Free OVERPROTECTED by Jennifer Laurens Page B

your father comes to the table.”

    I let out a slow, controlled breath. Had I really expected Mother to change the way she treated me—even in front of an old family friend like Colin? Fine. I’ll spend the meal in Stepford mode.

    “Good evening.” Daddy entered the room in a swift walk. I’d never seen him in the courtroom but had imagined him often gliding in, commanding the attention of everyone in the room in the magnetic, powerful way of a ring master.

    His blue eyes smiled even as he assessed the situation in the dining room with one efficient sweep. He didn’t remove his ice-gray suit jacket, merely unbuttoned the buttons as he leaned over and extended his hand to Colin.

    “Colin.”

    “Charles.”

    Daddy came to me and kissed the top of my head. “Princess.”

    Then, he sat at the head of the table. With a smooth flick of his wrist, he plucked the cloth napkin and laid it in his lap. I glanced at Mother—Daddy hadn’t even acknowledged her. Her attention was riveted to Colin.

    Spices filled the air with a soothing aroma. I hadn’t looked at the artfully displayed meal sitting in the center of the table, too distracted with Colin and the inevitability of him dropping the bomb of what had happened at lunch today.

    As food was passed and dished up, my fisted nerves tightened even more. Why doesn’t he just tell Daddy and get it over with? I glanced at Colin, my gaze caught helplessly on the way his cheeks creased as he chewed, hinting dimples.

    Dinners were usually silent with the exception of Daddy asking about my day. Tonight, Mother talked more than she ate.

    “How do you like the meal?” Mother asked Colin.

    “It’s the first home-cooked meal I’ve had since I moved here.”

    Mother cleared her throat at the term ‘home cooked.’ “Have you spent much time on the Upper East Side, Colin?” she asked.

    Colin swallowed. “Not really. School’s kept me pretty busy.”

    “Is that where you lived?”

    He nodded.

    “Some of those areas are charming. Where was your apartment?” Mother seemed uninterested in meal. Her elbows were planted on the table and her eyes were glued to Colin.

    I glanced at Daddy, eating in silence, like me. Every now and then his light blue eyes rested on Colin with interest.

    “I have a place on Charles Street.”

    “Have?” Mother’s brows arched. “You’re keeping your apartment?”

    As if he sat on hot coals, Colin shifted.

    “A smart move,” Daddy piped. “The sign of someone who is prepared.”

    “Yes, but he’s employed here. As long as it doesn’t have anything to do with your level of commitment,” Mother said.

    I rolled my eyes.

    “I’m committed, Fiona.” Colin reached for his water goblet.

    He seemed jittery, like he had been earlier in the car. Was he uncomfortable in the spotlight? A grin slipped onto my lips just as Colin’s eyes met mine.

    My smile vanished, but I held his querying gaze until his attention shifted to his half-eaten meal.

    “Are you dating anyone, Colin?” Mother asked.

    His fork paused before cutting into the duck flesh.

    “Fiona, we don’t need to interrogate the boy,” Daddy chuckled.

    “I’m not interrogating.” Mother finally picked up her fork. “Just catching up with an old family friend.”

    “It’s his business, not ours.” Daddy’s tone sharpened even though he smiled. I knew the silent encoding well: topic over.

    “How did it today go?” Daddy waited for Colin’s answer. My nerves prickled.

    “Everything went well,” Colin said without a hitch.

    “I expected as much. Ashlyn’s an obedient girl. You won’t need to report to me unless something comes up.” Daddy’s firm tone was meant to remind both Mother and Colin of Colin’s job—in spite of sharing a meal with us and being an old family friend.

    Colin nodded. “Yes, sir.”

    Rebellion scraped my spine raw. An obedient girl? And why did Colin refer to Daddy as sir? Stuart had, but Colin had called Daddy