The Lyon's Cub Caitlin (Lyon The Next Generation 1)

“Oh well, I guess we can save it as a birthday gift, sorry kid.” He hugged Caitie who looked like she was ready to cry. I didn’t even risk looking at Colt. Let him stew on that.

I’m pretty sure I’m breaking him down though he’s still putting up a fight. Maybe I should’ve had her cry that would get him. He can’t bear to see any of his girls cry. Too late, let’s carry on.

“Alright everyone, it’s time for dessert.” I herded everyone back towards the backyard like there wasn’t an overly expensive luxury car in the driveway that was about to be taken away and break my daughter’s heart. Once I explain everything to her later she’ll forgive me.

I’d asked for his help but I didn’t know he was going to get her a car that’s faster and way more expensive than mine, but he knows just where to hit Colt. It’s a dirty trick but then again Colton Lyon doesn’t play fair.

I’ve been plotting and scheming for months because I knew he was going to hold out again this year. I’m not doing this just so Caitlin could run off and be with Todd, the girl’s a well-rounded, extremely bright child, she’s also my firstborn. If I don’t set the precedent with her I’m afraid the other four are going to have a hell of a time dealing with daddy when their time comes.

I know my husband loves his daughters and would protect them to the grave, but the truth is, Colt is stuck in the seventeenth century when it comes to raising girls. He even treats me that way, with that old world mentality of his, but I’ve grown use to it. My kids are from a whole other era and they see things different.

If Colt keeps it up he’s going to lose her, something I fear to my soul. But nothing I do or say seems to get through to him. So I have to pull out all the stops, I have to get him to see her as the mature young lady she is instead of the little girl in pigtails who use to follow her daddy around everywhere.

TODD

Oh shit! I wanted to tell her what I suspected was going on but didn’t dare. She looked so crestfallen though that I came very damn close to doing something stupid, like asking her mom what she thought she was doing.

Since Cady was asleep I passed her to one of the grandmothers to take up to the nursery so I could console my girl who looked like her heart was breaking. By the time I came back from passing the baby off she was off to the side talking to her mom.

That asshole Davey came over to stand next to me. “She’s pretty bummed huh.” I gave him a look which he missed since he was looking at my woman. “You hate me don’t you?”

“I don’t know you, but I do know if you don’t stop looking at her like that you’re going to lose your fucking vision.” I started to walk away.

“Hey, it’s not what you think.” I looked back at him to hear what lie he was going to tell me now. “I have eyes!” I had to fold my fists to keep from plowing them into his stupid face. Asshole had the nerve to grin at me.

“Hey, you can’t blame me, she’s the most beautiful girl here.” I took a step towards him, forgetting that we were surrounded by people, this fucker is about to go down.

“But…I know she’s yours, she told me so the first time we met. Now, she’s no different than my sister Susie.”

“If that’s the case southern boy, stop looking at her like you’re imagining her naked.” His eyes widened and he looked around. “Dude, don’t say that shit out loud, her dad would bury me out here.” He looked like he really believed that.

“Yeah well you keep that shit up and he won’t get the chance…I’ll do it.” He grinned that sappy grin I’d seen all day long but this time I didn’t feel like wiping it off his face. He said she’d told him she was mine the first time they met, I no longer have the urge to pound his ass into dust, much.

“So, you work with Mancini, that’s cool. It took me almost two years before my brothers would let me help out. Before that they’d only let me ride herd on my sisters in law.”

“That means they must really trust you.” Life is too freaking weird. Two seconds ago I was ready to skin this guy like a buck.

“What do you mean?”

“Do you see how they are with their women? You think if they didn’t trust you that they would’ve let you anywhere near them, let alone let you watch over them?” His expression said that he’d never given it much thought.