Demons Prefer Blondes (Demons Unleashed #1)(58)

“Why are you always so stubborn?” her mom muttered, shaking her head.

Lucy shrugged then brushed a tear from her mom’s cheek. She was just as much a victim as she was. “I learned from the best.”

Her mom gathered her in her arms like she was that ten-year-old girl she used to love. Heck, she still loved her. “I warned him it would get him in trouble.”

“Who says I was talking about Dad?” Lucy said kissed her mother’s cheek. It was as if they were a family again. Anger boiled again. Had her father not left, they never would have stopped being a family.

Lucy tensed in her mom’s arms, and she felt it. Moms were smart like that. “Lucy, please?”

“Like I said, I’ll let him speak his piece.” She withdrew from their embrace. “Aren’t you at all upset?”

“I’m just thrilled to…” Her mom’s cheeks grew rosy pink. “Spend time with him again.”

I’ll bet. However, despite the anger and frustration, seeing him again did give her joy. She wouldn’t divulge that information to anyone—not until she found out what was going on.

“That makes sense,” Lucy said, pulling herself up.

Her mom grabbed her shoulder. “Are you sure you’re ready?”

You have no idea. “For the gazillionth time, I’m fine. The shock’s worn off.” No lie there. She was more than ready to talk to her Dad. And hopefully, Rafe remained near to keep her in check.

“Let me go with you.” Her mom flashed that patented puppy-dog gaze, as a hopeful smile swept across her face. “Please?”

Thank goodness Lucy was immune to her pleading gazes. Bounding from the bed, she offered her mom a comforting pat on her shoulder. “I need to do this alone.”

***

Her mom surprisingly relented. Not without a long emotional waterworks session, though. She was strong. She’d eventually understand and get over it. Lucy paced in front of the stairs, not wanting to make too dramatic an entrance. How lame!

Maybe she was just biding her time. Maybe she was scared. Regardless, she didn’t look forward to standing face-to-face with the man who supposedly faked his death to do God knows what for ten years. Was it a coincidence that all of a sudden he was back after she opened the chest?

Maybe the angels up in heaven—she snorted—sent him back to protect her mother and her. Funny as that sounded, the creepy caped guy had literally vanished. Maybe her father had saved their lives.

“Why am I giving him the benefit of the doubt?” She shook her head in frustration.

“He’s your father, that’s why.” Rafe glanced up from the steps, his silver eyes sparking. “And you love him.”

“Ugh,” Lucy blew out beneath her breath. “How’d you know I was here?”

Lips rolling against each other, Rafe sprinted up the steps and offered her his arm. “I… ahh… heard the door close.”

Arching a brow, she took his proffered arm, feeling like a Hollywood starlet making her Oscar debut on the arm of a sexy model. All that was missing were those toe-breaking stilettos and a skimpy, wardrobe-malfunction-inducing dress.

Nah! That was more up Serah’s alley… the shoes, at least. It was nice being escorted, nonetheless.

Wait one minute!

Why was she being escorted? She wasn’t getting married, and she was too old for the senior prom. She wasn’t a toddler. She knew how stairs worked. She might have fainted, but with her new super-sexy powers, she was fully recovered.

“Why so chivalrous?”

Arm flexing against hers, Rafe shrugged. “I’m almost five hundred years old, remember?”

“Should you be saying that out loud?” She angled her gaze toward the entrance to the living room. “Daddy’s down there.”

Rafe’s gaze remained firm, sending heat crackling through her. Had she not just experienced the face-melting sight of her parents getting it on, she would’ve jumped him right then and there.

“Lucy. You need to talk to your father.”

She nodded. His words, succinct and firm, left no room for refusal. “So is he a guardian angel or something?”

Shaking his head, he pulled her closer and led her down the stairs. “These questions are better left for your father.”

Despite the gruffness of his words, his touch remained gentle. Even when she was an inconvenient duty. It warmed her… made her feel alive.

She turned to face him, almost falling into the silver pools of his gaze. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome,” he replied, his voice again emotionless and distant. He led her to her mom’s paisley print sofa and patted the cushion. “You’ll want to sit, Lucy.”

She raised her chin. “No thanks. I prefer to stand.” To meet her father eye-to-eye, of course.

“I’ll sit instead.” With an odd spark in his gaze, Rafe tugged off his coat and slunk down into the khaki recliner next to the couch, the cushion caving beneath his muscled body. Stretching his legs out, he leaned back and blew out a long breath. Like he was relaxed.

What the heck? Maybe he’d knocked down a few brewskies with her dad. He’d always been a smooth talker.

“So my mom says he has a good reason for what he did.” Pulling her sweater sleeves up to her elbows, she leaned against the arm of the couch. “Has he tried to schmooze you too?”