Guided Love (Prick #1)

by Tracie Redmond

  "You scared the hell out of me, Dad!"

  He chuckled and moved over to the foot of my bed and sat down. "I apologize, sweetheart. You looked like you were thinking pretty hard about something. Had me worried."

  He still had a little of an Irish brogue when he spoke, but it was gone for the most part. Mom begged him to never let it go because it was what made her fall in love with him in the first place. He held onto it until the day she died, then he gave it up because what was the point?

  I loved the few times it came out. Reminded me of how much they loved each other and how much he loved all of us. He had left his family behind to make a family with her. The reason why that wedding picture was so important to me. It reminded me to never settle, to hope for something as wonderful as what my parents had. He gave up everything to be with my mother. Love like that is rare these days.

  I had only ever met his parents twice. Once the day I was born and once at Mom's funeral. Neither time really gave me the opportunity to get to know them, but they supported Dad when he found Mom and they never fought it.

  "I wasn't expecting him to come over," Dad muttered and ran a hand through his still thick and nearly black hair. "He took a few days off, which he never does, and wanted to make sure he was ready for the meeting."

  "You don't have to explain anything, Dad. It's fine. I'm over it," I lied.

  "Really?" he asked with a quirk of his eyebrow. His dark blue eyes twinkled with mischief.

  I sighed and stood with my chin held high. "I will be."

  He grinned, "If that is what you want."

  I didn't respond, because any denial would be another complete lie so, he watched me for a moment while I attempted to hide the turmoil running through me. Why did I have to care about that man so much? Why did he affect me like no one else could? It was really annoying.

  "He lives down the street."

  My head snapped up. No, no, no.

  "He moved into the old Johnson house several years ago. Left his mother behind in that nasty shack, made a name for himself. He is the youngest detective I have, but he is the best. I invited him over for dinner tonight."

  "What?" I gasped. My legs were starting to wobble, but by some miracle they didn't give out. The last thing I wanted was to act like more of an idiot in front of him. Especially when Conall and Fergus weren't here. I wasn't completely prepared to act like the grown woman I wanted him to see. I had little scenes ready here and there, but a whole dinner?

  I was so screwed.

  "We won't be off until after six o'clock tonight. Would you mind whipping up something special?"

  Against my better judgment, I nodded, my mind already planning a perfect meal to serve him. His favorite, my lasagna. Never had he spoken to me more than when I made lasagna. He praised and praised and praised while he was eating it and it had been too long since I heard him tell me how perfect of a cook I was.

  "Great. I'll see you later tonight, my beauty."

  He kissed my forehead and walked out of the room, leaving me to catch my breath and think about what I had moved back to.

  Any other woman would take it as an opportunity to seduce the man she had loved for so long without interference from her overprotective brothers. I was hoping to take it as an opportunity to get over him and show him what he had missed out on.

  "It's the only logical choice," I mumbled to myself.

  Lucas wasn't going to know what hit him, but it was too late for him to do anything about it. I was going to be over it by the time dessert was over.