Fall For My Ex’s Mafia Father

Gifts

Chapter 27 – An Invitation–1

I’m wolfing my breakfast down as fast as I can the next day, already wearing my riding boots and the tight fawn–colored jodhpurs I found not–so–mysteriously in my room this morning. I look towards the galley, but Kent isn’t cooking today.

Where is he? I can’t wait to get to the stable – to see Heathcliff again – to get started –

I drink my orange juice in one big gulp and Daniel laughs at me. “Seriously,” he says, his plate still full. “You’re not going to get my dad to appear any faster if you choke on your food.”

I smile at him and he grins back, tilting his head to the side. “It’s so good to see you happy, Fay,” he says. Then his expression falls a little. “I’m just sorry I didn’t think of it first – I had no idea you wanted a horse – I could have easily –

—

LL

“It’s okay, Daniel,” I say, putting a hand on his and giving him another bright smile. “I didn’t know it either. Or, well, I’ve always wanted one – but I had no idea it was a real possibility.”

He laughs lightly at me. “Anything money can buy, Fay,” he says warmly. “If you can dream it, we’ll get it for you.”

“Hmmm,” I say, winking at him. “You do know that I have a very active imagination. You might regret that, Danny–boy.”

He laughs at me again as I stand up, stretching. Kent comes through the door then, pausing a moment to look at me. I drop my hands and give him a big smile as he comes over.

“What,” Daniel asks, looking at his father. I turn my attention to him as well, wondering what Daniel is seeing. Kent’s face is

grave.

“I don’t know,” Kent says, shaking his head and rubbing his chin. “I don’t like the looks of this.”

I ask,

he says, gesturing towards the invitation. “Alden is using this opportunity to introduce your entire extended family –

go pale at this, a little scared. If just meeting my step–mom went

well. It was different, when I had Alden come here –

me to, I think, twisting my mouth a little, but

Write your comment

Gifts

– An Invitation–2

I’m making, “he wants all of his people, and all of my people,

see, indeed, that he’s invited us all to meet at a local

his head and Daniel joins him. “I

look between them again. “Wait,” I say, “catch me up.

me – challenging me, I think, to figure it out myself. But Daniel shakes his head and explains. “Fay,” he says, “when

see it as an…opportunity. Two birds with one stone,

picking up the thread. “Because Alden has greater numbers than us, he could see it as an…opportunity. To pressure us into deals we’re not

my eyebrows.

already sent out the invitations to all of his people all

and I

hesitating, “I

then, looking at me with humor and disbelief in his eyes.

little swat on my jodhpur–clad butt. “Go get ready!” he calls. “We’re leaving at 4:30, sharp!

I stare at

away.

he…” I

his voice

to look him, my eyes as wide as saucers. “Did your dad just smack my ass?”

I groan a little as she pins the last piece into place, finishing it off with some hairspray. My entire scalp hurts, each strand of hair having been combed and tugged and curled and pinned and

is a triumph, of course. It’s so elaborately curled and swept up delicately off my shoulders that I look

both of our faces in the mirror. She laughs, then, giving me a kiss on the cheek and then whipping her lipstick off my skin