Chapter Eighty One

Neal Patchett shook his head. “You’re wrong. There was only one thing Tess wanted and I got it for her.” he said. 

Understanding came slowly to him. “Me.” Dash replied. 

Neal turned and looked at Dash, his expression almost harsh. “You. She wanted you and I was damned determined she was going to have you.”

Had she known all along then? Dash wondered. Had she told her father she wanted to marry him and then waited for the old man to procure her a husband?

Remembering how difficult she had been to catch, he dismissed the idea.

He remembered too how Tess’s gaze used to follow him at business dinners and how she had been at her father's party. How she'd kissed him. Dash was positive that Neal had witnessed more passion between he and Tess at that party than he had ever seen with her and another man. He had drawn his own conclusions about his daughter's behavior and acted accordingly.

Hop