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“I don’t know what my future holds. The Shaws have given me my father’s portion of the ranch. I laid in bed last night, and sat in my father’s room for hours today, trying to decide if I want to stay here and make a new life, or go back to Texas.”
“And have you come up with an answer that quickly?” Dirk asked.
I shook my head. “No, sir. I’m torn. And now with Avery, I’m even more confused.”
Dirk stood and walked around his desk. He leaned against the front and crossed his ankles. “What’s happening with you and Avery is new. We remember that phase,” Dirk said, looking at Merit. “I messed up big time because I was too afraid to admit how I was feeling. Your daddy isn’t here to give you advice, so I’m stepping in for him.”
Tears pricked at the back of my eyes.
“If you care for her, and she cares for you, then you’ll find a way. If she’s just something you’re attracted to physically—”
“No, sir. She’s not. I mean, I’d have to be blind not to see how beautiful, er…how stunning she is, but it’s more than physical.”
Dirk nodded. “I’m only going to ask you to do one thing. It’s something I didn’t do, and I almost lost the love of my life.”
My eyes went to Merit. “Anything, sir,” I said, as I swung my gaze back to Avery’s father.
“Don’t hurt her.”
It felt like someone punched me in the chest. All the air left my lungs, and all I could do was shake my head.
Merit walked to her husband and laced her fingers with his. “Beck, be honest with her about how you feel. About your future. She acts like she’d be okay if you left, but I think you and I both know that won’t be the case. Even this early on.”
“I don’t think I’d be okay either, ma’am.” Looking directly into Dirk’s dark eyes, I said, “I swear to you, sir, that I will never hurt her. Ever.”
I held my breath as I waited for him to say something. When he dropped Merit’s hand and pushed off the desk, I fought the urge to close my eyes and shrink back.
Clapping his hands, Dirk grinned. “Thank fuck we got that over with. Bring me that shot glass, son.”
Standing there for a few moments, I finally got my feet to move me forward. I handed Dirk the shot glasses, and he lined all four up. Pouring them to the top, he handed one to Merit and one to me before he picked up his. He raised it and said, “May you someday have a daughter of your own.”
Merit giggled.
Confused, I looked between him and Merit as they both drank the entire shot. When they looked at mine still in my hand, I quickly drank. Dirk poured us each another.
Holding up his glass, he said, “To Beck Senior. He would have been damn proud of you.”
Tears threatened to spill from my eyes, so I quickly took the shot. I went to put the glass down when Dirk shook his head. He filled up the glasses once again.
“To having our little girl back home. To Avery!”
Merit called out, “To Avery!”
“To Avery,” I said, taking the shot.
Again, I went to set the glass down, but Dirk filled it yet again.
“To Beck. Welcome home.”
Merit and I both lifted our glasses and drank.
Dirk poured another round. “To family.”
Merit and I both said, “To family.”
I held onto the glass this time, swaying slightly, as I waited for Dirk to fill it again. When he set the bottle of whiskey on his desk, he turned, spotted my glass, and frowned. “You want another shot? You don’t have a drinking problem, do you?”
“No…no, sir. I actually don’t drink that much.”
Merit hiccupped. “Oh dear.”
By the time we were walking up the steps of Brock and Lincoln’s house, I had a buzz that could rival the worst ones from my teens.
“How many shots did you do?” Avery asked.
I held up my hand to count. “One in the living room. And…” I tried to remember how many we’d done in the office. “Five more shots in your dad’s office.”
“Six shots!” Avery shouted, causing Dirk to smirk over his shoulder.
“Beck, you did six shots?”
“Full shots,” I said, tripping over the last step.
“Daddy!” Avery growled. “How could you?”
He laughed. “Don’t worry, he’ll get rid of that buzz in about twenty seconds when the entire Shaw family rushes him.”
“What?” I said, grabbing Avery’s arm. “Did he say rushes me? What does that mean?”
Avery waved off my concern, saying, “Don’t listen to him. Try to take a few deep breaths.”
“I’m not drunk, Avery,” I said as I tripped over something else. When I looked down, I didn’t see anything.
Bradly hit my back and leaned forward a little too much, bumping into Avery, who steadied me. “You tripped over your own shoe, dude.”
