Yield to Love by Chanta Jefferson Rand

stood awkwardly while Roque thanked the
minister and the singer and then sent them on their way, leaving
her alone in the living room with Jade. The girl continued to glare
at her. Marlowe wasn’t sure what to say to the kid. She never
thought she’d be glad to have Roque back in the room.
    When he returned, he wrapped his arm around
his daughter’s shoulder. “I’m sorry about your spider, baby. We can
get you another first thing in the morning, if you want.”
    “ No thanks, Dad. I’m not
ready right now. I need some time to be alone.” She gave Marlowe
another glare.
    Marlowe scrunched up her nose. The two
stared each other down for a few moments before Jade walked
solemnly upstairs to her room. A slamming door signified the
release of her anger.
    Roque turned to Marlowe. “Happy now?” he
asked.
    “ A girl her age should be
collecting clothes, not bugs.”
    “ So, if she were a boy, it
would be okay?”
    “ I wasn’t referring to her
gender, I was speaking of her hobby. Why don’t you get her a dog or
cat or a fish?”
    “ That’s not what she
wants.”
    “ You spoil
her.”
    “ Look who’s talking. It
takes one spoiled brat to know one.”
     
    Marlowe marched toward the front door. She
would not stand here and be insulted by him. “You are enabling her.
No! You’re crippling her by indulging her every whim.”
    “ Everyone can’t be a
terrible parent like your mother.”
    She gasped. “There’s no need for
rudeness.”
    “ And killing my daughter’s
pet isn’t rude? Please tell me, so I can be straight on the proper
etiquette.”
    “ You wouldn’t know proper
etiquette if it jumped up and bit you on the ass. Any man who
purposely disregards the wishes of someone and sends his goons to
destroy someone’s mother’s possessions can’t possibly be concerned
with etiquette.”
    His eyes narrowed.
“ You’re still pissed at me about sending
that truck?”
    “ Give the man a gold star!
He actually has some sense of perception.”
    “ I’ve already explained I
was being helpful.”
    “ You were helping
yourself.”
    “ I told you I was on a
deadline.”
    “ And I told you I wanted a
chance to go through everything.”
    “ You can go through it in
Juan’s truck.”
    “ That’s not your call to
make!” A cocktail of anger and frustration surged through her. It
was as if she were losing her mother twice. She would not cry in
front of Roque. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction of seeing
her weakness. “Did it ever occur to you this is traumatic for me?
My mother has been dead for over twenty years. All I have is the
things she left behind, and you’re trying to take that from
me.”
    “ Do you hear yourself?” He
grabbed her by the shoulders, sending a jolt of electricity through
her. “This is just stuff, Marlowe. The real memories you have are
the ones inside you.”
    “ Damn you, Roque Coleman.
You think you can just wave your magic wand and the whole world
should fall in line?”
    He smirked. “Not the whole world.”
    “ Just me? Well, I’ve got
news for you. I don’t fall in line. I’m at the head of the line. I
make the rules.” She shrugged from his touch.
    “ You’re too emotional to
make a decision right now.”
    “ And you’re not? Your
emotion is pride. Fueled by greed.”
    “ And you’re high
maintenance. I bet this has nothing to do with you wanting to go
through your mother’s belongings. You just want to annoy me—and
you’re doing a damn good job of it!”
    “ When it comes to being
annoying, crass, and arrogant, you’ve got me beat. It’s a wonder
anyone can stand to be in your company.”
    “ I was thinking the same
of you, lady.” He got in her face. His nose was inches from hers.
“I’m glad I’m not your man.”
    “ Hah! You should be so
lucky. You couldn’t handle me, anyway.”
    “ Oh, I assure you, once I
handle you, you won’t want to be handled by anyone
else.”
    “ You arrogant
bore.”
    “ Spoiled brat.”
    “ You