Dirty Sexy Saint (Dirty Sexy #1)(59)

Clay swallowed hard, shocked as hell that the other man was giving him even that much validation. And despite telling himself that what other people thought didn’t matter, he was surprised to find that what Samantha’s father thought of him did. At least a little.

Sensing Conrad wasn’t finished, Clay remained silent.

“Ultimately, you took care of Samantha when a lesser man would have taken advantage of her, especially after finding out who she is and what she’s worth.”

Clay shook his head in annoyance. “None of that matters to me.” He tapped the envelope on the desk, reinforcing his point.

“I believe you. And that’s exactly what I was hoping you’d do.”

Clay shook his head, not surprised he’d been right. The money had been a test. He held on to his anger, reminding himself Conrad Jamieson lived in a world Clay couldn’t even begin to fathom.

“If I had my choice, Samantha would marry Harrison,” Conrad said flat out, not sugarcoating his feelings. “I told myself what she had with you was just a little fling, and she’d get bored and tired of doing without. That she’d come back home, settle down, and appreciate the fact that marrying Harrison would provide her with the lifestyle she was accustomed to, and the firm would remain in the family.”

Clay clenched his jaw, disgusted by the man’s lack of faith in his daughter’s self-worth and independence.

“Needless to say, when she called me and told me that she needed the money, I saw my chance to make sure she returned home where she belongs and left you behind.” Conrad exhaled, the sound rife with resignation. “But here you are, returning the money, which tells me much about your character and even more about what my daughter means to you.”

Clay remained in place, but this conversation was taking too long, when all he wanted to do was get to Samantha. Still, he would give the man the respect he didn’t deserve. For a few more minutes max, then he was going after his woman.

“For what it’s worth, about an hour ago, Samantha informed me and her mother that despite the fact that we’d helped you out, she was going back to you tonight. My daughter is determined to be with you even if she has to work every day of her life to pay us back.” He shook his head. “Like I need the Goddamned money.”

Clay couldn’t stop the grin that tugged at his lips. Yeah, that was his sassy cupcake.

Conrad managed a reluctant laugh, too. “She’s defiant and stubborn, and I really tried to give her the best. But what I’m coming to realize is that I could never force Samantha to fit into the mold that her mother and I so painstakingly groomed her for. Not without her coming to resent us more than she already does.”

“She’s independent and proud. Like you,” Clay said.

Conrad let out a heavy sigh. “Letting her go is one of the most difficult things we’ve ever done, but I don’t want to lose my only child, and that’s what would happen if I did anything more to keep her away from you.”

Clay could only imagine how difficult this was for a dignified man like Conrad to admit. But it was clear that he truly loved his daughter, and when push came to shove, he wasn’t going to coerce her to stay and marry a man she didn’t love. Clay gave him props for that.

So he did what he could to assure him that Samantha would always be in good hands. “I know I’m not who you would have hand-picked for her, but I can promise you that I will do everything in my power to give her a good life. To protect her and respect her and be the kind of man who deserves a woman as special as she is.”

“Since I have no choice in the matter, that’s what I’m counting on,” Conrad said gruffly.

“I love your daughter,” Clay said, just in case his feelings mattered. They were words he’d never spoken to another woman before, and he realized he’d been waiting all his life for the right woman. For Samantha.


Clay heard a soft gasp from behind him, and he turned around to find Samantha standing in the doorway, her eyes wide and shimmering with moisture as she stared at him in surprise. His heart thumped painfully hard in his chest. She was so damn beautiful, and nothing else in the world mattered except making her his.

“Do you mean it?” she asked, her voice quivering with emotion.

He cleared the tightness from his own throat and smiled. Yes, he absolutely loved her. “Cupcake, you should know by now that I always mean what I say. I love you, more than I thought I could ever love another person. And I don’t want to live another day without you in it. Ever.”

Unable to stand the distance between them, he started for her at the same time she ran toward him. When she reached Clay, she jumped into his arms, securing her arms around his neck and wrapping her legs around his waist. He laughed at her enthusiasm and anchored his arms under her butt to hold her in place as she buried her face against his neck, holding him so impossibly tight.

“I love you so much, Clay.” She pressed her hands to his jaw and looked into his eyes. “There is no way I could have stayed away from you.”

“Me, either,” he said, meaning it.

Her father cleared his throat, and Samantha surprised Clay with a laugh. “Get used to it, Daddy.” Grinning, she stroked her thumbs across Clay’s cheeks, her gaze suddenly filled with regret. “The moment I got home, I realized what a huge mistake I made. I’m so sorry.”