House Rules(17)

“My problem? How the fuck was I supposed to know that crazy bitch planned on outing us?”

“If you’d do your goddamn homework when you meet someone, you wouldn’t have to worry about that shit.”

“I always check people out before I deal with them.”

“Maybe in business. But outside of that you’re too busy sticking your dick into any pussy that’s willing to open up and let you in.”

“Is that what you think happened? That I let the bitch into our lives because I was too lazy to check her out? Or was it that I didn’t care enough to bother?” My voice rose with each word and I shot up from my seat, anger sizzling through my veins. “’Cause I can say for damn sure I checked her out. She wasn’t some chick I planned on fucking for a few nights and never calling again.”

There it was. The reason I swore off relationships. I had no intention of letting a woman who could endanger everything I’d worked so hard for into my bed.

Ashton sighed and I looked down to see his head in his hands, his eyes never leaving the ground. “Dad, you can’t blame him for what she did. Miller’s not an idiot, he’d never do anything to jeopardize all you’ve built. Once he realized he’d made a mess, he took care of it.”

“I didn’t fucking make a mess,” I shouted, hoping like hell Mom stuck to ignoring anything she heard from the office. “When I figured out what she was doing I handled it, and made sure to send a very clear message to anyone thinking of trying that shit again.”

Dad slammed his hands down onto the desk, pulling himself up so his eyes were level with mine. “Exactly, and if you’d shut your mouth for a fuckin’ second you’d hear what I’m trying to tell you. Holy hell, Miller. You sure as shit know how to try my patience.” He ran a hand through his hair and pointed to the couch behind me. “Now sit your ass down and listen.”

My hands clenched into fists and I bit my tongue so hard I nearly drew blood as I slowly lowered myself down.

“Are you done with your shit so I can finish what I want to say?”

I gave him a slight nod. Dad hadn’t lost his temper yet. There was no use pushing him even further and starting a fight I’d lose in the end anyway. With my luck, he’d change his mind about turning everything over to me. That didn’t mean my blood pressure had returned to a normal level. I sat in silence, brooding, waiting for him to get to the point.

“Now that you’re done being a jackass, I want the rest of my clients to get to know you so they understand what’ll happen if they try and fuck with you. It needs to be made clear what happened to Hilary. You’re a fuckin’ Hawes, and they need to remember that when I’m not around.”

The tension leaked from my shoulders. Dad’s words went a long way to soothing my ego. Mom always said I needed to control my temper. I loved a good joke and laugh, but the moment someone questioned me it was like all rational thought fled and the only thing I could focus on was making sure that person understood how wrong they were.

“Don’t worry, they’ll remember it very well,” I said, leaving no room for doubt.

Dad came around the front of his desk and leaned against it. “I have no doubt they will.”

How could they not? If the people my father dealt with knew anything about the way I ran my own business then they’d know that I do not fuck around when it comes to people taking things from me.

After a few moments of silence, Dad stood and walked over to his office door. “You boys hungry? Smells like your mom made enough food to feed a small army.”

Ashton chuckled. “No different than usual, I see.”

Dad and I joined in the laughter. Now that the tension had fled the room, we were able to joke and laugh with one another. “I don’t know about the chef over there, but a home-cooked breakfast sounds way better than the Starbucks muffin I’d planned to grab on my way into the dealership.”

“Let’s get out there before she comes searching for us.”

Dad took the lead down the hall and, sure enough, by the time we reached the kitchen, Mom had the table set for four, food already piled high on the plates.

“You’ve out done yourself, love.” Dad walked over and kissed Mom on the cheek before pulling her chair out.

In all of the years they’d been married, Dad still treated Mom like a princess. Whatever she wanted, she got, and that included her family sitting down for breakfast together. Not that any of us would walk away from her cooking.

“It’s a shame Elena didn’t come with you this morning,” Mom said, taking a sip of her coffee.