Path of Destruction (Broken Heartland, #2)(18)

He could still see her coming out the front door, the way her tan lines had shown beneath her tank top. That fierce look of determination she always wore, his throat constricted at the memory of how that look had softened on him eventually, how she’d looked past who he was and where he was from and finally saw him.

Damn. This was not going to be as easy as he’d originally thought. But then easy was no longer his style. That guy who’d wanted everything handed to him had changed, after having his ass kicked and handed to him all summer by a seventy-eight-year-old man and sixteen-year-old blue-eyed blonde, he’d learned to appreciate the fact that the things worth having in life didn’t come easy. He was willing to work for them—however long that took.

He just hoped it wouldn’t take too long because not being able to hold her, kiss her, and tell her everything he wanted to say was killing him a little.

He didn’t see her late brother’s truck outside, but he knew they had a detached four-car garage it could have been in. What he did see was a shiny, black Lexus IS 350 C out front that screamed midlife crisis. Mrs. Mason hadn’t seemed like the type to splurge on something so impractical, but it was a badass piece of machinery, and he gave it a solid once-over as he walked around to the front door.

He’d barely so much as knocked when the door swung open wide. “Can I help you?”

A middle-aged man with startling, ice-cold eyes and perfectly styled golden hair stepped out onto the front porch.

“Nice car,” Hayden said, stepping back and gesturing behind him.

“It’s not for sale,” the mystery man answered. The way he crossed his arms reminded him of someone. Not Ella Jane exactly, but someone… Her brother.

This man was basically a slightly shorter, nearly as fit, but much older version of Kyle Mason. Their dad, then. Hayden didn’t know how to feel about him. He’d lost his son, so he knew he should offer his condolences, yet he’d seen how deeply wounded Ella Jane had been about his taking off and never bothering to visit her. So the reaction he was having wasn’t the appropriate one. His eyes narrowed, but he minded his manners as Pops had taught him to.

You respect adults, son. Always.

Taking in a quick breath, he reached out his hand. “Hayden Prescott. I worked here a bit this summer. Erwin Prescott’s grandson.”

Surprisingly, Mr. Mason didn’t shake his hand. He eyed him warily before smirking. “Kevin Prescott’s son, you mean?”

“Uh, yes, sir.” Hayden let his hand fall to his side. So her dad was a dick then. No big surprise there.

“Well I can see why you’d introduce yourself the way you did then.”

“Excuse me, sir?” It took all of his effort not to speak through gritted teeth.

“Your father… Let’s just say I’m well aware of some of his less-than-legal business ventures.”

Tension tightened in his gut. That makes two of us.

“I’m not sure what you’re referring to, sir.”

“What are you doing here, Hayden? I already told you the car isn’t for sale. Something else I can help you with?”

He swallowed the nerves building behind his question. “I’m here to see Ella Jane, actually.”

“You’re here to see my daughter?” Her dad smirked at him as if he’d said something amusing.

“Yes, sir.”

“And why would you want to see my daughter? I’m sure you see her plenty at school, right?”

Hayden wanted to kick his own ass. He could hear his voice rising as the man glared at him.

“Actually, no, sir. We don’t have any classes together, so I don’t see her much at all. I’m a senior this year.”

He didn’t know why he’d added that last part. Probably wasn’t helping his case any.

“Well, let me give you some advice. If Ella Jane wants to see you, you’ll know.”

This much was true.

“Is she home?”

The man leveled him with a cool, even-keeled stare. But Hayden saw the answer. She wasn’t here anyway, so why her dad felt the need to muscle him out, he wasn’t sure. The man hadn’t cared what she’d been up to all summer. But maybe losing one kid made you extremely protective of the one you had left. Despite the fact that her dad seemed like a first-class jerk, Hayden was glad that she’d have him back in her life if that was what she wanted.

Now to figure out if she wanted him in her life.

“It was nice to meet you, sir.” Hayden didn’t make a fool of himself by trying to shake the man’s hand again. He just gave a slight nod before turning back to his Jeep.

“Hey, kid,” Mr. Mason called out just as Hayden reached it.

He turned, standing still with an arm on the door to let him know he was listening.

“I don’t know what your interest in my daughter is, but if I find out it’s anything more than help with your homework, I’d have to make a call to a buddy of mine at the local precinct.”

Hayden’s brow dipped in confusion. He was about to turn eighteen, but she’d be seventeen a few months after. He couldn’t imagine that the cops would get involved over a one-year age difference.

“I don’t know what you—”

“I’m sure the boys down at the station would love to know about your dad’s extracurricular activities.” Hayden felt his own eyes threatening to put his fear on display. He schooled his features to remain unaffected. “And I’d be willing to bet,” her dad continued, pausing intentionally, “that you have some interesting extracurricular activities of your own.”