Seven

Misha

“Are you sure you don’t mind spending two days in the middle of nowhere with my dad? You can always go ahead to Japan and I can meet you there.” The last thing I wanted was for Ethan to be stuck and bored for two days, but when he hadn’t answered my text, I figured he wouldn’t show on the fifth day and well, I did have a life to live.

He kicked back and stretched his long legs out in the spacious private jet, head resting on buttery cream leather and a sleepy smile on his face. “I’d like to meet your dad. Has to be a damn strong man to raise a woman like you.” Ethan wore a proud sexy look that made me uneasy and I looked away.

“He’s great,” I told him and launched into a few stories of my dad’s complete awesomeness and sometimes inappropriateness. The flight went fast because, despite his words to the contrary, we spent the entire flight talking. “Dad is a people person and no subject is off limits so you’ve been warned,” I told him shortly after the jet touched down on a private airfield in Urbana. We made the short drive to the three-bedroom split level I grew up in. Dad had repainted the drab brown house a sunny yellow color that made me smile as he stepped out onto the porch, looking tan and thin from his recent cruise with a lady friend. “Dad!”

The feel of his arms squeezing the life out of me made me giggle like a school girl, but was also the best damn feeling in the world. “It’s so good to see you, sweetheart.”

“You too Dad. You look damn good. Cruise life agrees with you.”

With a quick pat of his belly he flashed a naughty grin. “Oh, you have no idea baby girl.” He noticed Ethan and looked him over with a squinty eyed glare. “Who are you and what are your intentions towards my Misha?”

I rolled my eyes and hip checked the old man. “Dad give it rest. He’s just a friend and no, not that kind of friend.”

Dad took a step away from me and frowned. “Why the hell not? He’s good looking, has his own teeth and he looks fit enough for an honest day’s wage. And he’s young enough to have enough stamina to last all night.” Ethan flushed at my father’s appraisal but I was used to it.

“Dad, stop. You’re making Ethan blush.” Ethan’s blue eyes were wide with disbelief and discomfort. “Ethan this is Wallace Trent. Dad say hello to Ethan.”

“Ethan doesn’t’ have a last name?”

“Mahoney,” he finally found his voice and extended a hand in greeting which Dad quickly accepted. “Nice to meet you Mr. Trent.”

“Call me Wallace. Not Wally.” They shook hands and stared in one of those silent pissing matches men did so well. Dad broke eye contact and turned to me. “You look good honey, even if you could stand to wear a bit more clothing but hey, what do I know?”

I rolled my eyes and dragged my bag into the house, leaving them to follow. “Not much old man, but I love you anyway.”

Dad dropped Ethan’s bag on the floor beside the door and crossed his arms, fixing me with a faux glare. “You’re just saying that because you want me to load up that bottomless pit you call a belly,” he laughed and poked me in my exposed midsection.

“That too,” I grinned, looking around at the home that had been through many changes since I last visited a couple years ago. The rose upholstery had been replaced with green and white stripes and the faded cream carpeting had been pulled up to show off the pine floors beneath. “I hope you made your famous chili but we’ll have to pick up more lettuce for Ethan.”

He frowned at Ethan and winked at me before turning to face Ethan head on. “Lettuce? You’re not one of them vegetarians, are you?” He turned towards the kitchen and we followed, waiting for Ethan to answer.

I wanted to laugh at the affronted look Ethan wore. “No, I’m not a vegetarian I just limit the type of meat and the quality of meat that I eat.”

“Why?”

He gave my dad an indulgent grin. “Because my company, Aegle Enterprises, as well as myself are dedicated to clean and healthy living,” he said, as though he’d said it a thousand times over the years.

Dad’s face twisted in confusion. “Clean living as in no booze or red meat?” When Ethan nodded his scowl only darkened. “How in the hell are you supposed to have enough energy to make love to this woman all night on rabbit food?”

Ethan choked on whatever he’d planned to say next and sat down in a seat at the butcher block kitchen table. “Dad he eats meat but only if it gets daily massages and eats the finest birdseed.” I grabbed three beers from the fridge and set them on the table. “Don’t worry about him, he’s quite the ladies’ man so I suppose lettuce and carrots are sufficient.”

“Or he’s leaving a trail of unsatisfied women and that would be a damn shame.” He held his bottle up and waited for us to toast with him. “If you’re such a ladies’ man why are you and my Misha just friends ?” he asked, emphasizing the last two words like they were poison.

Poor Ethan was so confused, he had no idea what to say without offending someone. It was funny to see a guy like him so out of sorts but my dad meant nothing by it. “Misha is beautiful Wallace, gorgeous even. Hot,” his dark gaze landed on my cleavage before turning back to my dad. “But we’re just—”

“Just what? Too different? You think because you’re rich that you’re too good for my Misha?” He tried for a frown but I could see the twinkling amusement in eyes, similar to my own.

“Not at all. She’s smart and sexy, well not sexy I mean. Aww hell Wallace, she’s my fixer, okay?”

He finally relaxed and nodded knowingly. “Yeah well Misha doesn’t date her clients,” he offered up apologetically. “But maybe after this is all over you two could go out. I’m definitely sensing some sparks between you two.”

Ethan and my dad watched each other for a long time, each man studying the other carefully, looking for weaknesses. Then recognition dawned and he pointed at my dad. “The sex dude! You wrote that book on sex for teenage boys.” A smile split his face and he smacked a palm against the table. “My friends and I devoured that book at least thirty times, learning everything there was to know and comparing notes.”

Oh, did I fail to mention that my dad was the premier expert on human sexuality in the country? And in the western hemisphere. Yep he got paid to write about and teach sex and sexuality, writing books and papers, doing talks and even doing the rounds of talk shows.

Ethan looked back and forth between us, an uncertain smile on his face. “Are you guys for real or are you messing with me?”

“This is us, Ethan. In all of our totally weird glory.”

“Seriously?” I nodded, smacking our beer bottles for the second time. “I can’t believe that’s your dad.”

“Ethan, tell me about yourself.” Dad listened intently as Ethan told him about his brothers and his uncle and he looked happier than I’d ever seen him. More gorgeous too. Damn him.

“My family is crazy and loud but we’re close.”

“That’s good to hear. I want Misha to have a young man close to his family.”

“Dad, stop.” He smirked and sent me a wink that said he wasn’t sorry at all.

“Fine. So, Samantha Stevens, huh?”

I held my breath and Ethan let out a tense sigh beside me, both of us waited for him to finish. “Yeah.” He tipped his bottle into his mouth and drank half the bottle. It surprised me that he even drank the beer, but now it seemed like he needed it.

“I don’t blame ya one bit, Ethan. Sometimes you just have to tell people to mind their own fucking business. Some things are private.” He took a pull of his own beer. “Do you know how many people asked me about my wife’s death hours, days after her death? I didn’t want to talk about it then, and I still don’t. That moment belongs to me and Misha, no one else. Not even little miss fancy pants, Samantha Stevens.”

Ethan exhaled in relief and a grateful smile played on that imminently kissable mouth. “Thank you for saying that, Wallace. I appreciate it.”

Dad waved a hand at him. “I’m just telling you what I think son. Now,” he leaned forward on his elbows, “does that maca powder really increase libido?”

His lips twitched but he fought hard for the serious expression. “Under the right circumstances, yes.”

“Not that I need it, mind you, I’m still good and virile. Like a man your age.”

“Dad, stop oversharing.”

He stood and went to the stove to heat up the chili. “Honey you can’t overshare with someone who tells people how to get their bowels in working order. Right Ethan?” He winked and turned back to the stove. “That’s right I knew who you were the moment I saw those pretty boy good looks. What do you think Ethan, should I add maca to my noon smoothie? Is that enough time for the effects to kick in, if they work, for a little afternoon delight?”

“Dad!” He gave me that faux innocent look that I realized I must’ve learned from him. “Heat that chili up while I show Ethan where he’ll be sleeping the next couple days.”

“He won’t be sleeping with you?”

“Ignore him,” I told Ethan and pushed him down the hall and down the short staircase to the guest room. “Shower is across the hall, towels are in this closet here along with fresh linens and my room is at the end of the hall if you need anything.” He stepped in close. Too close for my peace of mind.

“Thanks Misha. Your dad is great, even if he is a little outrageous. I like it.”

“Good. I think he likes you too.” Truth was Dad seemed to more than like Ethan which I was happy about. I didn’t love the way he was trying to throw us together when I already had to fight my own attraction to this man. This client , I had to remind myself because it was important. Sure, we had some pretty rockin’ chemistry but he was off-limits. Completely and totally off-limits.

And the chemistry wasn’t all that explosive. Dad was just more astute than the average person, that’s all.

Instead, I thought of Tokyo.

And chili.

And it didn’t help one bit.