Not Damaged(25)
“No, it’s fine. Come with me and you can phone your parents before we eat breakfast and drink coffee.”
He took her hand, leading her to his office. Going to the windows, he opened the curtains followed by the windows to let more fresh air into the stuffy room.
“It’s very warm today.”
“Yes.” He pointed to his phone. “Make the call.”
Ryan watched her dial the number. Her fingers played with one of his paperweights. He witnessed her nerves intensify with every second that passed.
“Hey, it’s me, Jesse.” She stopped listening to whoever talked on the other end. “No, I’m not actually going to be able to make it today.” Silence once again. “I’m spending today with my … boyfriend.” Her brow rose.
Nodding, he sat down in his chair.
“I’m not lying about anything. Mom, put Dad on the phone. Ryan wants to talk with him.”
“Good girl,” he said, mouthing the words so no one heard.
Jesse repeated her words again to whoever talked on the other end. “Thanks, Dad. Here is Ryan.” She covered the receiver and mouthed her father’s name. “I’m going to make some breakfast,” she said.
“Okay.” He pulled her down for a kiss. “I’ll deal with this.”
“They don’t think I’ve got a boyfriend.” Tears filled her eyes.
He cursed, wanting to hurt someone for causing Jesse pain. “We’ll visit them soon, I promise.”
She nodded then left his office.
“Hello, Mr. Robinson. Am I free to call you Liam?”
“Who am I speaking too?” Liam Robinson asked.
He heard a woman ranting in the background.
“This is Ryan Carter. I’m Jesse’s boyfriend and hope to soon be something more.”
Silence met his answer. “Are you the owner of that club, Extreme?”
“Yes, I also own several businesses up and down the country. I’ve not got the time to talk business today, Liam. Another day perhaps.” Drumming his fingers on the desk, he waited for the man to speak.
“She’s telling the truth, Barbara.”
“Do you make a habit of thinking your daughter a liar?” Ryan asked, feeling his anger spike at their treatment of her.
“No, we don’t. Jesse never misses a Sunday—”
“I asked her to spend the day with me.” He cut in explaining his actions.
“Son, I know you probably mean well but there is stuff about Jesse you don’t know,” Liam said.
Rubbing at his temple, Ryan found himself getting bored with the conversation.
“I know everything about her. We’ve got no secrets at all. If you think to scare me off with her past then you’re very much mistaken. I’m not some doe-eyed boy you can scare off with the truth.”
“She’s been hurt enough.”
“I’m not going to be hurting her and I have to say, Mr. Robinson, how do you know that you’ve not hurting her more.”
A gasp of outrage sounded over the line. Rolling his eyes, he stood up to stare out of the window. His age made him less patient. Jesse meant a great deal to him and at the moment he couldn’t care about her family.
“We’ve done everything we can to give her the best—” Liam started to raise his voice.
“Look, I do not want to cause an argument with you. I’m not going anywhere when it comes to Jesse. I love her,” he said, meaning every word.#p#分页标题#e#
Silence once again fell over the line.
“I love my daughter. She means the world to me. I’d hate to see her hurt because of some guy who thinks he can handle everything.”
“We’ll meet very soon and then you’ll find out how much I can handle,” he said, adamant to meet Jesse’s family. His main aim in life was getting her to feel whole. They’d come so far in such a short time.
Nothing would make him walk away, not even her family.
* * * *
Staring into the fridge, the coffee percolating over in the corner, Jesse scrunched up her nose. Cereal held no appeal. Moving the bacon and eggs to one side, she couldn’t think of anything to cook.
Closing the fridge, she started looking through the cupboards. Her search brought her sugar, flour and other ingredients to make waffles. She checked all the gadgets on the far counter to discover the wonderful iron to cook them. Collecting all of the ingredients she set about making breakfast.
Ten minutes into her whisking, Ryan walked into the kitchen. She poured him a quick coffee, then filled the waffle iron.
“Hey, how did it go?” she asked, glancing behind her.
“I may have turned your father against me.” He took a seat, sipping at his coffee.