Only Mine (Honey Mountain #5)(13)

I came to a stop in front of the door outside my room, and he paused as his suite was directly across the hall from mine. “You made it sound like he wanted to sleep with me as part of the package to get Juan to come play for the Lions, which also insinuates that I would tolerate that type of behavior.”

A bitter laugh left his lips, and I shot him a warning look. “Oh, yes. I almost forgot. I’m not allowed to laugh negatively. Please forgive me, Minx.”

I rolled my eyes, but I had to say that Minx was much more fitting than Princess, so I’d let it go. When you have four sisters, you learn to choose your battles at a young age.

He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I was defending your honor. I didn’t like the way he was speaking about you, and I wanted to let him know that it wasn’t okay with the owners of the team. I don’t know how that was slut-shaming you.”

“I’m not some helpless little girl. I can handle myself. I got him there, didn’t I?”

“Yes. And I give you credit for pulling that off, but I didn’t get a chance to tell you because I was too busy defending the size of my cock.” He let out a long sigh. “For the record, I would defend anyone who worked for this company if I thought someone was being inappropriate. It wasn’t personal. And I think he got the message.”

“I think everyone got the message.” I shook my head with disgust. “Don’t defend me again. It makes it so we aren’t on equal playing fields. How would you feel if I thought a dude was threatening you, and I stepped in?”

“I’d think you were crazy, but at this point, it wouldn’t surprise me.”

“I’m a black belt, jackass. Don’t underestimate me.”

“Are you always this exhausting?” he hissed as he pulled his hotel key from his pocket.

“I am. Get used to it. We’ve got eighty-nine more days together.”

“Don’t remind me,” he said, turning his back to me and sliding the key in the door before turning back around to speak. “Get some rest. Plane leaves for Chicago at noon tomorrow. Be in the lobby at 11:00 a.m.”

I turned to slip my key into the door. “I have the itinerary. I don’t need reminding. I’ll be there.”

I shut my door and smiled because I liked how defensive he was about his micropeen. That one had just come to me on the fly, too.

I dropped onto the bed and dialed my father. I talked to my sisters often, and we had a group text going at all times. But I’d always had a close relationship with my dad.

He just got me.

Always had.

Even when I was young and a complete handful next to my sweet, easygoing twin sister, Charlotte. I was the girl who was always in timeout in school.

The principal of my elementary school felt more like a family member by the time I left for middle school.

And my father knew exactly how to handle me. He could calm me down with just a quick talk. He’d always tell me that I was brilliant and talented and that I just needed to harness all that energy for good.

He’s the reason I got straight A’s in school and pushed myself so hard to be the best that I could be.

It didn’t mean I didn’t get a shit ton of detentions in school for pushing the envelope. But I had made an effort to steer my zest for life in a positive direction.

“Hey, Dilly. How did it go? Did the hotshot agent show up for the meeting?” my dad asked.

“Not really. But long story short, we got him there. He made it clear that Juan Rivera is genuinely interested—no thanks to Wolf, the arrogant asshole. I told you that the guy tried to get me fired before I even got the job, and now I have to travel with him.”

He chuckled. “You told me, and you agreed to let it go. If you want to get this job, you’re going to have to work with him.”

“Ugh,” I groaned as I fell back to lie on the bed. “He’s just so annoying.”

“You don’t usually let people get under your skin this much. You had a great meeting with the agent of the hottest defensive player in the league. Why are we still talking about the Navy SEAL?”

I rolled my eyes. “He just manages to overshadow the good, I guess. But you’re right. He’s probably trying to derail me so I don’t get the job. Tomorrow, we head to Chicago, and I will be perfectly professional.”

“That’s my girl.”

“Where are you? Home or the firehouse?” My father was the captain of the Honey Mountain Fire Department.

“I’m at home, doing a little paperwork and watching Rocky.”

I smiled. I loved that we shared a mutual admiration for the Italian Stallion. “That sounds pretty dreamy.”

“Yeah. You’re a tomato, Dilly.” He chuckled. It was my favorite saying when any of us were getting kicked in the teeth and needed to channel some inner strength. “These movies never get old.”

“You’re right. I’ve totally got this. I will not allow some rich dude with an attitude to rain on my parade.”

He barked out a laugh. “There she is.”

We were both quiet for a minute, and I pictured him sitting alone on the couch in his den.

“Do you ever get lonely, Dad? I mean, Mom’s been gone a long time. Do you ever think about dating?” I don’t know why I asked. Maybe because my sisters were all happily married now. My dad and I were the only two that were single at the moment. I worried about my father being alone.