Veda takes my hand beneath the table as we order drinks. Sparkling water for me, a glass of champagne for Veda and a double scotch for Jack. His tersely delivered order puts me on guard-and Veda, too. I can practically see her nerves firing as the waitress retreats.
"So, Dad." She puts on a serene smile that makes me ache to pull her astride my lap and give her a rough French kiss, right here at the table. "How do you like Amsterdam?"
He seems agitated, scanning the restaurant for his drink, and it has become obvious to me that Veda's father is already halfway to drunk. "It's as good a place as any, right? I'm making money hand over fist. Right? No debts. No daughter, either. But I guess we can't have everything in life." His expression pulls tight. "Unless, of course, you're Ramsey Beckett."
"Was it a mistake to bring her here, Jack?" My voice is smooth, but trust me, I'm already verging on violent. The last thing I need is Veda to be upset or hurt by seeing her father in this state of bitterness. And placing the blame on me, right where it belongs. "We don't have very much time in town. I suggest you use it to visit with your daughter instead of trying to bring me down a peg. I promise you that's not possible for anyone on their best day."
His sneer is venomous, but whatever he's going to say is interrupted by the waitress dropping off our drinks. Veda's winces as Jack throws back his drink and orders another, telling the girl to put it on my tab. "You're good for it, right, Beckett? You're so rich, you can afford to buy actual people."
"Let's leave," Veda says, a tremor in her voice. "Please. I don't want this."
When Jack only continues to spew silent hatred at me, Veda sighs and pushes to her feet, which seems to yank Jack out of whatever world he's been in. "I'm sorry." He stands as well, laying a hand on Veda, and I bite back a growl. "Don't leave."
"I love Ramsey, Dad," Veda surprises us both by murmuring. "I love him, and I'll leave with him. So please just try and forget how our relationship started. The point is, we do have a relationship and it's permanent."
Oh Christ. How am I supposed to sit here for a full dinner and behave as if my heart isn't jumping hurdles in my chest? It's the first time she's used the word permanent or said she loves me in front of another human being, and I'm struggling to cope, although I'm sure I look like the same cold bastard who walked into the restaurant. "I love her, too." My voice is firm, the need to reciprocate the words she spoke on my behalf rattling in my blood. "And her happiness means setting aside the past and learning to live in the present. Can you … can we both … do that?"
"Yes," Jack pushes through stiff lips, sitting back down and drinking half of the freshly arrived scotch. "We can."
But as Veda sits back down and leans into my side, there's a glint in Jack's eyes that keeps my hackles raised. If I didn't know better, I'd even say he appears … smug. "So, Veda," Jack says, saluting with his glass. "Tell me about school."
Chapter Six
By no means is dinner heartwarming. Not at any point. Although, to the untrained eye, Jack appears to be making a concerted effort to have a fatherly conversation with Veda and tolerate me like a saint. But my eyes have been trained in the boardroom and in billion dollar negotiations that would make his head spin, so his resentment isn't hidden from me. Nor is it all directed at me. Therein lies the reason my jaw is bunched so tight my back teeth are aching with the strain by the time the check is delivered.
Veda has been inching closer to me throughout the evening and is practically on my lap as I slide my credit card into the black leather booklet without removing my scrutiny from Jack. And Veda's father is tanked. He's had enough scotch to kill a horse, and I'm reasonably certain we're not going to get him out of the restaurant without making a scene, but that's the lesser of my concerns. Veda looks more worried than when we arrived.
Now, she turns to me and runs a hand down the front of my shirt. "I've never seen him like this," she whispers. "I'm afraid if we send him home, he'll pass out somewhere or fall down the stairs … " She worries her bottom lip. "There are so many guest rooms in the house. We can let him stay in one, can't we?"
Veda made it abundantly clear before dinner started that she is loyal to me. That she loves me. So although the prospect of sharing living space with Jack makes my stomach grind, I'd give her any damn thing she asked for at the moment. "Of course, angel."