Free Dalton, Tymber - Contractual Obligation (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Tymber Dalton

to marry you off so you can live happily ever after. Your plan seems to be working too well.”
    “As long as it works, that’s all I care about.”
    “Be careful what you wish for,” he cautioned. “Trite but sage advice.”
    “I just want my dad off my back.” She quickly scanned her e-mail on her phone. If she did it around her dad, he tried to take her phone away from her, scolding her to relax. “I have a business to run, you know. And it’s a pain in the ass to try to do it with him riding me to take time off for a personal life when I’m perfectly happy with the business being my personal life.”
    She heard her father approaching the kitchen from the living room, and she dropped her voice. “And just because he’s feeling guilty for not taking more time off doesn’t mean I am or will!” She finished her hurried diatribe as her father emerged through the kitchen door.
    “What’s going on, sweetheart? You’d better not be working.”
    She held up her phone. “Gorden was just giving me grief for checking my e-mail, Daddy. Don’t worry.”
    Her father laughed. “Good for him. You’re not supposed to be working.”
    Gorden shot her a knowing look. “She’s her father’s daughter, Harrison. In more ways than one.”
    She stuck her tongue out at Gorden. She knew he wouldn’t spill the beans, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t give her hell about it in other ways, either.

    * * * *

    On Sunday, they had another great day out on the water following breakfast. By late afternoon, Harper was ready to go home.
    Her father, on the other hand, had other ideas.
    “Let’s have a long, three-day weekend, honey,” he said. “You and I both need it.”
    “I have meetings tomorrow, Daddy. And don’t forget, it’s Doug’s first day.” She looked to Gorden for help. “Right?”
    “I’m sure Gorden doesn’t need his hand held,” her father countered before Gorden could answer. “If he can keep you in hand, he can certainly take Doug through his first day unassisted. And you’re the boss. You can reschedule your meetings.”
    She didn’t fail to spot Gorden’s amused smile and shot him a glare. “Daddy, who’s running this company now? You or me?”
    “Oh, fine. Can’t blame a father for trying.”
    “She is right, though, Harrison,” Gorden finally said. “Her morning meeting is with a DoD client. She can’t blow that one off.”
    “Department of Defense, huh? Maybe I should sit in on that one, too.” He grinned.
    She glared at him. “Oh, no you don’t. My company to run. Remember our deal?”
    He let out an exaggerated sigh. “I think you learned too well from me, sweetheart. All right, fine, we’ll go home.” He waggled a finger at her. “But next Friday, be prepared. You’re coming back down here with me for the weekend.”
    “Fine. No problem.” It was easier to give in than it was to argue with him on the subject. The truth was, of course, she didn’t mind coming with him to the Boca Grande house. And she loved their fishing trips together. What she didn’t want to do was deal with him pressuring her to relax. That took all the relaxation out of their time together.
    Hopefully, in a few weeks, that wouldn’t be an issue any longer.

Chapter Nine

    Monday morning, Doug arrived at Gorden’s office ten minutes early. He didn’t want to make a bad impression on his first official day of work. They had meetings in the morning that didn’t mean a whole lot to Doug, but he paid attention and took notes anyway. He didn’t see Harper much outside of the meetings, but he learned about her by observing her. She was all business, professional, friendly, but definitely no pushover. She expertly maneuvered people into the positions she wanted. She could have been in business decades instead of years.
    By lunch time, he was ready for a break and glad that Gorden suggested going out. Gorden took him over to Ybor City, to the Columbia restaurant.
    “So,” Gorden started after the