Chapter 26
CHAPTER 26
L ana stretched. Every muscle in her body screamed in protest. She groaned and rubbed her eyes. God, she felt like death. The bed was cool beside her, telling her that Cal had gotten up long ago. She hated sleeping in. Especially today. Her family would be frantic to see her.
It had been after 2a.m. when they had finally fallen into bed. The statement had taken longer than she’d expected, but considering the circumstances, they’d had to be thorough.
The memory of her dad’s tired voice sounded in her head. Her stomach flipped over. She could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen her father cry. Last night, she’d been able to hear the tears in his voice. She had suggested going to see him after the statement, but he had insisted she get some rest.
His last words before hanging up echoed in her ears: “I’ll see you tomorrow, honey. And be sure to bring your friend.”
They had gone to bed right after the police had left, so she hadn’t mentioned it to Cal.
Oh God. Would Cal be up for meeting her dad? Was that something he even wanted to do? She unraveled the sheets from around her and made her way to the kitchen. Only one way to find out.
Cal greeted her with a steaming mug of coffee. His arm circled her shoulders. “You’re finally up. Did you sleep well?”
She nodded. “What time did you get up?”
“A few hours ago. I’ve already worked out and eaten. Ethan just left, he brought my truck over and picked up his. Can I get you something to eat?”
After her late snack last night and thinking about her chat with her father, she had lost her appetite.
“Not right now.” She leaned back against the counter and took a sip of the warm liquid, letting it awaken her soul.
Cal crossed his arms and leaned back against the opposite counter. He smiled at her. The lines around his face crinkled. “How are you feeling?”
She lifted a shoulder. “Like hell.”
He chuckled. “Well, you don’t look like it. But I can tell something is on your mind. What’s the matter, babe?”
Her insides tightened. He might not want to meet her father yet. If that was the case, she would have to accept it.
“Last night I told my dad I would go see him today.”
Cal’s eyes focused on hers. The light and laughter left like a cloud blocking out the sun. “I’m sure he can’t wait to see you. We can leave whenever you want.”
“Actually, I told him I would be there this morning. I hope that works for you.”
He shrugged. “I don’t have any plans. We can go as soon as you’re ready.”
“There’s something else.” She wet her lips and tucked her hair behind her ear. This was stupid. She shouldn’t be nervous. “He wants to meet you.”
Cal’s eyebrows rose. Other than that small hint of surprise, his expression didn’t change. He straightened away from the counter and filled his mug with what she assumed to be at least his third cup of coffee. “Sure. I was hoping to meet him today.”
Her shoulders relaxed. “Are you sure? I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable. He can be…intense.”
He glanced at her over his shoulder. His lips lifted in a smirk. “I can handle it.”
“But do you want to? I mean—”
He chuckled, turned around, and bent to press a kiss to her lips. “Stop making a big deal out of it, okay? Now, go get ready.” He swatted her butt, and she scurried in the direction of the bedroom, coffee in hand.
Her chest inflated with delight. He wasn’t scared or unwilling. Should she have expected anything less? Cal was the type of man to take on any situation. Why should meeting her father rattle him? In the bedroom, she grabbed a fresh towel and hung it beside the shower. She undressed and took the last gulp of her coffee. Her love and appreciation for Cal had just grown astronomically.
Less than an hour later, she was showered and dressed. She’d had a piece of toast before they left. Now, sitting in the truck, her stomach coiled in knots. She would have to explain everything to her father. The FBI knew all the details, so surely Edward knew, too. It wasn’t going to sit well with him.
Cal’s hand grabbed hers. “Would you relax? You’re acting like I’m being sentenced to the electric chair.”
She chewed her lip. “It’s going to be hard to explain what you do, and even harder for him to understand.”
“I’m sure your mom filled him in on some things. Don’t worry about it. I will handle the questions. He has every right to be leery and cautious. I would be, too. What’s the worst that could happen?”
“He could hate you.” She laughed. The brittle sound echoed in the truck. The sun beat through the window, warming the inside of the car. Cal slid his sunglasses on.
“You’re right, he could. But that’s the worst-case scenario. I can’t change my past, or who I am. But I love you, and the sooner he knows that, the sooner we can come to an understanding and set aside our differences.”
Her heart hung on the only words it cared to hear. Satisfaction settled in her belly. “I love you, too.”
His thumb brushed over her knuckles.
“It’s just weird for me. I haven’t brought any men home since college, and that didn’t go too well.”
“It will be fine.” Cal pulled off the interstate. They were minutes away from her house. Cal’s hand rested calmly on the steering wheel, his legs stretched out in front of him. He was so at ease. Seeing his calm demeanor lessened the tension in her body.
He pulled up to the gate, Lana gave him the code, and it swung open.
He parked in the circle drive and turned off the ignition. “Ready?”
She took a slow, steadying breath, nodded, and climbed out of the truck. Cal rounded the vehicle, his hand extended to her. Together they walked up the front steps. Her hand lifted to open the door. She hesitated. For the first time in her life, she had the urge to knock. Her hand closed over the cool metal. A breeze kicked up and rustled leaves across the stamped concrete steps.
Cal’s hand smoothed over her back. “You okay?”
She was being ridiculous. This was as much her home as it had always been. She nodded and swung the door open.
“Dad? I’m home.” She kicked her shoes off. The rustic beaten hardwood floors were rough beneath her sock-covered feet. Cal slid his shoes off and shut the door. A moment later, Edward emerged from his office off of the foyer.
The temples of his raven-dark hair sported gray streaks that hadn’t been there a week before. Dark bags shadowed his vibrant blue eyes. He’d always looked much younger than his sixty-one years. She couldn’t say the same now. His face softened on her. Tears shone in his eyes. Without hesitation, she raced to him and threw her arms around his neck. He’d lost weight. A choke sounded in his throat.
“I’m so happy you’re home, honey.”
She stepped out of his embrace and wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes. “I missed you, Dad. It’s been a hell of a week.”
He snorted. “You can say that again.”
Lana turned back to Cal, her hand looping around her dad’s arm. “Daddy, I want you to meet Cal Hart.” Introducing him as her “boyfriend” seemed too insignificant.
Edward’s shoulders straightened, and he extended his hand.
Cal stepped forward, his eyes sparking with interest. He shook his hand. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
“Likewise.” Her father’s clipped tone made her cringe. “Let’s have a seat in the family room.” He gestured for Lana to lead the way. Her hand dropped from her father’s arm, and instinctively she reached for Cal. His hand closed around hers reassuringly. Her spine stiffened. Edward’s hot gaze burned a hole through the back of her head.
Best he understood their relationship right off the bat. She led Cal down the hall and to the back of the house. The family room was one of three large sitting areas on the main level. Often they preferred this room, as it was off the kitchen and had a stunning view of the manicured backyard. A large pool and hot tub carved up the landscaping. Hidden from the main house’s view behind the pool house lay her private suite.
She sat on the oversized white leather couch, Cal took a seat next to her, and Edward sat in the wing-back suede chair adjacent to them.
Edward broke the silence. “First of all, I would like to apologize.” He tented his fingers in front of his chest. His tone was grave, his eyes heavy and dark. “Lana, honey, I never in a million years thought Grace was anything but who she had seemed. It’s all so unbelievable. I loved her very much, and I suppose that made me blind—”
“No, Dad. It’s not your fault. I didn’t see that coming, either.”
His lips thinned. He nodded slowly. “Why didn’t you tell me about the encounter with Tanner?” She shifted awkwardly in her seat. Cal squeezed her fingers.
“I didn’t want to upset you, and I thought I had handled it.” Her lips rolled in. “Did he know about Grace’s plan?” She shifted her gaze to include Cal.
Edward looked to Cal for the answer.
He cleared his throat. “The FBI is still trying to determine that, but it looks as though he didn’t have much to do with it.” Cal leaned forward.
“I’m unclear as to your role,” Edward directed to Cal. “Sonja told me you’re a ‘freelance security contractor,’ but I don’t quite understand what that is or how you got involved in this situation.” His tone was cool and professional. Her teeth bit into her lip. He was getting right to the guts of everything.
“To be honest with you, I was hired to kill Lana.”
Lana closed her eyes on an exhale. Good God, was he out of his mind?
Her father’s face hardened. His eyes turned to slate.
“Let me make it clear that that is not my line of work. The person who came to me with the job had very little knowledge of my profession”—he paused—“for which I’m grateful. I couldn’t stand back and let it happen, though. At the same time, it was obvious there was a lot at stake, and not knowing who was involved, I concluded that the best decision was to take her out of the situation and keep her safe until we figured out who was behind it.” His tone was calm and cool.
Lana watched her father carefully.
He stared at Cal, his gaze unwavering. “But you two had never met before. Didn’t it occur to you how terrified she would be?” Edward’s voice was steady, but Lana recognized the tempered anger beneath the calm.
Cal cleared his throat. “Of course that crossed my mind. But there weren’t any other options. In my experience, going to the police is not a safeguard. And as it turns out, Grace admitted to Lana that she has many police officers on her payroll. Had I filed a report, it would have blown up in my face, and someone else eventually would have been sent to do the job—and would have succeeded.”
Edward lifted an eyebrow. “I see.” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Sonja mentioned something about you having connections with the FBI?”
“That’s correct. A good friend of mine is an agent with the FBI. He assisted us through the process and did a lot of investigating to help.”
Edward’s silence cut through her like a knife. When he was quiet, his mind was working. Not a good sign.
“Cal saved my life, Daddy. On more than one occasion. Some of the men Grace had hired found us at a hotel we were staying at. They set the fire alarms off, and two men attacked us. One held a gun to my head. Cal shot him before he could shoot me.”
His hand squeezed hers. He smiled at her. Still, no sign of worry etched his eyes.
The blood drained from Edward’s face. His eyes shifted between her and Cal. “How is it you got into this line of work?”
Cal let go of her hand to lace his fingers together at his knees. “I was in the military and worked recon for several years. That’s where I met Ethan and Nate. Both of them helped to keep Lana safe and work on this investigation. After a while I realized I had a knack for contract work, and I began to freelance.”
Edward raised an eyebrow. “That’s dangerous work.”
Cal nodded. “It is. But I want you to know that I have Lana’s best interests at heart.” His fingers reached over to squeeze her knee. He turned his attention back to her father. “I will be retiring from my career.” He looked over at Lana and smiled. “I’ve always wanted to open a mixed martial arts training gym. I have a significant amount of experience and several belts in various arts of fighting.”
Edward nodded slowly. Lana bit her lip to hide her smile. Something like mixed martial arts was so foreign to her father. He turned his eyes to Lana and held her gaze. A small, tight smile hinted at the corners of his mouth. “I suppose you’re here to tell me that you’re moving out.”
She took a deep breath through her nose. She and Cal hadn’t really discussed their living arrangements. Cal’s hand reached for hers again. Its warmth gave her strength. Cal loved her. That was all that mattered.
She lifted her chin and squared her shoulders. “Yes, Dad. I’m moving out.” She looked at Cal as heat crept into her cheeks. He grinned at her. “I love him.”
Edward’s mouth opened and snapped shut. He scratched his jaw with the back of his knuckles. “Well, then. I suppose that’s settled.” He pressed his hands to his knees and stood. “Coffee, anyone?”
Cal stood and followed him to the kitchen.
She massaged her temples. What just happened? A weight lifted from her chest. She peered over her shoulder. As Edward fixed their coffees, Cal was answering something he’d asked about his time in the military.
Happiness flooded through her. All this time, she’d been so worried about Cal fitting into her world and being accepted. And she had been wrong. Her parents hadn’t judged him.
Relief washed over her like a warm shower. She didn’t need to hide or pretend to be someone she wasn’t. She didn’t have to choose between her family and the man she loved. It was over. The pain and fear of the past week wouldn’t disappear overnight. But she was on the mend, and excitement sent a flurry of warmth through her body. She was ready to start her new life with Cal.
He winked at her when she finally made her way to the kitchen. They enjoyed a coffee with her father, and then Cal walked her out to her suite to grab some of her belongings.
She sank the key her dad had given her into the lock and swung the door open. Cal looked around the small space as she flicked the lights on. “I won’t be long,” she said.
“Take your time.”
It was eerie being home. All her things remained untouched, unaffected by the changes that had shaken up her world. Cal took a seat on the floral-patterned couch. She disappeared into her room. Had it really been a week ago that Cal had kidnapped her? A smile touched her lips as she pulled her gym bag from the closet and began to fill it. She had put up such a fight in the beginning—and now she was moving in with him.
She opened her panty drawer. A thrill raced over her. She held up her sexiest pair of mauve panties. Cal would like these. And the matching bra. Having her own things, her own style, back was such a luxury.
She packed as many clothes as she could fit, then grabbed her personal items from the bathroom. She half-dragged the bag to the living room. Cal switched the TV off.
“All set?” He stood and took the bag from her hand. “Jesus, what did you pack—bricks?”
She giggled. “No. Just a few things to get me by for a while.” Slowly, she stepped closer to him. Her fingers twined with his T-shirt. “Are you sure you want me to move in?”
He laughed. His eyes twinkled at her mischievously. He circled his hands around her waist and pulled her against him. “Now you decided to ask?”
Her mouth hung open. “I–”
He tweaked her nose. “I’m teasing.” His eyes turned serious, but his grin remained. “I’m glad you knew that’s what I wanted. Your dad took everything really well.”
She rested her head against his chest. He pressed a kiss to her forehead. “I feel bad that he’ll be here all alone.”
Cal stiffened. “You want to stay?”
She lifted her chin to look at him. “No.”
He brushed her hair over her shoulder. “We’ll visit often, okay? We’re not far away at all.”
“I know. I’d like to see my mom today, too.”
“Absolutely.”
She pinched his abs. “Okay, let’s go.”
“Wait a minute.” His arm circled her waist, and he pulled her back in place. His fingers threaded into her hair as he pressed his lips to her mouth. She tightened her grip on his waist.
His tongue parted her teeth, and her toes curled. The world tilted. He lifted her in his arms, and her ankles locked at the small of his back.
Lana laughed. “Cal, we can’t do this here.”
He nuzzled her neck. “Let’s get home, then.”
She grinned down at him. Her teeth nipped her bottom lip. “That has a nice ring to it.” He lowered her to her feet. He lifted her bag, and she clung to his free hand. Together, they left her suite and got into his truck. The excitement of their future rippled through her.
She was going home.