A SECRET SIN

11

“HEY, PIP. MIND IF I COME IN?” MY FATHER STOOD AT MY OPEN BEDROOM DOOR. IT WASN’T LIKE HIM

to seek me out. He was a busy guy and not the most hands-on type of father, so his unexpected

appearance had me instantly curious.

“Of course, come on in.” I’d been mindlessly scrolling on my phone, trying to ignore the fact that I

hadn’t heard from Bishop in two days. Or, more to the point, trying to ignore the fact that part of me

was disappointed that I hadn’t heard from Bishop in two days. I wasn’t sure how a person could be

so damn conflicted. If any more shots were fired among the voices in my head, I was going to find

myself locked up in a cute little padded cell of my very own. “What’s up?”

Dad sat on the edge of my bed, leveling me with a curious stare. “A young man came to visit me

today. He said that you two have been seeing each other.”

He didn’t. He wouldn’t.

I internally cringed.

Wouldn’t he? Hadn’t he made his position perfectly clear? Still, I was dumbfounded.

Dad plowed ahead, not registering my astonishment. “Why didn’t you tell us you were seeing

someone? And an Irishman, no less.”

My lips parted, but nothing emerged. I had no clue what to say or how to explain.

Well, Dad. We had a one-night stand, so I didn’t think it was worth mentioning.

Riiight. My father had never raised a hand against me in my life, but that just might do the trick.

“We’ve only seen each other a couple of times.” I decided that was safe enough to admit.

“I’m not thrilled about him being Irish, but knowing you and Noemi, I shouldn’t have been

surprised. You two always were more like twins than cousins. With her married to one of them, I

should have known you’d follow suit,” he grumbled wearily.

“We are not getting married,” I assured him.

“Well, I’m just letting you know I don’t disapprove.”

My brows drew tightly together as I studied my father. “I don’t understand. When I was in school,

you did everything you could to keep me from dating. Now you’re just suddenly okay with it?”

“It wasn’t the dating that bothered me, per se. There was just no point in any of those boys sniffing

around what they couldn’t have. I wasn’t about to let you get involved with some asswipe future

accountant or insurance salesman who couldn’t protect you. They don’t have a clue about our way of

life. Bishop can take care of you, even if he is fuckin’ Irish.” He said the last part almost under his

breath.

I was a little stunned but not so distracted as to forget what started this little talk. “What exactly

did you and Bishop talk about?”

“Not a lot, but he asked permission to formally pursue you, which I respect. Would have preferred

hearing about this from you, however.”

“I’m sorry.” I conceded somewhat reluctantly. Technically, I held firm that it wasn’t any of his

damn business. “So what did you tell him?” If these two men had already started talking about

weddings, someone was going to lose an eye, and it wasn’t me.

Dad waited to answer until I’d brought my eyes back to his. “I said I had no objections, so long as

it’s what you want.”

My gut did its best pretzel impersonation, twisting until I felt my stomach rise into my throat. I

was so damn torn. I liked Bishop—a lot—but the whole point in screwing him was to experience life,

not get myself tied down even faster. Getting hitched to the first man I slept with was exactly what I’d

been trying to avoid.

My father stiffened when I didn’t immediately answer. “All you need to do is say the word, and

I’ll make sure this guy never bothers you again.”

“No!” I blurted. “It’s not that, exactly. Everything is just happening fast. I’m confused is all.” I

didn’t want Bishop to push me into a relationship, but I also didn’t want my father to hurt him. My

entire body recoiled at the notion.

“You don’t have to do anything you’re not comfortable with, Pip.”

“I know, Daddy. Thank you.”

He sighed heavily. “I suppose I should have talked to you before asking him to dinner.”

“Dinner? Tonight?” Bishop was coming here to eat with my family?

Dad stood. “You’re right. It’s too quick. I’ll give him a call and tell him we need to reschedule.”

My hand shot out instinctively to clasp Dad’s forearm. “No, that’s okay. I was just surprised.”

Seeing Bishop again after two days of silence was too tempting. The tease of his intoxicating

presence was too alluring. I couldn’t send him away.

“If you’re sure, he’ll be here in an hour.” Dad studied my face as if searching for doubts.

I smiled softly. “Okay. Thanks, Dad.” I was glad my father was on my side, even if he was

overbearing at times. He always meant well.

Dad lightly tapped the faint cleft in my chin before leaving me to my dizzying thoughts.

Bishop had gone behind my back and spoken to my father. He’d disregarded my objections, then

brought my parents into it without any consideration as to how that might make me feel.

The more I thought about it, the angrier I became.

The underhanded asshat had tried to force my hand by inserting himself into the equation. I liked

the guy more than I should have, but he would have to learn I wasn’t the object of a negotiation. I had

thoughts and feelings and desires, and not one of them appreciated being disrespected. If he wanted to

win me over, my opinion was the only one that mattered. Not my mom’s. Not my dad’s. Mine. And I

would not be bullied into anything less.

Bishop needed to understand that I wasn’t the pawn on his chessboard or even the king or queen. I

was his opponent across the table. We both had equal stakes in the game, and cheating wouldn’t be

tolerated, which was exactly what he’d done when he’d gone behind my back.

I needed to send him a message that he’d messed up—show him that he wasn’t the only one who

could play dirty.

Thinking fast, I dialed an old friend from high school. Thanks to Dad and my love of basketball,

that was all any of the guys from school were to me. I had been Queen of the Friend Zone. I’d hated it

at the time, but it meant I had been accepted as one of the guys, and it was time to finally cash in on

that unfortunate designation.

“Pipsqueak! Long time no see.”

A beaming grin lit my face. “Hey, Archer. I need a favor.”