syllable he uttered, making the matter of fact way he told his tale all the more alluring. Blythe found herself leaning in closer, her interest piqued.
“Excellent. Do you have a lead on where he’s headed?” Thea looked immensely pleased as she tossed back her dark curls and winked at Blythe.
“My gut tells me he’s heading west. There’s not much to the east or to the north, and Phoenix is the only big city south of here. So west makes the most sense.”
“I trust your judgment one hundred percent, Jax.” Thea smiled then, clearly trying to hold back a laugh. “Have you been keeping your distance from the tables like a good boy?”
The man on the receiver chuckled before he spoke. “Yes ma’am. I keep my money firmly tucked in my wallet these days. I’ll let you know if I hear any more details, but until then, I’m heading west.”
“Safe traveling, darling.” She pressed a button on the receiver which ended the call, then turned to face Sebastian and Blythe. “How nice of you to come visit with us, Blythe. I know you must be very busy.”
“Was that the bounty hunter?”
“Yes, Jackson Murphy. He’s on Dante’s tail. It should only be a matter of days now.” Stretching her arms over her head, Thea yawned and sighed before looking back at Blythe. “Was there something you wanted to talk about?”
Warring between curiosity over the bounty hunter and her frustration with her father, Blythe decided it was best to push curiosity aside in place of more pressing matters.
“It’s my dad, Thea.” She began on an exhale, running her hands through her hair as though all she wanted to do was pull it all out. “He’s distracted, disinterested, and ridiculously careless. I’ve had to give him all my old books and notes from when you taught me so he could learn the proper way to do things, and he’s barely looked at them. I mean, the first couple of days he seemed to be committed and excited, but now it’s like he doesn’t even want to be there. I keep pushing him, scolding him, whatever it takes, but he isn’t responding to me. I’m at my wits end here.”
“Blythe…” Sympathetic, Thea leaned over and patted Blythe’s arm gently. “Brock has never had a very good work ethic. I’m sorry you’re frustrated, but there’s really not much I can do.”
“Can’t you tell him to get off his ass and get to work?” Irritation flickered in her eyes at Thea’s nonchalance.
“I suppose I could, but if I’m speaking honestly, which I always will with you, then I need you to know that I’m hesitant to push at him right now. Because of my decision he lost years of his life here, and I don’t have really any way to make it up to him. Except to give him time to adjust and to find ways to get those years back. That includes spending quality time with you, dear.”
“Well that sounds great, only he doesn’t want to spend much time with me.” Annoyed that she was being petty, she rubbed her face before looking at Thea again. “Look, I knew what to expect, alright? I knew he’d be difficult, I knew he’d be obnoxious, and I knew he would have a hard time keeping away from the ladies, namely my mother. But I guess I also expected him to give a damn about working with me, or even talking with me. God, he hasn’t even asked me if I have a boyfriend. Shouldn’t all dads want to know that about their daughters? He’s so goddamn self-centered he can’t see anything beyond what applies directly to him. It’s frustrating, Thea.”
For a moment Thea was silent, her gypsy eyes locked on Blythe’s. When she spoke, there was unmistakable pride in her voice.
“Of all of you kids, you have undoubtedly been dealt the hardest hand, Blythe. But instead of crawling into a hole and wallowing in your misfortune, you stand tall and make life work for you. I admire your tenacity, your determination, and your strength of will. I know you’re frustrated and more than a little disappointed in him, but give
“Excellent. Do you have a lead on where he’s headed?” Thea looked immensely pleased as she tossed back her dark curls and winked at Blythe.
“My gut tells me he’s heading west. There’s not much to the east or to the north, and Phoenix is the only big city south of here. So west makes the most sense.”
“I trust your judgment one hundred percent, Jax.” Thea smiled then, clearly trying to hold back a laugh. “Have you been keeping your distance from the tables like a good boy?”
The man on the receiver chuckled before he spoke. “Yes ma’am. I keep my money firmly tucked in my wallet these days. I’ll let you know if I hear any more details, but until then, I’m heading west.”
“Safe traveling, darling.” She pressed a button on the receiver which ended the call, then turned to face Sebastian and Blythe. “How nice of you to come visit with us, Blythe. I know you must be very busy.”
“Was that the bounty hunter?”
“Yes, Jackson Murphy. He’s on Dante’s tail. It should only be a matter of days now.” Stretching her arms over her head, Thea yawned and sighed before looking back at Blythe. “Was there something you wanted to talk about?”
Warring between curiosity over the bounty hunter and her frustration with her father, Blythe decided it was best to push curiosity aside in place of more pressing matters.
“It’s my dad, Thea.” She began on an exhale, running her hands through her hair as though all she wanted to do was pull it all out. “He’s distracted, disinterested, and ridiculously careless. I’ve had to give him all my old books and notes from when you taught me so he could learn the proper way to do things, and he’s barely looked at them. I mean, the first couple of days he seemed to be committed and excited, but now it’s like he doesn’t even want to be there. I keep pushing him, scolding him, whatever it takes, but he isn’t responding to me. I’m at my wits end here.”
“Blythe…” Sympathetic, Thea leaned over and patted Blythe’s arm gently. “Brock has never had a very good work ethic. I’m sorry you’re frustrated, but there’s really not much I can do.”
“Can’t you tell him to get off his ass and get to work?” Irritation flickered in her eyes at Thea’s nonchalance.
“I suppose I could, but if I’m speaking honestly, which I always will with you, then I need you to know that I’m hesitant to push at him right now. Because of my decision he lost years of his life here, and I don’t have really any way to make it up to him. Except to give him time to adjust and to find ways to get those years back. That includes spending quality time with you, dear.”
“Well that sounds great, only he doesn’t want to spend much time with me.” Annoyed that she was being petty, she rubbed her face before looking at Thea again. “Look, I knew what to expect, alright? I knew he’d be difficult, I knew he’d be obnoxious, and I knew he would have a hard time keeping away from the ladies, namely my mother. But I guess I also expected him to give a damn about working with me, or even talking with me. God, he hasn’t even asked me if I have a boyfriend. Shouldn’t all dads want to know that about their daughters? He’s so goddamn self-centered he can’t see anything beyond what applies directly to him. It’s frustrating, Thea.”
For a moment Thea was silent, her gypsy eyes locked on Blythe’s. When she spoke, there was unmistakable pride in her voice.
“Of all of you kids, you have undoubtedly been dealt the hardest hand, Blythe. But instead of crawling into a hole and wallowing in your misfortune, you stand tall and make life work for you. I admire your tenacity, your determination, and your strength of will. I know you’re frustrated and more than a little disappointed in him, but give
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