badge and escorted him to his car with a warning to stop harassing you. It took a lot not to fuck him up. And I didn’t tell him I knew about Vietnam because I don’t want to tip him off before you give a statement. And you are giving a statement.”

“Dad, you and I both know that statement won’t hold up in court.”

“I’m hunting down the witnesses. Desiree Jones and Liam Smith. With names like Smith and Jones, it hasn’t been easy. But we’ve got a few leads. Once we find them, we can get their statement to corroborate yours. But you need to make yours first.”

Sick at the thought but even more sick Austin had harassed my parents, I nodded. “Okay. After Christmas.”

Relief flooded Dad’s features. “Austin shows up at my house again, I’m arresting him.”

“What?”

We both turned to find Thane standing in the doorway, his angry gaze on me.

“Austin is back?”

Shit.

In all the chaos of the last few weeks, I’d forgotten to tell Thane about Austin’s renewed interest in me.

“Yes. I’m sorry I didn’t tell you. I was going to.”

“What has he been doing?” Thane stepped into the room, looking between me and Dad.

“Showing up at the house, asking for Regan.”

“And you didn’t tell me?” He glowered accusingly.

“Is there a reason you need to know about the private business of your employee?” Dad asked, slowly and suspiciously.

Thane took a visible breath, and I could see his mind working behind his eyes, figuring out how to cover his furious reaction to the news. “Because I should know if the woman looking after my children is a safety risk to them.”

Wow. Ouch. Even knowing he was just using that as an excuse hurt.

Dad grunted. “I would have thought it would matter because she’s your brother’s soon-to-be sister-in-law.”

“That too.”

“Yeah, right.” Dad cut me a look that told me he hadn’t bought a word of it. “I hope you two know what you’re doing.” He walked out of the room before I could reply.

Great. My dad also suspected there was more between Thane and me than we were letting on.

Were we really that bad at hiding it?

“You and I will talk later when the children are in bed.” Thane’s tone reminded me of the one he used with Eilidh and Lewis when he was displeased.

I opened my mouth to retort, but he was already marching away.

Wonderful.

Merry Christmas!

Attempting to shake off my concerns about Austin’s behavior, Dad’s suspicions, and Thane’s displeasure, I returned to the room and threw myself into helping Arro prepare dinner.

Everything kind of settled again as we sat around the large table, eating and talking while the Adairs got to know my parents. Thane sat between Eilidh and Lewis, and I was directly opposite, sitting beside Mom and Dad. Arro was beside Eilidh, and I was only semi-aware of their conversation about a sleepover for all of Eilidh’s dolls at her Aunt Arrochar’s when I heard Thane say determinedly, “Eilidh, no.”

His tone brought my head up as it cut through the conversations at the table.

Eilidh scowled at her father. “But I wanna!”

“Not tonight.”

“What’s not tonight?” I butted in.

Thane barely even spared me a glance, but Eilidh shouted across the table, “I wanna sleep over at Aunt Arro’s tonight with all my dollies!”

Her loudness killed all conversation.

“Not tonight, sweetie,” I replied. “It’s Christmas. You spend Christmas with your dad and brother.”

“Exactly. You’re in your own bed tonight,” Thane said, his tone brokering no argument.