Reflected in You(31)

Maybe it was a list he had formed while he was with other women.


Maybe he'd written it for Corinne.


The more I thought about it, the angrier I got.


"Un-f*cking-believable," I complained to Cary when she'd stepped a discreet distance away, as if that action alone would be enough to make me forget she was hovering.


"I've got a babysitter."


"What?" I told him what happened and watched his jaw tighten.


"That's crazy, Eva," he snapped.


"No shit.


And I'm not putting up with it.


He's got to learn that relationships don't work that way.


And after all the crap he gave me about trust."


I collapsed on my lounger.


"How much does he trust me, if he's got to have someone shadowing me to chase strangers away?" "I'm not down with this, Eva."


He sat up and swung his legs over the side of his chair.


"This isn't okay."


"You think I don't know that? And what's with her being a woman? Nothing against my gender and tough jobs.


I'm just wondering if he expects her to follow me into ladies' rooms or just doesn't trust a guy to watch me."


"Are you serious? Why the hell are you sunbathing instead of chewing him a new one?" The idea I'd been toying with fully formed in my mind.


"I'm plotting."


"Oh?" His mouth curved in a wicked grin.


"Do tell."


I picked my smartphone up from the little mosaic-topped table between us and scrolled through my contacts until I found Benjamin Clancy - my stepfather's personal bodyguard.


"Hey, Clancy.


It's Eva," I greeted him when he answered after the first ring.Cary's eyes widened behind his shades.


"Ooh ."


Pushing to my feet, I mouthed, I'm going upstairs.


He nodded.


"Everything's fine," I said, in answer to Clancy's query.


I waited until I'd ducked indoors and knew Sheila was several paces behind me and still outside.


"Listen, I have a favor to ask you."


* * *


I'd just ended my call with Clancy when another call came in.


I grinned when I saw the Caller ID and answered with an exuberant, "Hi, Daddy!" He laughed.


"How's my girl?" "Causing trouble and enjoying it."


I spread my sarong out on a dining room chair and took a seat.


"How are you?" "Stopping trouble from happening and occasionally enjoying it."


Victor Reyes was an Oceanside, California street cop, which was why I'd chosen to attend SDSU.


My mom had been going through a rough patch with husband number three and I'd been in a rebellious phase, making my own life hell as I tried to forget what Nathan had done to me for so long.


Moving out of my mom's suffocating orbit had been one of the best decisions I'd ever made.


My dad's quietly unshakeable love for me, his only child, had changed my life.


He gave me much-needed freedom -  within clearly defined limits - and arranged for me to see Dr.


Travis, which led to the start of my long journey of recovery and my friendship with Cary.


"I miss you," I told him.


I loved my mom dearly and know she loved me back, but my relationship with her was a rocky one and it was just so easy with my dad.


"You might be happy about my news, then.


I can come out and see you in about two weeks - the week after this upcoming one - if that works for you.


I don't want to put you out."


"Oh my God, Dad.


You could never put me out.


I'd love to see you!" "It'll be a short trip.


I'd come in on the red-eye Thursday night and fly out again Sunday evening."


"I'm stoked! Yay! I'll make plans.


We'll have a blast."


My dad's soft chuckle sent warmth flowing through me.


"I'm coming to see you, not New York.


Don't go crazy with any sightseeing or anything."


"Don't worry.


I'll make sure we have lots of downtime.


And you'll get to meet Gideon."


Just the thought of the two of them together made my tummy flutter.


"Gideon Cross? You said nothing was going on there."


"Yeah."


I wrinkled my nose.


"We'd hit a rough spot at the time.


I thought we were over."


There was a pause.


"Is it serious?" I paused, too, shifting restlessly.


My dad was a trained observer; he'd see right away that Gideon and I had tension between us - sexual and otherwise.


"Yes.


It's not always easy.