47. Callan
CHAPTER FORTY-SEVEN
CALLAN
“ M ate, did you check your phone?” Baird was in my face as soon as I got out of the shower room. Today had been a long, arduous training session before our big away game tomorrow.
“Why?”
“Got a text from Beth’s dad.”
“Braden?” I hurried to my jacket, fumbling for my phone. Beth was going over there today to talk to her parents about everything. Sure enough, I had several new texts.
One from Beth.
Talked to my parents. They were amazing. Will tell you all about it. Dad mentioned he might push forward your meeting if you can make it. xx
And another one.
Oh, and we need to talk about whatever’s up your jumper lately, because I just told my parents I’m in love with you, which believe it or not is a big deal.
My stomach knotted at the last. I thought I’d done a good job of pretending I wasn’t shitting myself about our relationship and how deep in it I was. Obviously, I was wrong.
I texted her back first.
Glad it went well. We’ll talk at home. I love you.
It was true. No point denying it. I just needed to get over my own bullshit.
I swiped to the next text from a number that wasn’t saved on my phone.
Callan, this is Braden, Beth’s dad. Let’s meet at my office on Monday. You free at noon?
Looking up, I found Baird staring impatiently at me.
“Well?”
“He wants to meet Monday.”
“Aye. We on?”
I nodded and texted Braden back.
We’ll be there at noon on Monday. Thanks. See you then.
Two texts came in at the same time.
Braden:
See you then.
Beth:
So what was up your jumper?
I smirked, hands flying over the screen.
Hopefully your hands, very soon.
My phone binged as I was getting ready to leave the locker room.
Only if you put yours up my dress first.
Chuckling, I strolled out with Baird asking me what I was laughing at. I didn’t answer. I felt the ache of loving someone this much fill my chest. And then promised myself not to fuck it up.
One of the things I loved most about Beth was that she “got it.” We didn’t have to have a big, long discussion about what had been bothering me lately. When I got home, I said, “This is a lot. I’m adjusting. Sorry if I seemed off. But I do love you.”
That’s all it took. She kissed me tenderly and told me she understood. And I did my best to not shut down on her again.
Monday came around fast. Our game yesterday didn’t go our way, but we were still strong contenders, so we tried not to let it get the better of us. We knew Kingston would be tough; we’d just let our win against Dalmarnock go to our heads a bit. Gaffer clearly thought so, too, with the amount of f-ing and c-ing he did in the locker room after the game. That only fired us up too. Disappointing the gaffer was like disappointing a parent you gave a shit about.
Baird and I had to put the game to the back of our minds. We had our other business to focus on. Because of our sports careers, we had a full-time manager. He looked after all the properties we’d bought and rented out and dealt with our contracts with maintenance companies, repair services, all that. Usually he’d be the one taking any meetings for us, but this was different.
Blantyre Castle was a whole other story. It was our real retirement plan. And it was not without risk. The fact that we’d waited months to have this meeting with Carmichael messed with both of our heads. I could sense Baird’s nerves as well as my own.
“You dating Beth better not fuck with this, buddy,” Baird muttered as we waited in the reception area of Braden Carmichael’s offices in Leith at Commercial Quay. It was as swanky as I thought it would be. Lots of glass. Industrial touches. Luxury hardwood flooring. Expensive computer equipment. We could see Braden standing in his office, looking out the window, talking on his phone.
“We’ll be fine.”
Two seconds later, Braden hung up and strode out of his office, his gaze fixed on us.
“Tall bloke, ay?” Baird said under his breath. “Doesnae look his age.”
It was true. I didn’t know what age Beth’s dad was, but he had to be older than he appeared. His build was that of a man who worked out, and he moved with predatory ease that said he could take us, despite the age difference.
We stood as Braden gestured to his receptionist that he’d see to us personally. Beth’s dad’s gaze moved between me and Baird before settling on yours truly. Indignation rolled over me at his assessing study, but I curbed it. For Beth, I’d let him inspect me.
I held out my hand. “Mr. Carmichael, I’m Callan Keen. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”
Braden shook my hand, grip strong. “Thanks for coming on such short notice.” He turned to Baird, who already held his hand out.
“Baird McMillan, Mr. Carmichael.”
They shook hands and Braden gestured for us to follow him into his office. “Take a seat.”
We did.
He leaned on his desk, arms crossed over his chest.
Defensive body language. Great.
“Before we go any further, I need to hear from the horse’s mouth about your relationship with your biological father, Mr. Keen.”
Renewed irritation agitated my nerve endings. I flexed my hands on top of the arms of the chair to stretch it out. “Call me Callan. And I don’t have a relationship with Gavin. Anyone who knows me,” I said, gesturing to Baird, “can attest to that.”
Beth’s dad sighed. “Contrary to what you might believe, I really didn’t know about your inquiry about Blantyre Castle. My assistant who deals with all incoming inquiries has a few names on a list who I refuse to deal with. She’s a football fan, and she knows who your father is. She’s apologized for keeping your inquiry from me, although, to be honest, she was only doing what I told her to do when it comes to Gavin Urquhart. For multiple reasons, I want nothing to do with him. One of those reasons being that a few years ago, your father?—”
“He’s not my father,” I cut in, probably too harshly. “He’s a sperm donor.”
Baird patted me on the arm, and I knew he was telling me to be cool.
Braden watched all this and pushed up off the desk to round it. He sat down and continued, “Gavin tried to start up his own gym a few years ago with a business partner. The building they wanted was one of mine, and he tried to hide his involvement from me. When I found out, I stopped the contract, and when his business partner found out I had issues with Gavin, he dissolved their partnership. Gavin blamed me and tried to sue me for breach of contract. That didn’t turn out so well for him.”
“I didn’t know any of that.” I really didn’t. “Like I said, I have nothing to do with him.”
“Good. Because word has it, he’s fallen on very hard times and is probably feeling quite spiteful toward me. I don’t want him insinuating himself into my family’s life. Into Beth’s life. I won’t have him in her life.”
Dread made me feel a bit nauseated. “He’s not a problem.”
Braden looked at Baird for confirmation. My mate nodded. “They’ve no relationship. Gavin’s scum.”
I inwardly flinched at the reminder the man who shared my DNA was so awful that the people around me had zero respect for him.
Beth’s dad’s gaze was intense as he watched my reaction. Then he sat back in his chair. “Beth tells me you’ve got grand plans for Blantyre Castle. Let’s hear it.”
A little tension seeped from me as I leaned forward and explained all we had in mind.
Half an hour later, Braden walked us out of his office. He took time to shake our hands, which I thought was a good thing. Then he said, “I like your plans. Let’s set up another meeting to discuss it more in-depth.”
“Great.” Baird grinned from ear to ear.
“You’re coming to dinner on Sunday?” Braden addressed me.
“Aye.”
“You should come too.” He nodded at Baird.
Baird looked at me, and I nodded. It might be good having my pal attend as a buffer.
“Sure. I’ll be there.”
“Excellent. Can I have a word with Callan alone?”
Baird gave me a good luck look before he strolled off to wait by the lift.
“Beth cares about you.”
I straightened my shoulders. “I care about her. A great deal.”
Her father searched my face. “I told her I’d get to know you and I will.”
That sounded like a threat.
“Which is more than I’ve ever given any of her other boyfriends. That should tell you how much you mean to her and how much her feelings matter to me.”
“Of course.”
“You seem like a nice bloke, Callan, so please don’t take offense when I tell you that if you hurt my daughter, I will come for you in every way I possibly can.” His expression hardened. “Your dreams of a real estate business. Poof. Gone in a puff of fucking smoke. But that won’t compare to how it’ll feel to have your nutsack ripped off. You get me?”
We were silent a moment as I tried to keep my anger in check. I reminded myself that this was what parents who gave a shit did to protect their children. And there was no doubt in my mind that Braden Carmichael would ruin me if I hurt Beth.
If I hurt Beth, I’d deserve it.
“I love her.”
Braden considered me. “Well, you’re a step up from the last one. He almost pissed his pants when I threatened to staple his dick to his desk.”
My lips curled up at the corners. “Is Beth aware you go around threatening the men in her life?”
“Men?” he huffed. “None of them were men. They were wee boys who could barely look after themselves, never mind my daughter.” Braden nodded to himself. “I can see you potentially could be different, though.”
I bristled. “Look, I love Beth and I want us to get along … but for the record, I don’t need anyone’s fucking approval.”
A slow smile spread on Braden Carmichael’s face.
And damn. I think that meant he might respect me just a bit. Twisted SOB.
I shook my head, curbing my own smile. “We’ll see you Sunday.”
“See you then.”