Her Dominant SEAL(48)
“Nothing’s on the books. I’m working this as fast as I can. You know the feds are watching them, and I’m tapped into their database. I’ll keep you apprised of the situation,” Clint said.
“Evie?” Drake asked, turning to his sister. “Clint’s checked out county records, but you have your ear to the ground. Can you see if anybody is considering selling?”
“Sure. I think I’m going to go outside for a bit,” Evie said.
“Want some company?” Karen asked.
“I want to be alone.”
Drake watched his sister leave the study.
“Is she going to be all right?” Clint asked.
“She’ll cope,” Drake answered.
“Anything else? Any other bombs?”
“Nope, that does it.”
“Thanks, Clint.”
“You’re welcome.”
Drake closed the laptop and turned to Aiden and Karen.
“Karen, go take a nap.”
She sat back in the chair and crossed her legs. “Would you like to rephrase that?”
“No. You look drugged up.”
“Probably because I am, which is why I’m not out helping Piper with scholarship applications, and why I kept my mouth shut during most of this meeting.” She picked at an imaginary piece of lint from her pant leg.
Aiden got up from his chair and walked carefully out of the study and closed the door behind him.
“Seriously, did you get any sleep at all last night, or were you up because you were in pain?”
“Now that’s a much better way to start a conversation then, ‘Go take a nap’ and ‘You look stoned.'”
Drake’s eyes glittered with anger, but behind that, she could clearly see the pain. Her heart ached for him.
“I did not say you looked stoned,” he ground out.
Karen stood up. She looked at him with soft hazel eyes, walked towards him, wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her head against his chest. “Let it out,” she whispered.
He stood stock still for a long time.
Finally. Finally, he whispered into her hair, “I hate him. I hated him before. How could a man that fathered us be this evil? How could our mother condone this?”
At last, ever so softly, he put his arms around her, she burrowed even closer, and his pain lessened.
Chapter Ten
It had been a subdued day at the Chalet. Drake had finally talked Karen into an hour-long nap before she’d been up again working on scholarship applications with Piper. Bella had been cranky after dinner, and Karen had worked magic on her. She had gotten out red nail polish and painted the little girl’s toes in between painting her own. Drake had found himself twisting in his seat watching the whole show. Aiden had smirked at him, the bastard.
“She’s good with kids,” Trenda said in his ear as she handed him a Rice Krispy treat.
“She’s a kindergarten teacher,” he whispered back.
“Yeah, but she has the touch. Not every teacher does.” Trenda sat down beside him and promptly yawned.
“How much sleep have you been getting?” he asked.
“More than Evie. Less than Piper. Little sister’s finally settling down.” Drake put his arm around Trenda. It was good to be home.
“How’s Maddie liking the master’s program?”
“They’ve got her hopping. Between the student teaching position and her job, she doesn’t know if she’s coming or going.” Trenda yawned again.
“What job?” Drake asked loudly.
Karen and Bella looked up from where they were sitting on the floor.
“Damn. She didn’t want you to know. She’s working part time at a department store.”
“How in the hell can she manage that and get her degree? I should never have bought that truck,” he hissed.
“Maddie’s twenty-four years old. She’s a big girl. She knows what she can handle.”
He hated it. He absolutely hated it. He was the one who was supposed to take care of them.
“Trenda, I think someone is ready for bed.” Trenda got up from the couch and swung her daughter up into her arms. Karen walked over to the couch and eased next to him. He broke off a bit of the gooey treat and put it to her lips. Her eyes glittered as she slowly opened her mouth and took the offered food. Her tongue touched his fingers, and he went rock hard.
“Lord almighty, you’re potent.”
Her smile was all woman. He was toast. She snuggled closer and rested her head on his shoulder.
“Do you want more?” he asked, holding up the rest of the goodie.
“No. If I can’t have it all, I think I’ll pass.”
Dammit, he had to go out tonight. Things couldn’t wait. But, dayam.
***