papers on the desk. “Being his assistant keeps me busy. It’s not exactly what I had in mind when I started here, but it’s paying the bills.”
My dad’s private security firm is extremely successful. Jacob Owen, owner of Night Eagle Security, Inc., is well known in the world of privately contracted security and protection services, and he’s done a damn good job expanding his reach throughout the country. He’s got another office in Dallas, and the home branch is here in Wilmington, North Carolina. Most of the work my father does is out of his home office, but he’s always thinking bigger, especially when it comes to his baby.
His company.
“So, is part of your job as my dad’s assistant to pump iron on a daily basis?” I tease Kyle, prodding his noticeably larger bicep with my index finger.
His face reddens, and I giggle at his reaction.
Despite his good looks, Kyle has never been a ladies’ man. He’s just a tiny bit awkward with girls, and much too shy for his own good. So I’m filled with surprise when he meets my gaze head-on and takes one of my hands in his.
“Pumping iron is for recreational purposes only. Your dad won’t let anybody in as a security team member unless they’ve got Special Forces on their résumé, and that’s not ever going to be me.” He gestures toward his glasses.
I nod with a sympathetic smile. “Tell me about life, Kyle. You must have a pretty serious girlfriend by now with all those muscles.”
Kyle glances down at his feet, shaking his head. “Nope. Pretty busy with work here.”
I wave my hand in the air, dismissing the thought. “That’s silly. You can always make time for a personal life. Work can’t be your whole world, Kyle.”
His face brightens, and he meets my gaze again. “Well, maybe we could catch a coffee sometime soon. Catch up a little bit.”
I nod, smiling. “Absolutely. And my roommate is single. You never know. Next time we’re hanging out, grabbing a few drinks, I’ll let you know. Sound good?”
Kyle chuckles as my father’s office door opens and he fills the doorway.
At six foot three, 275 pounds, my father is a formidable man. His hair is cut in a short, graying buzz like he never got out of the army. I try not to roll my eyes at his stern expression.
“Wessler!” he barks. “Were you going to tell me that my daughter was here, or were you attempting to keep her to yourself for the entire afternoon?”
Kyle hesitates, and I can see the wheels turning in his brain, so I step quickly forward.
“He was just coming to get you, Dad. Do you want to go into your office and talk?”
He nods, extending his arm through his doorway and keeping an eagle-sharp eye on Kyle as I walk into the large room with the wall of windows overlooking the blue-green ocean.
My dad closes the door behind me with a sharp snap, and then he stiffly pulls me into his arms.
He’s not stiff because he doesn’t care; he’s stiff because he’s so damn big and ferocious that hugging is like a foreign language for his body. I flash back to all the times I wanted nothing more than to have him wrap his big, strong arms around me when I was still a little girl terrified my daddy wouldn’t come home. How many nights my tears dampened my pillow and the song that serenaded me to sleep was my own weeping.
As much as I try to hide it, I’m still that little girl inside who just wants her father to hold her close.
I pull back after a moment, and he looks into my eyes, concern weighing on the corners of his.
“How’s your sister? I heard about the hospital this week.”
I nod wearily. “Is that why you called? I mean, I’m glad you’re concerned about Gabi, but you could have actually just paid her a visit. She’s back home now. I’m sure Gemma could also do with some father-daughter time.”
I’m beyond sick of lecturing him on how to be a good dad. I feel like I’m in a topsy-turvy fairy tale; I’m always in the opposite position with him than
My dad’s private security firm is extremely successful. Jacob Owen, owner of Night Eagle Security, Inc., is well known in the world of privately contracted security and protection services, and he’s done a damn good job expanding his reach throughout the country. He’s got another office in Dallas, and the home branch is here in Wilmington, North Carolina. Most of the work my father does is out of his home office, but he’s always thinking bigger, especially when it comes to his baby.
His company.
“So, is part of your job as my dad’s assistant to pump iron on a daily basis?” I tease Kyle, prodding his noticeably larger bicep with my index finger.
His face reddens, and I giggle at his reaction.
Despite his good looks, Kyle has never been a ladies’ man. He’s just a tiny bit awkward with girls, and much too shy for his own good. So I’m filled with surprise when he meets my gaze head-on and takes one of my hands in his.
“Pumping iron is for recreational purposes only. Your dad won’t let anybody in as a security team member unless they’ve got Special Forces on their résumé, and that’s not ever going to be me.” He gestures toward his glasses.
I nod with a sympathetic smile. “Tell me about life, Kyle. You must have a pretty serious girlfriend by now with all those muscles.”
Kyle glances down at his feet, shaking his head. “Nope. Pretty busy with work here.”
I wave my hand in the air, dismissing the thought. “That’s silly. You can always make time for a personal life. Work can’t be your whole world, Kyle.”
His face brightens, and he meets my gaze again. “Well, maybe we could catch a coffee sometime soon. Catch up a little bit.”
I nod, smiling. “Absolutely. And my roommate is single. You never know. Next time we’re hanging out, grabbing a few drinks, I’ll let you know. Sound good?”
Kyle chuckles as my father’s office door opens and he fills the doorway.
At six foot three, 275 pounds, my father is a formidable man. His hair is cut in a short, graying buzz like he never got out of the army. I try not to roll my eyes at his stern expression.
“Wessler!” he barks. “Were you going to tell me that my daughter was here, or were you attempting to keep her to yourself for the entire afternoon?”
Kyle hesitates, and I can see the wheels turning in his brain, so I step quickly forward.
“He was just coming to get you, Dad. Do you want to go into your office and talk?”
He nods, extending his arm through his doorway and keeping an eagle-sharp eye on Kyle as I walk into the large room with the wall of windows overlooking the blue-green ocean.
My dad closes the door behind me with a sharp snap, and then he stiffly pulls me into his arms.
He’s not stiff because he doesn’t care; he’s stiff because he’s so damn big and ferocious that hugging is like a foreign language for his body. I flash back to all the times I wanted nothing more than to have him wrap his big, strong arms around me when I was still a little girl terrified my daddy wouldn’t come home. How many nights my tears dampened my pillow and the song that serenaded me to sleep was my own weeping.
As much as I try to hide it, I’m still that little girl inside who just wants her father to hold her close.
I pull back after a moment, and he looks into my eyes, concern weighing on the corners of his.
“How’s your sister? I heard about the hospital this week.”
I nod wearily. “Is that why you called? I mean, I’m glad you’re concerned about Gabi, but you could have actually just paid her a visit. She’s back home now. I’m sure Gemma could also do with some father-daughter time.”
I’m beyond sick of lecturing him on how to be a good dad. I feel like I’m in a topsy-turvy fairy tale; I’m always in the opposite position with him than
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