“You can’t do anything to me,” he says, but there’s a quaver of fear in his voice because he’s old and I’m young, and he doesn’t know me other than I’m the kid who stuck a fork in his gonads years ago. Muscle memory got him all messed up.
“You’re wrong. See, your mama isn’t impressed with you, or she would’ve never brought Paislee here, so you can’t hide behind her for protection. And you should know that the Fréres have connections, and should I want to get rid of you or either of your two sons, I can do that and no one would be the wiser. But in the short term, you treat her poorly, and I will take this”—I swipe the letter opener off his desk and drive it with swiftness a centimeter away from his package. He cries out and covers his package—“and finish what I started eighteen years ago.”
“Gant? What are you doing?”
Both our heads swivel to see Paislee at the door. Marguerite is behind her wearing a satisfied expression.
I pull the letter opener out of the leather cushion and straighten up. “Baby, I was asking your dad for permission to marry you like any good Southern boy would. And he says congratulations and he’s excited to attend the wedding. Right, Abbott?”
There’s a second of silence. I toss the letter opener up in the air and catch it. Abbott clears his throat. “R-r-right.”
Paislee looks unconvinced. I let the golden dagger drop to the floor and cross the room to tuck Paislee under my arm. “Marguerite, I’m stealing your granddaughter away. We’ll be back for the wedding.”
“What do you mean?” she squawks in protest.
I hustle Paislee toward the door. “I’m putting the cart before the horse, and I’m sorry for it, but I can’t spend another night without her. We’ll be by for breakfast tomorrow,” I tell Paislee’s grandmother. “I like French toast.”
At the door, Huntington gives us a stiff bow. “All the things are in your car,” he says.
“You’re a good man, H. If you have trouble here, let me know. I suspect we’ll be moving to a new house once Paislee starts having kids.”
“I’m having kids now?” Paislee asks, amused.
“It’s a natural byproduct of sex, baby, and since we’re going to have a lot of it, I foresee a house full of kids. One plus one.”
I guide her down the stairs.
“If we have too many kids, there might not be time for sex,” Paislee informs me. What a wicked tease.
“My vision is changing. Seems like we’re having only one.” I give the minx a wink before handing her into the car.
Paislee’s laughing as we drive away from Belle Époque, and the sound of her happiness is the best thing in the world.
Chapter Nineteen
Paislee
I keep stealing small glances over at Gant. After my father's words last night, I went to my room, took a shower, and then climbed into bed. I had been mentally exhausted from dealing with my dad. Once I was settled, I let all of my emotions go, eventually crying myself to sleep. Any hope I ever had of my father having a change of heart left me last night. He would never change. And at this point I could care less. I don’t need him or his approval. I never did.
I let his words mess with my head at first. They tried to poison my mind against my grandma and Gant, but the more I thought about them the more I realized how full of shit he is. Gant isn’t with me for money or power. He could have his own under his family name.
The man is a history teacher because he wants to be. He’s wealthy but still humble. He lives in a home that suits his needs. I’ve also seen how he treats his sister and mom. He isn't going to use a woman. It’s not in his nature. I may have only known him a short time, but my gut tells me he’s a good man. I have no doubt about that. My dad underestimated my faith in Gant and the amount of love I already have for him.
“How did you know he said something to me?” I ask.
“You didn't call me last night.”
“I’m sorry. I let him get in my head for a minute.”
“You believed him?” He flicks his eyes my way for a moment before going back to the road.
“No, I don’t think I really ever believed him, but I had to come to terms with the fact that my father truly is a horrible person that will never care about me. That he will never look at me as if I belong here.”
He reaches over and grabs my hand. “Your grandma cares about you. Hell, my mom and sister already love you. Fuck him if he doesn't know what he’s losing out on. If your mom was half the woman you are and he walked away from her, that only proves my point further of how stupid the man really is.” Wow. I didn’t think that I could fall more in love with Gant, but with those words he proves me wrong.