Page 109 of Shephard
Pops appeared irritated and I was surprised he answered. “About a million dollars. I also had stocks that I was counting on, but they tumbled when the CEO was murdered. They were worth nothing. That’s how the ranch went bankrupt. I’d counted on the funds.”
“A million dollars, huh. You’re right, you went bankrupt in Montana and suddenly managed to buy this place and without investors.”
I stared at Jagger. This was the first I was hearing about this. He’d done his own search and rescue mission so to speak. What else was the man hiding? Or was he playing our father?
The way Pops huffed told all three of us he wasn’t willing to tell us the absolute truth. “You know what you need to know. I’m no criminal. But I am a man eager to get home for a tall scotch. Take care of the resort, boys.”
Another knock on the door and I rubbed my jaw to hide the laughter. Yep. Pops was hiding the full truth, but what the hell? What did it matter now?
Dad opened the door and as usual when the beautiful vixen walked into a room, my balls tightened. This time, she was wearing a bright red dress. Her long hair had been styled with curls, her makeup entirely different than I was used to seeing.
“Wow,” Jagger said, and he threw up his hands to keep me from lashing out.
“Miss Parker,” Pops said to her.
“Yes.”
I wasn’t entirely certain which one of the four of us was more shocked when my father, the grumpiest man alive actually lifted her hand, kissing her skin with tender loving care.
“You’re the beautiful woman who captured my son’s heart. Maybe you can break the icy shell he has around him. It would be nice to have a family again. Maybe a grandchild on the way.”
Jagger coughed while Hunter walked away to keep from laughing in front of us.
I just stood my ground, waiting to see how the feisty woman handled the comment.
As expected, she gave him a playful look and even altered her stance into becoming a sexpot. “Don’t worry, Mr. Fox. I have your son on a very short leash. Very short.”
“That’s good to hear. And you can call me Dad.” He walked out the door without telling us goodbye and my brothers couldn’t hold back their laughter.
“Does he know something I don’t know?” she asked.
“Yeah, brother. What aren’t you telling us?” Jagger pushed as he clapped me on the back.
“Get out of here,” I growled more playfully than I was used to doing.
She gave me a haughty look. “Come on, boys. I’ll take you somewhere special.”
When she dared motion to my brothers, I issued a more primal growl.
“You are not going anywhere, woman.”
Hunter laughed and pulled Jagger toward the door. “That’s the way to handle them, bro. I don’t doubt you’ll be working on that grandchild tonight.” He closed the door behind them, but not before winking.
They thought they were so damn funny.
It was tough not to smile and for the first time in so long, the ability to do so without faking it felt damn good. I was lucky. I was free of the past.
For the most part.
There was always a chance an incident or another act of revenge would enter into my world, but I refused to allow that to alter everything I had.
Yeah, I was one lucky man.
“Come here,” I told her, even beckoning her with a single finger.
“And if I don’t?” Denise cooed.
“Then you’re going to have one sore bottom.”