It certainly felt like it when they were together. Hell, it felt as if no one else existed when they were alone. When they were naked. Fucking. When he held her hand, when he decided she wasn’t going to be bullied any more and swept her away. When she rode into the sunset with him with her entire life ahead of her—a new exciting life that promised so much more than the one she’d been living.
Wyatt had said Carter had been a pain in the ass when they’d been apart. Truth was Leah had missed him so much she’d ached, but she’d been busy preparing to come and be with him permanently, so she’d had something to keep her mind off it.
“Oh, God.” She took a swig of cola and stood. The urge to call him and make sure his bail had gone through smoothly was almost overwhelming. Was it the attorney in her? Or was it because she loved him?
“Damn it!”
She couldn’t call. She’d made the break now, a clean one at that.
She glared at her cell lying on the table.
It came to life. Ringing and vibrating.
She snatched it up.
Pops.
Her heart sagged. She had to answer it. Avoiding her father wasn’t an option, at least not forever.
“Hey, Pops.”
“Leah, thank God. I was worried when you weren’t home.”
“No need to be.”
“I’m standing on your front doorstep. I brought you flowers. A peace offering. The party didn’t end great for us.”
She hesitated. He’d never brought her flowers before. “Er, thanks. And no, it didn’t.”
“I wanted to give us all time to cool down before we talked it through. Guessed you’d be at work all week but home today.”
“No, I’m down south.”
It was his turn to pause. “With him?”
“No, actually I’m not. And I’ll probably be home soon.”
Probably. Didn’t she mean definitely?
“Oh, okay, good.”
“Are the flowers from Ellen too?”
“Of course, she means well, you know.”
“I’m a grown woman, Pops. I don’t need someone telling me who to date.”
“She just worries about you. You’ve been alone for a long time.”
“I needed to be, and please don’t take offense, but it doesn’t feel like worrying. It feels like meddling, and I can’t tolerate it.” It was likely the boldest thing she’d said to him in years. “You have to let me live my life with who I want to.”
“Well, he certainly seems very … protective.”
If only he knew the half of it. He’d been ready to “blow someone’s brains out” for her earlier.
“It doesn’t matter because I don’t think I’ll be seeing him again.”
Her father’s silence extended. Leah wasn’t sure if it was because he was air punching or stopping himself from prying more.