***
Paul nodded slowly, staring at Ty the whole time. “So you saw how that affected me?” He asked quietly.
“I did.” Ty rasped, remembering how Paul Ashton had broken down and cried. “I’m so sorry.”
But the elderly man only shook his head. “Don’t be. You were only doing your job. But I hope that showed you how strongly I feel about my daughter.”
“It did.”
“She’s my heart, Tyler.” Paul’s voice was barely above a whisper. “You don’t want to know what I’ll do if you hurt that girl. Trust me on that.”
“I understand, Sir.”
“Do you?” Paul tilted his head to the side.
“I do, Sir.” Ty nodded. Hell, his admiral had warned him about the man.
“Good. I’m glad we understand each other. You can court my daughter but on one condition.”
“Anything, Sir.” Ty would have even gladly given one of his balls if that was what it was going to take.
“My daughter wakes up in my house every morning.” The elderly man said, getting to his feet. “You see, I’m very old-fashioned. And till my daughter is officially living on her own, I’d rather see her come awake every morning under my roof and nowhere else. I call her a kid but at twenty-one, she’s old enough to want to stay out late. I don’t want to stifle my kids. But when I do a headcount in the morning, I expect to see my daughter. Got it?”
‘What the fuck?’ Ty’s facial expression didn’t change. “Got it.”
“Do we have a deal?”
Who was he to say no? “We do, Sir.”
“Great.” Paul moved towards the bar. “I would shake on it but I think a strong drink would be better. After all, it’s not every day I come face to face with someone who has seen me at my lowest.” Paul drawled, making Ty wince. “Unless of course, you’d rather not…” Paul paused in the act of pouring scotch into a second glass.
“I’m on leave, Sir. And I must admit I’ve never needed a stiff drink more.” Ty said drawing a chuckle from Tanesha’s father.
Paul came back to Ty, who was standing respectfully and gave him a glass that was more than half-filled with scotch. “To new beginnings.” He toasted, clinking his glass against Ty’s.
“I’ll drink to that.” Ty nodded and took a sip of his drink. Both men chuckled softly as they took their seats. “Thank you very much, Sir.”
But Paul waved his hand dismissively. “Call me Paul. And don’t thank me yet. That daughter of mine is one feisty girl. ‘I know my right, I know my right’.” He did a perfect imitation of Tanesha’s voice, causing Ty to burst into laughter. “Hope you’re ready for all her drama,” Paul said dryly, the expression on his face totally comical.
Ty couldn’t stop laughing. That was a totally different side of the man who’d nearly made him shit his pants just moments earlier. Paul Ashton had a sense of humour after all. Ty thought that was surprisingly refreshing. “That was a perfect imitation Sir…Paul.” Ty laughed.
“Been with the kid her whole life, Tyler. I know my daughter. But know what is going to make your ‘work’ difficult?” Paul asked, giving the word quotations with his fingers. “She is very intelligent. And she knows how to argue her case to make her opponent come across as either the devil or an idiot. I pity you son.” He chuckled, shaking his head.
“And why do you pity him?” Dora Aston asked, entering the living room and going to sit beside her husband. “What’s that?” She asked taking the glass of scotch from Paul and taking a sip.
“Want me to pour you…” Paul began.
“No,” Dora said giving Paul’s drink back. “So, why do you pity Ty here?” She asked, elegantly crossing her legs.
“Well, Ty wants to court your daughter. I was only preparing him for what’s coming.”
“And what, if I may ask, is coming Paul Ashton?” Dora turned stern eyes on her husband, who suddenly looked like a deer caught in the headlights of a car. Ty bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing.
“Dora, you know your daughter. I’m only…”
“And you think Ty doesn’t know her after being with her for a month? Give him some credit Paul. For all you know it was her feisty nature that attracted him to her in the first place…”
“Really Dora?” Paul murmured. “You really think a hot-blooded young man such as Lt. Cdr. Wesley here actually waited to see our daughter in action before getting attracted?”
“Well…” Husband and wife turned their eyes on Ty. “Tell us, Ty.” Dora looked very serious. “What attracted you to our daughter?”
Ty stared back at the power couple. Sometimes telling the truth was not a very smart thing to do. He didn’t think it would be in his best interest to tell Tanesha’s parents that he’d actually fallen in lust with their daughter immediately he’d first laid eyes on her…and she’d been fast asleep. As the man had rightly pointed out, he was a hot-blooded young man. And that body… But don’t let it ever be said that Ty Wesley was not smart.
“Her feisty nature,” Ty said, managing to look all serious.
All three were quiet for about three seconds. Then the laughter erupted. They laughed as though they were in a comedy theatre. By the time Ty was ready to leave, there was an easy friendliness between himself and Tanesha’s parents. As they walked him to his car, Paul and Dora told Ty they were going to be in London for about a week and asked him to keep a close eye on Tanesha as the attack on her had shown them that they had to be careful. Then Dora Ashton said something which totally blew out the deal Paul had with Ty.
“When you kids stay out late, it will be better for everyone if she spends the night at yours rather than come home late. We don’t know who’s watching the house, ready to pounce. I wouldn’t want to stay awake wondering when she’ll be getting home or whether she’s been kidnapped.” She turned to her husband. “I’m right, am I not Paul?” But before a confused-looking Paul could answer, she turned back to Ty, who was trying very hard not to laugh. “Just let us know whenever you people decide she’ll be sleeping over okay?”