Page 21 of Burning Skies
I brace myself for whatever he’s going to say.
He steeples his hands on the desk. “It’s come to my attention that you’ve been put in danger, twice, at your job.”
Frowning, I purse my lips. “What are you talking about?”
“The rattler in your office and the fire in the bathroom a few doors down from your classroom.”
“How do you know about that?”
“This is a small town, Honey. Everyone talks. Plus, as boosters, we get a copy of the school newspaper.”
“Why are you still boosters? I thought that ended when I graduated.”
He looks at me like I’m dumb. “As one of the founding families of Wild Heart, we have a responsibility to support our town.”
“So… you want VIP seating at our football games.” Our team is great, so I’m not surprised.
“Don’t sass me.”
I hold up my hands. “I’m not trying to give you attitude, Dad. I’m just confused. Those two incidents you noted are the only weird things that have happened there since I started working at the high school two years ago. Statistically speaking, that’s pretty good. The most dangerous thing about my job is the cafeteria food. The tuna casserole is not fit for human consumption.”
“Regardless, we need to talk about your future. Assuming you want your trust fund, we need a plan.”
I bite back my irritation and force myself to stay calm. “Dad, I have a plan. I’m going to teach, shape young minds, get a pension, and retire someday. What’s wrong with that?”
He runs his thumb down one side of his white mustache as he stares at me. “It’s not befitting a member of the McAllister family.”
My throat tightens. I knew my father didn’t respect what I do, but it hurts to hear it out loud. “When I went to college, you said as long as I graduated and got a job, you’d support me.”
“And I did. Who paid for your car? Your clothes? Your education? Your damn hair appointments? Whostillpays your credit card? Now it’s time to return the favor.”
I jerk back at the anger in his voice. He makes me sound like a dumb Barbie doll. My parents taught me to care about my appearance. If he didn’t think I should get highlights, he should have said something. “If I had majored in agriculture like I wanted to, I would’ve gotten a scholarship, remember? You’re the one who insisted I do something more traditional.” While I enjoy teaching, it wasn’t my first choice. I curl my nails into my palms until they bite into my skin. He makes it sound like I’m a freeloader. I pay all of my own bills now. The only time I charged anything on his credit card since I graduated from college was some work my SUV needed when the brakes got shoddy. “What… what do you want?”
“I’d like to introduce you to a friend. Ian Fairchild’s family owns the Diamondback Ranch. He stands to inherit a fortune in cattle and land in Eastern Texas. If you marry him, they’ll give us oil rights to their property. Could make us millions.”
I knew my father was a hardcore businessman, but I didn’t realize he was a heartless bastard. “What you’re saying is you want to use me as a pawn in building your empire.”
“Don’t be so dramatic. Go on a few dates with him. Let him wine and dine you. We can talk afterward and go from there.” He points to our property behind us. “This is how empires are built, Honey. What do you want for your future children? A teacher’s pension or one of the largest ranches in Texas?”
I don’t have words.
His lips twitch. “Think of it this way. You go on a few dates with Ian, and I’ll look at your proposal. Just think of all the good you’ll be doing for your students.”
You’ve got to be kidding me.
He turns to his computer screen, essentially dismissing me, and I sit there trying to process what he just said. It takes a minute to realize he left out something important. “What about your estate? You said you’re updating it.”
Sighing, he reaches for his gross cigar. “If you want your trust fund, you’ll need to marry by the time you’re twenty-six.”
A cold sweat breaks out on my skin. “You mean insix months?”
After he snips off the end of his cigar, he leans back in his chair with a smile like he isn’t blowing up my life. “Then isn’t it fortuitous I’m introducing you to Ian?”
6
HONEY
Even though I’vebeen to Bumblebee Beauty Salon several times and now consider Baylee Reyes a friend, old habits die hard. As my brother pointed out, because Baylee’s engaged to Maverick Walker, this is squarely enemy territory.
