Rake's Redemption (Wind Dragons MC #4)(82)

I place my hand on his shoulder. “We need to trust our daughter, instead of worrying about the boys. She can take care of herself; we’ve made sure of that.”

Cara is a black belt and can probably kick any boy’s ass. Clover and Rhett are black belts too. Rhett is now even fighting in mixed martial arts.

“Maybe Rhett and I should follow them,” he muses, obviously not listening to me at all.

I squeeze his shoulder. “Rake, you’re not doing that. She will be so upset with you.”

“Not here to make best friends with my kids,” he comments. “Here to look after them and make sure they don’t get taken advantage of by horny little eighteen-year-olds.” His green eyes finally look up into mine. “I’m not overreacting, Bails; this is our little girl we’re talking about here.”

I open my mouth, then close it. Obviously there’s no arguing with the man, because he isn’t going to see reason. All we can do is hope he doesn’t scare off her date and ruin the experience for her.

“Remember when you took me on our first date?” I ask him quietly. “Imagine if someone ruined that for us.”

“I wouldn’t have run scared,” he replies, scowling. “I would have done anything to get that time with you.” He pauses, eyes narrowing. “And you let me kiss you and touch your tits that night. Fuck this shit—she’s not going anywhere. Her ass can stay at home.”

I puff out a breath and scowl. “This is her first date, Rake, and she’s going. We said sixteen and we can’t take it back now, can we?”

“She turned sixteen only last week, eager much?” he growls, going back to focusing on his knife.

Natalie, our second child, walks into the room. At just eight years old, with her dad’s green eyes and my dark hair, she is as beautiful as she is mischievous. “Are you sharpening your knife at the front door, Dad?” She looks to me. “This family is nuts, Mom.”

I have to agree.

I grab Rake by the arm and bring him into the living room, where Rhett and Cara are having a quiet argument. I don’t get why the two of them don’t date, but I know they’ll figure it out for themselves eventually. Rhett’s grown into a handsome man, and I know Cara isn’t blind. Tia tells me girls are coming after him by the hundreds.

A knock at the door has Rake on his feet, but this time he comes back in with Arrow, out of all people.

“Uncle Arrow?” Cara groans, standing up. “I love you, I do. But right now is not the time for you to be here.”

“Why not, Angel?” Arrow asks, lazily scratching his beard. “I thought I’d tell your date about the time I spent in jail.” He pauses. “You know. For killing someone.”

Cara covers her face with her hands. “I’m going to be a virgin for the rest of my life.”

“I sure hope so,” Rake calls out cheerfully, looking pleased. He looks to Arrow. “I’m sure Matt would love to hear that story, Arrow. Good man.”

Rhett makes a comment I don’t hear, but Cara sends him a cutting look.

Natalie walks up to Arrow and hugs him. “Uncle Arrow, why didn’t you bring Nate and Tory with you?”

“They were doing their homework with their mom,” Arrow tells Natalie. “I’ll bring them tomorrow if you want to see them.”

“Awesome,” Natalie replies, then looks at her big sister, who is on the verge of having a breakdown. “Relax, Cara. If he isn’t willing to jump through hurdles for you, then he isn’t worth it.”

“Agreed,” Rhett mutters, still looking extremely unhappy.

“Wise girl, Natalie,” Arrow praises, then grins at Cara. “You look pretty, Angel. But maybe you should put on a jacket or something.”

“I said the same thing,” Rhett grumbled, staring at Cara’s cleavage.

Another knock at the door, softer.

This time, everyone gets up together and descends to the door.