Page 31 of Lead Me On
“Then why would you hook up with a guy who’d knock you around? You need to get in touch with a therapist or something. This is sick.”
She shook her head. “It’s not what you think.”
“What is it, then?”
Jane pressed her red lips together, stubbornness written in every line of her face.
Mac grunted and shook his head in disgust. “I can’t listen to this. She’s my daughter.”
Jane’s cheeks paled, while Chase felt his face twist in undiluted confusion.
“Huh?”
Mac repeated the same strange words. “She’s my daughter.”
Hisdaughter?Chase looked from Mac to Jane and saw absolutely no resemblance. Then again, Mac’s facial hair might be throwing him off. “Your daughter?”
“Yes.”
When he met Jane’s gaze, she stared hard, her eyes shimmering with anger. “This is a personal family issue,” she bit out. “It has nothing to do with you.” She shifted, drawing his eyes to her legs.
“Sorry, but I’m really confused.”
Mac shrugged. “I don’t have time for this, damn it. I’ve got a customer coming to the shop in ten minutes. Jane, keep your ass out of that bar and stop acting like a goddamn fool.”
She rounded on him. “I have every right to be in there. One of his loser friends has gotten him into this trouble.”
“This is your grand idea for helping Jessie?” Mac scoffed while Chase tried to follow whatever the mysterious topic might be. “You put on a short skirt and a barrelful of makeup? What’s that supposed to accomplish?”
“It’s supposed to accomplish getting them distracted enough to talk to me.”
Mac threw his hands in the air. “I don’t want to have to worry about you, Jane! I’ve got enough to worry about.”
Her face fell. “I’m sorry.”
“Stay out of that place, Jane.” He sighed. “I’ll talk to Jessie’s friends, okay?”
“They’re scared of you.”
“Yeah, and somehow I think the threat of my fists could be more effective than the promise of something else from you.”
Chase wasn’t so sure of that, but he held his tongue, because Mac was her dad. His brain was still stuttering over that one. Big Mac MacKenzie was Jane Morgan’sfather?
Jane muttered something too low to hear while Mac turned toward Chase. “I guess I should thank you for trying to defend my boneheaded daughter.”
“Yeah. Sure.” Chase took the hand he offered.
“Next time I won’t hit you.”
He arched an eyebrow. “Next time I won’t hityou.”
“All right, then.” Mac’s mouth turned up in what could have been a small smile. “Jane, if you go back in, Arlo’s gonna call me, so don’t bother.”
Her jaw edged out as if she wanted to pout, but she gave Mac a hug before he left, whispering something in his ear. Chase tried to gather his thoughts, but they were like bouncing footballs, jagging left or right before he could grasp them.
“I’d better go,” Jane muttered as Mac walked away.
Chase glanced up at the night sky. “You’re kidding, right? You’re gonna leave me hanging like this? Jane…what the… Big Mac is yourdad?”
