Page 43 of Christmas in Quincy (The Edens 0.50)

“Cleo—” I started, but she shot me a look and held up a finger, so I shut up.

Ray was lecturing on the other end of the line. Whatever he was saying, Cleo wasn’t listening.

“Dad,” she barked. “Shush.”

Ray’s voice grew louder, his frustration coming through loud and clear.

Cleo ripped the phone away from her ear and ended the call. “Grr. I just wanted—”

The phone rang in her hand and she answered it immediately. No doubt it was Ray. “I’m going to hang up on you again unless you can promise to be quiet and listen to me until I’m done.”

There was a long pause, then Cleo’s shoulders relaxed. “Thank you. Like I was saying, I have something important to tell you.”

My stomach knotted.

I was about to get fired.

No matter what Cleo said to Ray, it was inevitable. I’d lose my job and we’d scramble at Garrison. I’d cut my salary and take on any job I could get to make sure the guys had work, even if that meant adding celebrities to my client list. I hated their drama and the goddamn paparazzi, but I wasn’t about to sink my company. Channing might have to take some loans out for school but it wasn’t the end of the world.

I held my breath, waiting.

Cleo turned to me, the phone pressed to her ear, and smiled. “I’m in love with Austin.”

Her words hit me square in the heart. No matter what happened, hearing those words was worth it. Job be damned. She was all I really needed.

I reached out a hand and took hers.

She laced her fingers through mine and her smile stretched wider. “I love him, Dad. And I have for a long time. I’m going to be with Austin.”

For the rest of her life, if I had anything to say about it. We weren’t there yet. This was hours old, though years in the making. But soon. I’d waited long enough. It was time to throw myself into her life, full force.

“I know this is unexpected, but please—” She pulled the phone away from her ear and gritted her teeth. “He hung up on me.”

My phone on my nightstand buzzed.

“It’s him.” She sighed.

“Yeah.” I dropped her hand and went to the other side of the bed and answered Ray’s call.

“How long have you been screwing my daughter?”

“That’s not any of your business.”

“It sure as hell is my business. I pay you to protect her, not to—”

“I quit.”

Cleo gasped and slapped a hand to her mouth.

“Goodbye, Ray.” I ended the call and tossed my phone aside.

Fuck. That had deteriorated quickly.

“Oh my God, I shouldn’t have called him.” Cleo’s hands dove into her hair as she paced beside the bed. “I’m so sorry. Austin, I’m so sorry. We could have kept it a secret and he wouldn’t have known.”

“I’m not keeping this a secret.”

“But—”