Out of Love(36)

I nodded. “That’s his name.”

“It’s a terrible name.”

“It’s a cool name, Jack.”

“Watch it …” He relinquished a grin. “So is this Slade guy a political science major too?”

“He is.”

“Rich family? Or is he working to pay for this place? Roommates?”

“I don’t know anything about his family. We just started screwing … I mean dating.”

Dad’s nostrils flared.

“No roommates. He has a dog, Jericho. A German shepherd. Totally makes me think of Gunner. As for a job … rumor has it, he’s a drug dealer.” My mouth pulled into a toothy grin.

“Not funny, Livy.”

It was quite funny because it was true, at least it was true about the rumors.

“He’s a bodyguard.”

“A bodyguard?”

I nodded. Mine … but that detail wasn’t necessary at the moment.

“Like a bouncer at some club?”

“I don’t know all the details. Again … we’ve only been screwing for a day or so.”

“Go to your room.”

I erupted into more giggles. “Sorry. You set yourself up for that one.”

“Where are you planning on staying now? I’ve looked at some options.” He pulled out his phone and opened the screen. “There’s an elderly couple a half mile from campus who have a room for rent. Two hundred a month. Or a single woman who works nights … she’s in her forties and has a room for rent. She has a pool and security cameras. Or—”

“I’m waiting to see what my friends are doing, but thanks, Dad. That elderly couple option is really tempting.”

He scowled at me, setting his phone on the table. “And in the interim … where are you staying? If you say you’re planning on staying here, I’m going to take your ass home right this minute.”

“Dad …”

“I have a hotel room for the week, and I’ll stay longer if need be. So you’ll stay with me until we find you something.”

“Dad …”

“Don’t give me that look and don’t Dad me. Let’s go get you what you need, grab some lunch, and get checked into the hotel.”

“I’m twenty-one.”

“And homeless. Get anything that’s yours and let’s go.” He stood, sliding his phone into his pocket.

For years, Dad was Daddy, and I was his little girl. My friends loved my daddy. They thought he was handsome. Then, as teenagers, they thought things about him that were very inappropriate and made me nauseous because … he was my dad. When family said I’d marry a man just like my dad, I didn’t like that either.

Seeing my dad, after meeting Slade Wylder, changed the way I looked at him. My dad was ripped. I didn’t care to acknowledge it.

Again … my dad.

He had elaborate tattoos and very countable abs. Rugged scruff covered his face most of the time—like Wylder’s face. And his eyes were just as intense, but I never felt threatened.

Again … my dad.

“Were you crazy about Mom? Did you feel protective of her?”

I knew her first husband abused her, but she never shared the details, just that I should find a man like my dad who would burn down the world to keep me safe. At the time, her advice fell on deaf ears.

He rubbed the back of his neck, exhibiting palpable discomfort from my questions. Aside from Jessica, I was the only one he would talk to about her—not that he did it willingly. I was pretty sure he felt I was genetically entitled to the information.

“Yes. I was crazy about her. And protective … well …” He shook his head. “That’s an understatement.”

I gathered the bags of clothes from the living room while Dad stood in the entrance with his hands casually in his back pockets. “Did you ever punch anyone to defend her honor … like a true Knight?”

“I did whatever it took to defend her honor and protect her.” He grabbed a few of the bags when he realized I wasn’t going to be able to carry all of them.

“And what did it take?” I led him to the back door, leaving the key on the table that Slade left for me. Clearly, I wasn’t going to need it anytime soon. Not with protective Papa in town.

“Why are you so curious all of a sudden?” He opened the back to his rental vehicle.

“I don’t know … I guess the fire has made me a little sentimental and a walk down memory lane is what I need.”

That … and I wanted to know if he would have killed a man to save her. Like Slade did for me.

We loaded the bags and climbed into the SUV.

“Do you think you have what it takes to kill another person? I mean … I know you teach self-defense classes, but you know what they say. Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach.”

Before he backed out of the driveway, he gave me a side glance with the most unreadable yet disturbing expression I had ever seen on his face. “If what you’re really asking is … will I kill this guy Slade to keep you safe and out of harm’s way? The answer is yes. I have what it takes.”

I snorted a laugh. “I’m not sure you could take on Slade. He’s younger and very strong.”