“That girl has fought her way back. With the support of this lot, she’s clawed her way back to a place that’s bearable for her and I can’t tell you how happy, how much it warms my heart to see her sitting here, happy, healthy and telling me that she’s in love.”
He takes in a deep breath. “Now, I respect you, Cameron. I was shocked. I’ve gotta admit; I was fucking shocked when I found out there was something going on between you and my daughter, but, I’d like to think that I’m a fair man, so going on what I know of you and what you’ve done to keep my daughter safe these past couple of days and what you’ve done to ensure her safety in the future, I’ll give you the benefit of the doubt.” He rubs his hand over his jaw and hits Cam with a look that I’ve never seen on my dad’s face before, and I suddenly understand why Frank Layton is feared by many and has the reputation he does. “But, I’m telling you this once and once only. We didn’t get her to this stage for you to come along and undo all the good that’s been done this past year. Georgia’s health and wellbeing are my priority, but over and above all of that is her heart. This girl’s heart has been broken and shattered to a point where I never thought she’d feel again, and if you cause it pain, if you break it in any way, even just a chip or a splinter, I will hear it. If you cause the tiniest crack, a hairline fracture. No matter where I am in the world, how old and slow, I will hear it and, mark my words, I will hunt you down.” He still has Cam pinned with his stare. My hand is under the table squeezing Cam’s but his feels relaxed and cool, whereas mine is sweaty. “Are we clear, Cameron?”
“Crystal,” Cam says from beside me. “Now you’ve had your say, so if you don’t mind, I’d like to have mine,” Cam continues. Oh, fuck. I hold my breath waiting for my dad’s reaction, but Cam doesn’t; he just keeps on talking. “I know exactly what Georgia has been through. I know exactly what she’s still going through and will probably continue to go through for the rest of her life. I’m not stupid enough to think that love can conquer all. It doesn’t. I know that for a fact, but it’s a start. I know that I love Georgia and I’m pretty sure she feels the same way about me so we’ll use that as a base. We’ll start with that and build from there. Loving Georgia isn’t something new to me, Frank. I fell in love with her twelve years ago, and I stupidly let her go without a fight back then. I don’t intend letting that happen again.” I turn and look at him because I can feel his eyes on me. “I’d never been in love, Frank. Until I met Georgia, I’d never been in love. I know that sounds terrible coming from a bloke who was once married, but you know the coup with Chantelle. It was a marriage of convenience. I loved her like a friend, but I wasn’t in love with her. I’ve never been in love with anyone before Georgia, so I’ll be totally honest with you now and tell ya, I’ll hold my hands up to all of ya here and now and tell ya. I will fuck up. I will get it wrong, but I will never, all the time my heart is beating, not love your daughter.” He kisses the top of my head and then leans back in his chair.
“Well, I can’t ask for much more than that, Cam, and as long as that is always the case, me and you’ll not have a problem and should get along just fine.”
“Thank fuck for that,” Ashley whispers as quietly as Ashley can whisper, which is the average person’s normal speaking voice.
Jimmie stands from the table. “Right, now that I’m a complete emotional wreck, I’m going to get my children home.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Cam leans out the window of his car and speaks into the intercom built into the wall by the entrance to the property we are about to view. He gives his name and the ornate wrought-iron gates swing open.
We sit silently and stare at the long sweeping drive in front of us. The house can’t be seen from the road and the twenty-two acres the property sits on are surrounded by a twelve-foot high brick wall.
This is the fourth house we’ve looked at in two days and nothing we’ve seen yet has grabbed us.
“Well, at least this one looks pretty secure and isn’t sitting beside a motorway.” He reaches out, takes my hand and kisses up the inside of my wrist, causing me to shudder. I turn and look at him. He’s sitting behind the wheel of his sleek black sports car, wearing jeans, a white T-shirt and a black leather jacket. He hasn’t shaved all week and his hair is probably in need of a cut. It’s pushed back off his face and I love it, more to grab. He’s grinning his sexy-arsed grin because he knows full well my body has just reacted to his actions.
“Have I made you wet, Kitten?” he asks. I bite down on the insides of my cheeks as I suck them in, trying not to smile at him.
“You know full well you have.”
He licks his lips as he continues smiling. “Tell me.”
I raise my eyebrows slightly. “Why don’t you just have a feel for yourself?”
His smile vanishes. “Fuck, Kitten, you’ve made me hard.” He attempts to adjust himself behind the steering wheel, without much success.