14. Brian
14
brIAN
I sped down the highway at eighty miles an hour en route from Boston to Connecticut, keeping up with traffic as dark clouds skated across the sky. A late snowstorm was on the horizon, which wasn’t unusual for March in New England.
I laughed at how I was going through a storm of my own. I’d officially only moved into my condo on Monday, which was two days ago, and I was itching to get out of the city and away from my problems.
Duke had called and texted, but I couldn’t deal with him right now. Not after that mind-blowing kiss with Grace. What the fuck had I been thinking? Guilt sat heavy in my gut, and I was afraid I couldn’t face my best friend. Hell, I knew I couldn’t. He would see right through me.
I was relieved that I hadn’t heard from Grace. I almost chased after her as she stomped out of my condo, but nothing good would come of us being together, except broken bones and shattered hearts.
Since our kiss, I hadn’t been able to sleep, eat, or concentrate. The day before, I’d tried to track down Chris Vargas but didn’t have any luck. Then I putzed around Boston, visiting my old hangouts, mainly a bar that I used to frequent. I did anything to stay away from my condo in the event Duke, or Grace, or even Arturo had decided to pay me a visit.
But the next few days would be all about my daughter and her scholarship banquet. I couldn’t wait to see her. I also couldn’t wait to spend time with her. It had been too long since she and I had any quality time together.
My phone rang, shutting down the radio. I tapped the green icon to answer Chris Vargas’s call.
“Brian McCauley,” Chris said after the line connected. “I miss your ass.”
I belted out a hearty laugh. “Can’t say I miss yours. How’s business?”
“Sucks without you leading the charge. I miss Rosario for sure. Arturo’s lieutenant, Jorge Moreno, is a fuckup. I heard you’re looking for me. So, are you back in Boston and running shit?”
“Afraid not. I made a one-time deal with the devil, and I need your help. Do you know anything about Arturo’s stolen drug shipment?”
“Nope, but it explains why I haven’t received my last load from Jorge. I can make some calls. Though, if you want my honest gut feeling, I think Arturo’s men are screwing him.”
“My thoughts too.”
“My money is on Jorge.”
“That wouldn’t be good for Jorge,” I said.
Chris sighed. “I really wish you were at the helm again. It’s been chaos without you.”
As much as I missed the adrenaline rushes, I couldn’t go back. “Call me when you find out something. Oh, and Chris, watch your back. Feds are sniffing up Arturo’s ass.”
“Thanks,” he said. “I’m always careful. I’ll be in touch.”
I had barely hung up with Chris when Fran called.
“I’m almost there,” I said when I answered.
“You sound mad, Dad. Is everything okay?” she asked, sounding horrified.
I briefly closed my eyes, blowing out a quiet breath. “I’m sorry. There are idiots on the road,” I lied through my teeth. “I’ll be there soon.”
I had a mile before I exited the highway and enough time to pull myself out of my grumpy-ass mood.
“I’ll meet you outside my dorm.” She sounded excited, which made my heart happy. “We’ll eat lunch at the restaurant on campus, if that’s okay. I have a class later this afternoon.”
“I’m sorry I missed your call this morning. How did your presentation go with Banyan Energy?”
“I think it went well. But we’ll see tomorrow night at the banquet when they announce who won the scholarship.”
I slowed and merged into the exit lane. “I have every faith in you that you’ll get that full ride, sweetie.”
She giggled. “Or else you’ll break someone’s knees.”
I laughed and sighed at the same time. “If you want me to.”
“ Daaad. I’ll see you in a few.”
I grinned as the radio kicked in. The only good thing in my life was Fran. She was so vibrant and innocent, and I was desperate to keep her that way.
Before long, Oakwood Academy, nestled in the hills of Connecticut, came into view. The sixty-acre campus had been founded in the early 1900s and catered to students from around the world. The second Fran stepped foot on the property, she was in awe. I was too. The old-world architecture, the sports arena, the dorms—the entire campus was something out of a movie.
After I was cleared by a guard at the gate, I wound around the baseball field toward the female dorms, excitement stirring in my gut—a welcome emotion that seemingly stomped on my sour mood.
As I turned into the parking lot, I caught sight of a boy curling Fran’s hair around her ear. Blood rushed out of me. I’d never seen my daughter with a boy, and my first thought was to strangle him for even looking at her, let alone touching her.
I growled, parked in a spot behind a high-end Tesla, and sat still. From my position, I could see Fran laughing at something the boy said while I was breathing like a bull in a ring.
It’s just two teenagers talking. Fuck that. He was now holding her hand. Then he leaned in and whispered something in her ear.
She giggled, playfully swatting at the tall guy wearing a baseball jersey and ball cap.
I wasn’t ready for puppy love or boys and what came with all that. Certainly not now, considering I didn’t want to deal with another problem. Boys were a problem.
Then he lowered his head and kissed her.
I got out of my vehicle in a flash.
Don’t embarrass your daughter.
I strode through the lot, my face heated, my pulse staccato. “Fran,” I called as I crossed the street.
Her blond hair blew in the cold harsh wind as she looked my way. “Dad.” She lit up like the Fourth of July as she raised her finger to the boy, gesturing for him to wait. Then she ran to me and threw her arms around me.
I hugged her tightly, narrowing my gaze at the boy, who had stark blue eyes and strands of brown hair poking out from his ball cap.
He smiled, revealing perfect white teeth. The bastard grinned at me. I thought he would run. I was a giant compared to him. He stood about five feet ten and stared me down. I should give him props for having the balls not to flee.
Fran kissed me on the cheek. “Be nice.”
Niceness wasn’t in my emotional repertoire at the moment.
“Who’s the boy?” My acidic tone had always been reserved for my enemies, not my daughter.
She clucked her tongue. “Come. I want you to meet him.” She grabbed my hand and tugged. “He doesn’t bite, Dad.”
“I do.”
Her pretty green eyes, so like mine, became slits. “Dad, manners.”
The boy took off his hat as he held out his hand to me. “Sir, I’m Ryan Montgomery. I’ve heard a lot about you.”
I shook his hand. “Funny, I haven’t heard anything about you.”
My daughter swatted me. “Dad, we’ve only been dating for a month.”
“It’s okay,” he said to Fran. “He should be leery of any guy. I assure you I’m a gentleman.”
“That’s your first mistake,” I bit out.
“Come again?” His light-brown eyebrows squished together.
Fran grabbed his hand. “Rye, I’ll see you later.”
“I have practice anyway,” he said to Fran. Then he pecked her on the cheek.
That’s right, asshole. You better take off before I pluck out your eyeballs.
She let out a sigh that sounded like she was in love.
My heart couldn’t take this. My baby—smart, beautiful, and innocent—was all grown up and had a boyfriend. I couldn’t blame the boy for liking my daughter. She was stunning. Tall like her father, although five feet eight and not six feet two, with long blond curls and stunning green eyes.
She huffed. “Why were you rude?”
I shrugged, feeling like the worst dad in the world. “It’s the first time I’ve seen a boy touching you.”
“It was just a kiss, Dad. Nothing more.”
The one between Grace and me hadn’t been just a kiss. The passion, the need, and the desire weren’t things I had experienced with any other woman. I’d always kept my walls up and my heart protected. But with Grace, it was the opposite. Replaying that long, slow, wet kiss, I felt as if I could still taste her on my tongue and smell her sweet vanilla essence.
I laughed. I was as bad as my daughter. Maybe I was the one who needed scolding.
“What’s so funny?” Fran asked.
Aw, man. “Just recalling something Grace said.”
“Grace? Is she coming to the banquet?”
“Is she supposed to?” My mouth hung slightly open, catching a snowflake as others fluttered to the ground while my body heated and my heart sputtered. “I didn’t invite her.”
I would love to see her, but the problem was I couldn’t touch her again. Not only because of guilt that I was betraying Duke, but if Grace and I shared another kiss like that, I would be a goner.
“I did,” Fran said. “I called her Monday. She said she would let me know. Then I called her today, but she didn’t answer.” Fran sighed. “I guess she didn’t tell you.”
“It’s not like we’re seeing each other,” I replied.
“You should.”
Fran’s words once again sent shock waves through me.
“What are you saying?” I asked. “Are you trying to set us up?”
“Maybe. She’s beautiful, Dad. She needs someone like you in her life and vice versa. You two would make the perfect couple.” She swept her gaze around campus.
Not many students were out. They were probably in classes.
“Did she say anything about me?” I could feel the creases forming in my forehead.
“No, but I see the way you look at her when we’re at holiday dinners.”
I studied my daughter’s mischievous smile. “What way is that?”
“Do I have to explain it?”
“Yes,” I insisted. “You’re sixteen and shouldn’t know any types of looks.”
“I might be a teenager, but I’m not dead, Dad. But you have a longing look in your eyes. And sometimes I see you staring at Duke and Fallyn like you want what they have but don’t think you're worthy.”
Oh, man. I was flabbergasted that my daughter could read people so well at her age. I was a good reader of people, but it took practice in studying their ticks, tells, and facial expressions.
I laughed, albeit nervously. I hated to lie to my daughter. But if I told her the truth, she would get her hopes up, and I didn’t want to shatter them.
“Grace is beautiful. Any man would be lucky to have her. But that man is not me. I’m much older than her anyway.”
Fran rolled her eyes. “So there’s a seven-year difference. It’s not like you’re old enough to be her father.”
It was weird how the spotlight was on me instead of her and that boy.
“Fran, tell me about Ryan. You’ve been dating for one month. What else?”
She sighed. “Fine, if you don’t want to talk about your feelings for Grace, then please tell me she’s okay.”
“She’s fine, sweetie. I saw her at Duke’s gym on Monday. She did, however, get herself in hot water with the law. But nothing to worry about,” I said. “I’ll tell you more over lunch, but first I want to hear more about Ryan.”
Girls exited the dorm, and a car horn blared somewhere nearby.
“Fran,” a girl called as she jogged up. “Did Rye find you?” She flashed her long lashes and warm brown eyes my way. “Oh, hi, Mr. McCauley.”
“Nora, have you grown five inches since I last saw you?” I asked Fran’s best friend and dorm mate.
Nora Welby came from a long line of oil producers on her father’s side, and her mother sat on the board of her family’s computer-chip company.
She held the strap of her bag. “You sound like my dad. It’s good to see you. We’re all rooting for Fran to win that scholarship. Oh, and have you asked your dad yet, Fran, about Italy?”
My eyes bugged out as Fran shook her head. “He just got here and met Rye.”
Nora, giggly and sweet, said, “Oh, don’t worry, Mr. McCauley. Rye’s a good guy. We’ve already done our homework on him.”
I didn’t know whether to laugh. “Why would you do that?” I glanced at Fran.
“I am my father’s daughter,” Fran said with a smile. “I know how you are. If I didn’t look into him, you would. You probably will anyway.”
I chuckled, puffing out my chest.
“You taught her well,” Nora chimed in. “We have a friend, and she’s super-techy. She checked out his name, family, etcetera.”
“You mean she hacked into a database,” I said, fucking proud as shit of Fran.
Fran hooked her arm in mine. “We should go. Nora, I’ll catch you later.”
Nora bounced in the opposite direction toward the group of gals waiting for her. “See you tomorrow night at the banquet. Oh, and Mr. McCauley, my mom is dying to talk to you. Fran, my parents will need an answer about Italy soon.”
Fran led the way toward the restaurant. “Can I go to Italy for the summer? Nora and I have been taking Italian. Actually, she’s brushing up on hers, since her family speaks Italian. Please, Dad? It’s only for a month.”
It was difficult to say no to her. She was such a perfect kid—never acting out, always studying, a straight-A student—and didn’t complain or ask for much. She deserved to have fun for as long as possible. With her intent to graduate a year early, her carefree summers would be limited before she entered college.
I covered my hand over hers. “We’ll need to get you a passport.”
But her birth certificate was in my folder—the one that Sabine had.
She squealed. “So it’s a yes?”
I made a mental note to book a flight to Nashville after the banquet. I was getting that folder back if I had to hunt down Sabine myself.
I nodded. “As long as you promise to call me every day and listen to Nora’s parents.”
“Of course. Thank you, Dad. I can’t tell you how much I love you.”
I hadn’t shed a tear since before I’d left home as a teenager, but I was about to bawl like a damn baby. “I’m so proud of you, sweetie.”
“I listened to every word you ever told me about your former career. You would be pleased to hear that I’m taking self-defense classes on Grace’s advice. I do hope she comes to the banquet.”
While I was struggling with whether I wanted Grace to come, I realized I was being selfish. Fran looked up to Grace. And I couldn’t deny my daughter her happiness.
“I’ll call her,” I said.
She leaned her head against my shoulder. “Thank you. I love her, Dad. She’s done so much for me, and I would like her to be here.”
“Grace has a lot going on. So don’t be upset if she doesn’t come. Now, Ryan… Tell me about him.”
Fran adjusted the scarf around her neck. “Well, every year, our school offers two scholarships through the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Oakwood is trying to beef up its sports program, and since Rye is a great ballplayer, his name went to the top of the list to get a scholarship.”
Oakwood Academy catered to the best of the best in academics. Its high school entrance exam rivaled the SAT, even though entering freshmen hadn’t taken the SAT yet. Fran had passed her entrance exam with flying colors.
“Didn’t Ryan have to take the entrance test?”
“In a way, yes, but his application process was based heavily on his story. Then the school looked at grades. Ryan’s were decent but not stellar. He’s been struggling in his classes, so the school counselor recommended me to be his tutor. I don’t know if he’ll pass his exams in June. He’s really behind. I should’ve been tutoring him from the moment Oakwood accepted him in January.”
“So you really like this boy?”
We crossed the street, the restaurant in our sights.
“I do, Dad. Like me, he lost a parent. I feel a connection to him. Like I could help him.” Sadness wove through her voice. “His dad died from a heart attack when Ryan was a freshman.”
“He’s a sophomore like you?”
“Yeah, but he won’t be graduating after his junior year like I will. The baseball coach probably would have a fit if Ryan left school early. He’s that good.”
Silence followed us to the entrance of the restaurant.
“Dad, when was the last time you had a physical?” Concern etched her tone.
It was clear she was thinking about Ryan’s dad.
“I’m healthy.” I hadn’t had a physical in my life.
However, I had been in the emergency room after being stabbed in a street fight, which was when I met her mother. Shayla had been the ER nurse on duty that night.
“Would you get a physical for me?”
My chest tightened at the sheer fear I could see washing over her. “Of course. But you’re not going to lose me, Fran. I’m not in that world anymore either.”
She hugged me. “I just worry about you.”
I grabbed her shoulders. “Hey, I want you to enjoy school and your friends. I promise I will see a doctor.”
She was tugging at my fatherly heartstrings, and Grace was tugging on my—dare I say husbandly—heartstrings.
Holy fuck! Why was I even thinking of husband and wife?
I, suddenly, needed a stiff drink. Too bad the restaurant didn’t serve alcohol. But the hotel I was staying at that night did. I was going to need an entire bottle, especially since I had to call Grace.