“What’s on your agenda today, sweetheart?”

Emerson looked across the breakfast table at her daddy who was eating a plate of eggs and bacon. In the old days, he would’ve also had pancakes—his favorite—but due to the diabetes he’d had to cut down on his carbs. An unexpected feeling of love flowed over her when she saw the tenderness in his eyes. She and Daddy had always been so close, but lately, things had been strained between them because of the merger and Finley. She wished they could go back to the way they were before.

“Oh, not too much,” she said casually, taking a swig of orange juice. “I thought I might do some shopping, meet Dede for lunch.” She stirred the spoon through her cereal. Go to the rodeo, do a little barrel racing, go out with Riker, maybe go back to his dad’s house and hang out on the terrace watching the stars and kissing. Lots of kissing!

“What’s going on in that pretty little head? You’ve got a smile a mile wide.”

“Nothing, Daddy.” She glanced out the window. “It’s a pretty day outside, isn’t it?”

Ethan looked out the window. “Yep, sure is. Another sunny day in Texas. Who would’ve thought?”

She laughed at his sarcasm. Nine out of ten days in Texas were sunny. “I’m just happy today.”

“I’m glad.” He wiped his mouth with his napkin and leaned back in his chair. “I take it the auction went well last night?”

She shrugged. “It went okay.”

“Did you buy yourself a player?”

A grin curved her lips. “You know I’m not one to buy and tell, Daddy.”

“What did you do?” Caroline hissed as she rushed into the room and slammed a newspaper down beside Emerson’s bowl.

Emerson didn’t even look at her mama but placed a spoonful of cereal in her mouth. Chew and swallow, she commanded herself. She’d been expecting this all morning. Then when it didn’t happen right away, she breathed a sigh of relief. Sadly, her breakfast with Daddy had been the calm before the storm.

“Answer me,” Caroline yelled, pounding the table.

Emerson flinched.

“What’s going on?” Ethan asked, looking back and forth between Emerson and Caroline.

Caroline put a hand to her forehead, pacing back and forth. She spun around, her eyes shooting lighting. “You’ve done it now!”

“Done what?” Ethan clenched his fist. “Tell me what’s going on, Caroline?” he demanded.

“This!” Caroline put her finger on the paper and slid it over to Ethan.

Emerson’s heart thudded dully as she watched Daddy’s expression change from confusion to horror. He swore. The stricken look on his face made Emerson wish she could crawl under the table. “You bid on a football player and then kissed him?” He shook his head in disbelief. “In front of who knows how many reporters?” He rubbed a hand over his mouth.

“You’ve ruined everything!” Caroline screamed. “You ungrateful wretch!”

Ethan picked up the paper again and looked at it, his hands shaking.

Emerson could handle her mama’s wrath, had been prepared for it. The sight of her daddy coming unhinged was different. Tears welled in her eyes.

Her daddy gave her a long, searching look.“Why did you do this?”

She clutched her napkin. “I have a right to my own life.” Her voice sounded small and insignificant in her own ears. Last night, she’d been so sure of everything. She wished Riker was here by her side. She needed his strength right now.

“But some football player?” Ethan’s voice quivered. “It makes no sense.”

Caroline began pacing again. “I’ll tell you why she did it. She’s cruel and selfish!”

The hair on the back of Emerson’s neck rose. “Really? You’re accusing me of those things? All I’m trying to do is live my life the way I see fit.” Her eyes narrowed, her anger giving her courage. “For your information, Riker’s not just some football player. He’s my boyfriend, and I’m falling in love with him.”

The oxygen got sucked out of the room as Ethan and Caroline gawked at each other.

Emerson shot them both condemning looks. “You had no right to involve me in your merger with Kenton Landers.”

“What about Finley?” Ethan began. “He’ll be crushed when he hears this.”

A hard laugh scratched through Emerson’s throat. “I don’t care what Finley thinks! Did you not hear what I just said? I’m falling in love with another man who happens to be a multi-millionaire football celebrity. That should make the two of you ecstatic.” She stood.

“Sit back down, young lady. We’re not done talking to you,” Caroline ordered.

She was about to tell her mama off when her daddy caught her eye. “Please, kitten, sit down.”

She complied, folding her arms tightly over her chest. “Nothing you can say will change anything.”

Ethan held up a hand.

She clamped her lips shut.

Caroline shook her head, disgust heavy in her voice. “I don’t understand you.”

As she looked at her parents, something inside her shifted. “You know what? I’ve come to the conclusion that you may never understand me, and I’m okay with that. I don’t understand the two of you either. You should be happy for me.” Her voice broke. “You know those situations where you’d give anything to be able to do things differently? Like the time I was in high school.”

Caroline threw her hands in the air. “What’re you even talking about?”

“Hear her out,” Ethan commanded, his voice carrying surprising authority. He nodded for Emerson to continue.

“I was walking down the hall and saw a group of my friends picking on Kelly Peabody. Her eyes met mine as she silently pled for my help.” A lump formed in her throat. She swallowed it down, continuing. “Kelly needed my help—was begging for it—but I walked on past because I didn’t have the courage to stand up for her.” She let out a self-deprecating laugh, tears gathering in her eyes. “Here I am years later, the girl’s being picked on. She’s being forced to live a life that’s not for her, and I’ve been walking right past her, trying to avoid eye contact. The only difference is that girl’s me.” A sob broke through her throat, her hand going to her mouth. She gulped in a breath, straightening her shoulders. “This time, I won’t stand by and let it happen. I deserve a chance to live my own life. To choose my own love,” she finished softly. She looked at her daddy, surprised to see tears in his eyes.

“Do you really care that much about this football player?” he asked.

She laughed, tears streaming down her cheeks. “Yes, Daddy, I do. I’m falling in love with him. He’s a great guy. I want to bring him here to meet you. Once you do, you’ll love him too.”

Caroline let out a scornful laugh as she looked at Ethan. “You’re falling for this drivel?”

“It’s not drivel,” Emerson said quietly. “It’s the truth.” Time seemed to stand still as she locked eyes with her daddy.

He mopped his eyes, letting out a long sigh. “All right, cupcake. I think you should be with the person you love.”

For a second, Emerson didn’t think she’d heard him correctly. Then the joy took hold. She glanced at her mama who looked like she might have an out-of-body experience. “What about the merger?” Did she dare hope that things were working out?

Ethan gave her a tender smile, the one he used to give when he tucked her in at night after reading her a bedtime story. “Don’t you worry, honey, I’ll work that out with Kenton.”

“This is ludicrous,” Caroline muttered.

Joy bubbled in Emerson’s chest as she giggled. “Thank you, Daddy.” She rushed around the table and hugged his neck. “Thank you so much,” she exclaimed. “You don’t know how happy you’ve made me. You’re gonna love Riker. Promise.” She looked at Mama and felt a twinge of compassion for her. “You’ll love him too. Riker wants to come over Tuesday evening to meet you both. Is that okay?”

“That would be fine,” Ethan said.

Emerson brought her hands together. It was all she could do to contain her excitement. “All right then, I guess I’ll be going. I’ll see you two later.”

She practically danced out of the room.

After Emerson left, Caroline sat down at the table and arched an eyebrow. “You’ll work things out with Kenton?” She tried to hold Ethan’s gaze, but he looked away.

He stroked his chin, looking thoughtful. “You know, as crazy as it sounds, I’m proud of Emerson. It took some guts to stand up to us.”

“Don’t confuse sass with courage,” she snapped.

Ethan looked at her. “Didn’t we want the same thing at her age? A chance to forge our own path?”

Caroline felt her blood pressure rising. “Are you willing to sit back and let us lose everything because our spoiled, headstrong daughter has a crush on some flash-in-the-pan football player? This is serious, Ethan.”

He raised his hands in the air. “When I agreed to the marriage condition, I thought Emerson loved Finley, that I was doing her a favor.”

“You are. Finley’s a great match. Emerson will have a secure future with a handsome, charming man who adores her. What more can a woman ask for?”

“Love.”

He spoke the word so quietly, that for a second she thought she hadn’t heard him. Then it registered what he’d said. She let out a humorless laugh. “Love won’t pay the bills or feed empty stomachs.”

“We’re hardly paupers, Caroline.”

She lifted her chin “We’re giving her the same opportunity our parents gave us. She’ll come to realize it’s for her own good,” she said dryly. “Don’t be self-indulgent,” she added when she saw his glum expression. “You know what has to be done.” For all his bravado, Ethan was weak. When the chips were down, she was the one who had to make the hard calls. She was the glue that held everything together.

Ethan’s phone buzzed. He fished it out of his pocket, his face draining. “It’s Kenton.”

Caroline sighed in resignation. “Yep, I knew this was coming. Put it on speaker and answer.”

Ethan did as instructed. “Hey, Kenton,” he began in a friendly tone.

Kenton went straight for the jugular vein. “What do you think you’re trying to pull? I won’t let your daughter make a fool of my son.”

Ethan let out an easy laugh. “It’s not what it looks like. The whole thing was for publicity.”

“Do you think I’m stupid? That I don’t know how precarious your business is? This merger will benefit you much more than it does me. I came to you because of our friendship and because for some strange reason Finley loves your daughter.”

“This is all just a big misunderstanding,” Ethan blubbered.

“I’m not sure that it is. I think I need to take my software elsewhere where it’s more appreciated.”

“No, no, don’t do that,” Ethan sputtered. He had a wild look in his eyes like he was about to lose it. An icy fear trickled down Caroline’s neck. This is where it would all fall apart. Her throat closed. She took a deep breath, trying to get a grip.

Ethan looked at her, uncertainty streaking through his eyes, like a drowning man trying to grasp a buoy. Caroline put a hand on his arm. “Take a deep breath,” she whispered. “Ask him what he wants?”

“What do you want?” Ethan squeaked.

Long pause.

“You can start by getting your daughter under control.”

“Done.”

Kenton barked out laughter. “Sorry, but I can no longer take your word for that.”

Ethan’s eyes bulged as he tugged at his collar. “I—I don’t understand.”

“From now on, I’m calling the shots. Here’s how this is going to go,” he said crisply. “Next Friday afternoon at five p.m., I’ve scheduled for reporters to come to your house.”

Ethan was so pale Caroline feared he might pass out. “For what?”

“Finley and Emerson will publicly announce their wedding, which will take place the first Saturday in June. After the wedding, we’ll discuss the merger.”

“I don’t feel comfortable with that arrangement,” Ethan countered, regaining some of his color.

“Those are my terms. Take it or leave it.”

For an instant Caroline feared, Ethan would lose his temper and wreck the entire thing. She nudged him. “Tell him you’ll take it,” she whispered. “It’s either that or we lose everything.”

“Listen to your wife,” Kenton said condescendingly. “Do we have a deal?”

“Yes,” Ethan finally said.

“You’d better not blow it this time,” Kenton warned. “This is your last chance.” He ended the call.

Ethan let loose a string of curses. “Can you believe the nerve of him? We’ve known each other for years. We’ve golfed together!”

“After the stunt Emerson pulled, we’re lucky Kenton’s even talking to us.”

“What’re we going to do about this? I can’t hogtie Emerson to a board and force her to marry Finley.” He rubbed a hand across his forehead. “This whole thing is shot.”

Caroline drummed her fingers on the table. “Not necessarily.” She gave him a penetrating look. “What lengths are you willing to go to in order to salvage this?”

His jaw went slack. “What do you mean?”

“There are ways to fix this, Ethan, but you have to give me as much latitude as I need.” She snapped her fingers. “If I require your help, I expect you to jump.” She clenched her teeth. “Do you understand?”

“Yes,” he finally agreed, staring off into space.

“Good,” she snipped, talking mostly to herself. “I’ll get an investigator on that wretched football player right away. If there’s any dirt in his past, I’ll find it.”