Total pages in book: 89
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 84102 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 421(@200wpm)___ 336(@250wpm)___ 280(@300wpm)
“What?”
Ian pushed back from the table. “Yep. I canceled your tickets. According to MaeBe, there’s talk of a wealthy American coming into Buenos Aires via commercial jet tomorrow, so we’re going to change that up. You leave at eight this evening from Dallas Executive. I’m not doing it for your comfort. I’m doing it because of those messages MaeBe found on the Dark Web. If they don’t know when you’re coming in, they can’t kidnap you. You’ll have a car and a driver waiting for you. Or we can do the kidnapping thing. It could be fun.”
He sat there for a moment, trying to figure out if his uncle was being…
He’d just thought of Ian as his uncle. Damn it. He worried about his father being erased, but somehow this crazy family his mother had married into had become his, and Ian wasn’t being a dick. He was worried. Sean would be worried. God knew his mother would. “I’ll do this your way. And thank you for putting up with my stubbornness.”
Ian chuckled and put a hand on his shoulder. “Your stubbornness is nothing. I’ve had to deal with telling Boomer that a sandwich he wanted to eat had gone bad. That was stubbornness. I’ve given Tessa Kyle’s notes, but you should know they’re thin. You’re going to have to fill her in on some aspects of the op. She’ll meet you at the airport.”
Where he would have to survive an all-night flight with the most beautiful woman he’d ever met. A woman who wanted nothing to do with him.
Because he was some wealthy dude with connections that could cost her a job she loved.
Except he wasn’t.
He was being pessimistic. The way she’d ghosted him had thrown him for a loop.
“You honestly think she rejected me for my family connections?”
A brow rose over Ian’s blue eyes. “She told me so. She also told me she said what she said today because she’s afraid if she’s alone with you, she’ll rip your clothes off and ride you like the intellectual stallion you are.”
That got him sitting up straighter. “She did?”
Ian shrugged. “Not in so many words, but you get the gist. Tessa’s fierce when it comes to some things. She’s a genuine badass, but she took some losses she hasn’t dealt with yet. I don’t even think she realizes how they’re holding her back. If you want her, I would bet you could have her. It wouldn’t take much, but be careful with her. She’s oddly delicate. You might need some of that stubbornness. And I can answer the real question that’s going through your head. You need to answer it and be sure before you go after anyone.”
That made David wary. “What question is that?”
“Was your father the prologue to a great love story?” Ian asked in a quiet tone. “Was he the warm-up act? Is that all you can expect to be?”
Damn, but the man was perceptive. “I guess I do ask myself that question. I look at a woman like Tessa and wonder why she would settle for me. That’s what everyone joked about when my dad was alive. My mom was too beautiful for him, too vibrant. He was a fairly boring guy.”
“Not according to your mom,” a familiar voice said.
David winced because his stepfather was standing in the doorway.
“Excellent timing, brother.” Ian stood. “I’ve got David all set up, and now you can do the stepdad thing. Also, the bodyguard I hired for him wants his hot bod bad, but she’s real gun-shy, and he’s going to turtle on her. If Grace wants grandkids anytime soon, you better talk to him.”
“I’m not turtling.” David wasn’t so out of touch he hadn’t heard the term. He didn’t go into his shell when things got slightly emotionally tough. Did he?
Sean’s brows came up in that way they did when someone said something dumb. “Sure you aren’t.” He slid into the seat Ian had vacated. “And you’re wrong about your dad. He wasn’t boring. He was incredibly smart, and he was tenacious. You do know he put himself through college, right? He worked two jobs and had a family. Your mom said he was Superman because he would get up and work four hours at UPS, then manage to make it home to have breakfast with her before he took his classes. He’d come home and eat dinner with her before he worked another shift at a video store. When he slept she had no idea, but he did it because he loved her and they had you by then. He could have taken a job somewhere and y’all would have gotten by, but he wanted more for all of you. He wanted to ensure that he could take care of you the way he thought you should be taken care of.”