Chapter 21
Chapter Twenty-One
Her father’s office was paneled in rich wood, with thick velvet drapes and antique furniture. An engagement portrait of Danica’s parents dominated the wall behind his desk.
William settled into his leather chair. He hadn’t said anything yet. But this was one of his favorite negotiating tactics. Silence, until the other side caved and rushed to fill it. Usually making an admission.
She never fell for it.
Danica resisted the urge to rub her eyes. She was exhausted after not sleeping well. She’d had nightmares again, and had used up much of her remaining energy today holding herself together.
If she’d fallen apart, Noah would’ve reassured her, but Danica had shown enough vulnerability in front of him already.
The more time she spent in Noah’s arms, the harder it would be to say goodbye.
William blinked first. “You didn’t notify Blake that you were ready to come home. He would’ve sent a car.”
“It didn’t seem necessary. It was easier for Noah to take me.”
Seeing her father’s tense interaction with Noah outside hadn’t helped her mood. Somehow, she’d imagined William could set aside old grudges for her benefit. But she’d been wrong.
William crossed his legs. “I was surprised that you spent so long with Noah Vandermeer. I assumed you were simply upset after your brush with those kidnappers. But now, it’s clear this connection between you and Noah is something more.”
“So what if it is? I haven’t made any comments about your liaisons.”
“I don’t have the faintest idea what you’re referring to.”
“Tori? I saw her here, in your office, just the other night. I don’t have a problem with it.” She sighed when he didn’t react. “Dad, I want to see you happy. It doesn’t have to be a secret.”
He paused, his expression carefully neutral. “That is not a subject I wish to discuss with my daughter.”
“But you feel a need to discuss my love life?”
“Danica, please don’t throw around the word ‘love.’ I happen to believe that word means something.
But you just showed up on the back of the man’s motorcycle.
You wanted to get my attention, and you’ve got it.
Is this a response to the stress you’ve been under?
A belated rebellion, since you didn’t have one as a teenager? ”
A defiant part of her was glad she’d irked her father. “Why would I need to rebel? I’m in charge of my own life, as far as I know. And Noah isn’t some neighbor boy in a leather jacket.”
She couldn’t bring herself to call him her “boyfriend.” The word seemed both too serious and too frivolous for this moment.
She didn’t actually believe her father had anything to do with those kidnapping attempts. But was he hiding things? Absolutely. She was sick of looking the other way.
Sick of secrets.
“No, you’re right,” her dad said. “Noah is a man with a history with this family. That’s what concerns me.”
“Noah did nothing wrong.”
Her dad grunted. “The scandal was Soren’s fault. I have no doubt of that. He brought shame to our family and to himself. But Noah should’ve come to me. I would have dealt with the issue quietly instead of in public.”
“So he failed some test of loyalty? Noah would never have agreed to cover up Soren’s mistakes.”
William spread his hands. “Exactly my point. It’s his character that’s the issue. I admire Noah’s accomplishments and his service. But we can’t trust his discretion.”
“We? Who I decide to date isn’t a group decision.”
“I beg to differ. In a family like ours, many things become a group decision. Especially when the acts of one threaten the many.”
“You’re talking like we have something to hide.”
“Doesn’t everyone?”
A drop of ice ran down her spine.
What else are you keeping from me? she wanted to demand.
But she’d never felt so wary of her own father.
He stood, rounded the desk, and pulled her into another hug.
Her dad was thinner than Danica had remembered. It had been a while since they’d embraced like this, especially twice in one day.
“I hate when we argue,” he said.
“So do I.”
“Do your father a favor. Stay home where I know you’re safe.”
“Fine, I’ll stay tonight. But Noah stays, too.”
He gave her a disappointed frown. At one time in her life, she’d have done anything to avoid that look.
“All right,” he said, “if you’re so infatuated. Get him out of your system. But I hope you’ll be careful, and that you’ll think of the Foster-Grant name, not just yourself.”