Any Day Now - Lani Lynn Vale Page 0,41

the record,” I said, “the clothes there are scratchy. The only thing I managed to find that wasn’t irritating as hell was a t-shirt with Nemo on it. I still have it. It’s in the dirty clothes that my mother came over and picked up to wash.”

“Your mother washes your clothes?” Amelia asked, bringing her coffee cup away from her face to stare at me.

I shrugged. “When she saw how much I was spending on dry cleaning, yes. But, I don’t like the way shit smells, so I have to have it done by someone that knows how to do it and what I like. I.e., my mom or a drycleaner. I pay her, though. In donuts.”

Amelia snorted and took another drink of her coffee.

Silas put his elbows on the edge of the bar and stared between the two of us.

“We will discuss the two of you and y’all’s recent sleepovers in just a bit.” He paused. “Now, let’s talk about the fire.”

We did, ending with where she would be staying.

“You’re coming home,” Silas said. “You don’t have a job anymore. There’s no reason you can’t.”

“There’s no reason that I should, either,” she pointed out. “Rogan Germain has fans everywhere, Dad. They’re not just limited to Kilgore. And I don’t want you to have to kill anyone in your hometown.”

She had a good point.

The doctored clip of her punching Rogan had made its rounds over the internet and by now, everyone with a social media account had seen the clip.

There would be no hiding from this when it came to Amelia.

Sadly.

“Adam offered for me to stay here,” Amelia said softly. “And I’d really, really like to do that. At least for a little while.”

Forever.

Silas’ brows rose at that.

Not because of his daughter’s words, but because, I’m sure, he was a fuckin’ mind reader.

Was there anything Silas Mackenzie couldn’t do?

Jesus Christ, I was going to marry the daughter of the real world’s Chuck Norris.

The man really was that badass—Silas Mackenzie. Chuck Norris really wouldn’t know what hit him.

“Adam.” Silas stood. “You want to come talk to me outside?”

Not really.

“Sure.” I picked up my coffee, got a refresh, then headed out to the front porch with him.

The moment we were out there, I tugged the door closed behind me, but not before looking back over my shoulder and seeing Amelia’s pleading face staring back at me.

I offered her a wink and closed it all the way, then turned to find Silas standing in my personal space.

“I know you’re a good kid,” he said.

I nodded.

“When she asked me if you could fly my helicopter, I knew that you were something to her. She would never willingly do anything like that if she didn’t have deep feelings for a man,” he continued.

“I feel the same way about her, sir,” I said softly. “I’m beginning to see a lot of things when it comes to your daughter. And I like them all.”

Silas shook his head. “She’s strong, willful.”

That I knew.

I didn’t bother agreeing or disagreeing with him, though.

I just watched as he began to pace the length of my porch.

“My daughter will do something just to spite me,” he said. “If I take her home, she’s going to do something dangerous. I’m going to leave her here, but only on one condition.”

I waited with my raised brows.

“You don’t hesitate to call if something happens,” he said. “Get her safe, then you call. I’ll handle the rest.”

“You don’t want me to call the police?” I asked curiously.

“You can call the police.” He paused. “After you call me.”

It was then I saw he was completely, one hundred percent serious.

“I can do things you wouldn’t imagine,” he said. “Response time out here? It’s seven and a half minutes. I’ve looked at all the logs for the calls out here lately. I can have people here in less than two if I need to.”

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll do that.”

Silas nodded once.

“Now, let’s talk about her.” He paused. “And your intentions.”

By the time that we went back inside, I had a very good understanding about how Silas’ mind worked. A healthy understanding that he would torture me—and I do mean literally—if any harm ever came to his baby at my hands. And a promise to help if I should ever need it.

It was a very enlightening, humbling experience.

I honestly thought I could hold my own out there, and it was proved to me that I had a lot to learn despite my years.

Silas Mackenzie, though? He may be shaking hands