I studied the man, trying to discern if any of Kennedy’s features were in his face. Thank God I didn’t detect a single one. She must look like her mother.
“I understand that Raphael isn’t happy I want it. That’s what I understand.” He rocked slightly in the leather chair.
“New Orleans has options for you, sir. You aren’t limited, but that particular piece of property. Well… you should know that if my father wants it, he’s going to get it. There are lots of ways he can make that happen. You should back away before there’s any bad blood between you two.”
“Is that a threat?” His voice remained even.
“No, not at all. But since you’re new, you might not realize how things work. In Philadelphia it’s possible you were the Raphael Corban of the city. If you wanted something, you could have it. That’s not true here.” I finished the bourbon and placed the empty glass on the corner of his desk. “The quicker you learn how my father runs the city, the quicker you’ll be able to have a successful business here. Otherwise, you won’t last. The original families respect him. They respect his wishes.” I couldn’t see where any of my words had affected him.
“But you didn’t come here for me. You came because of Kennedy. You like my daughter?”
“Yes. I do. We’ve had a good time together.”
“How old are you?” he asked.
“Twenty-eight.”
“A little older than her. Are you sure you’re not too old for her?”
“No. Definitely not too old, sir.”
“Do you have any kids?” he pried.
I shook my head. “No, why?”
“I want that hotel.” His eyes bore into mine.
“I’m trying to tell you as nicely as I can, that’s not going to be possible.” There were a lot of things that would go wrong very quickly for Lucien if he tried to hold on to a property my father wanted.
“You can have her.”
“Excuse me?”
He pinched his lips together. “You like her. You can have Kennedy for the hotel. And I think we could make a few other arrangements to benefit both families.”
I instantly broke out in a cold sweat. What the fuck? I didn’t want to barter a marriage. I didn’t come here to negotiate a trade. Hell, I’d charm him into letting me take her on a date, not spending a life together. I didn’t wait for him to ask. I grabbed the decanter and poured myself a second drink. I refilled Lucien’s in the process.
“What do you think? Tell your father I’d like to set it up. We can have a family dinner. I think that would be nice. I’ll host. Let’s say next week.” He scribbled something on a piece of paper, but I couldn’t focus.
I paced in the office, letting the bourbon burn my throat and make every thought I had fuzzier than the last. There had to be a way to work this. Barter freedom for Kennedy. Let her choose me, not be forced on me. This fucking hotel. The damn Vieux Carre.
“Here.” He shoved the letter toward me. “Take it.”
I’d never had nerves like this. The paper shook in my hand.
“I think you would be a good match for her. You’ll take care of her. There’s plenty of money. I saw how she looked at you. It’s a good match. No need for Raphael and I to be rivals when we could be family.”
I nodded absently without thinking about what I was answering. “I can’t give this to my father.”
“You will.” He shoved his hands in my pockets.
“Why do you think that?” I folded the paper and placed it in the front of my jacket. My second bourbon was empty.
“If you don’t, I’ll tell Kennedy that you rejected her.”
Mother fucker.
“You can’t.” I shook my head. I wanted a date. I wanted a night. Hell, I’d go as far as to say I wanted an entire summer full of nights with her. But what he was trying to do was more manipulative than my own father.
“I will. I’ll tell her you tore up the offer to marry her.” He leaned across the desk. “Want to test me?”
“She’s just a girl,” I whispered. It was true. A college graduate. Gorgeous. Smart. Sexy as sin. She had a decade to decide what to do with her life. It didn’t have to happen here in her father’s study.
“If you think she’s just a girl, why do you call? Why send flowers? Take her to dinner? Show up like this?”
I rubbed the back of my head. “I didn’t say she’s ordinary. I enjoy her company. That doesn’t mean I’m ready to look at rings. I think you’re forgetting there are family rules at play. Rules you are eager to break. I have a say.” I slammed my fist on the table. It was the bourbon surfacing. “I decide.”
“You can decide. It can be Kennedy. Or not.” He shrugged. “I’ll find someone else who will take her. Make no mistake about that.”
I felt a lump hard and painful lodge in my throat. The idea of Lucien contracting her to another family made me want to put my fist through the wall.
I glowered at him. “You’re a bastard Lucien.”
“What happened to ‘sir’? You’re talking to your future father-in-law.”
I only saw red after that. I couldn’t stand the sight of him. I couldn’t stand his voice. I charged out of the office and slammed into a maid in the hallway. Her dustpan clattered on the floor. I threw open the door.
I didn’t expect to see Kennedy leaning against the sports car.
“Hi.” She smiled. She had changed out of the bikini.
I moved past her, reaching for the door handle.
“Knight? What’s wrong? What happened?”
I slammed it closed. “I can’t talk.”
“Wait.” She pressed her hands against the driver door. “Have you been drinking? What’s wrong? My father said something. What? Just tell me. Or let me drive you home
