Free Windswept (Siren Publishing Ménage Amour) by Diana MacArthur Page A

kind of slipped her mind. What was he doing there anyway? He never, ever showed up unannounced. She looked helplessly at Ryan and Chris who were now both awake and listening.
    “Papa, it’s a long story,” she began.
    “And one I want to hear in person,” he interrupted. “Tell me where you are.”
    With a sigh, Cadence gave him the directions and then hung up. Hugging her knees to her chest, she sobbed. The men put their arms around her. “I’m in so much trouble,” she whispered.
    “Cadence, we are here for you,” Chris said gently. “Please remember that we will support you no matter what.” Cadence nodded and managed to calm down. Shooing the men out, she had a fast shower and dressed in time to hear the main phone ring. She hurried down the stairs to find Chris and Ryan both dressed and standing in the kitchen.
    “He’s on his way up,” Ryan said. Cadence nodded and swallowed. She went to the door, reaching it just as a loud knocking erupted from the hall. Of course her father wouldn’t use the doorbell.
    With a deep breath, Cadence opened the door. Her father was standing in the hall, and the fury in his face was palpable. She swallowed. “Come in, Papa.”
    Without a word her father crossed the threshold and looked around at the apartment. He spotted the piano almost right away and walked quickly toward it. Cadence followed behind him and found him staring down at the two clarinets on stands beside the piano.
    “Papa,” she began tentatively. But he held up a hand, and she could see his jaw muscles twitching.
    At that moment, Ryan and Chris entered bearing a tray with coffee and pastries. Ryan set the tray on the coffee table while Chris strode toward Cadence’s father.
    “Carl,” he said. “Can I get you a coffee? Or something to eat?”
    Carl Bennett turned slowly and glared at Chris. “You,” he said in a low growl. “This is your place?”
    Anyone else might have been afraid of the look on the older man’s face, but Chris stood his ground. “It’s Ryan’s condo, but I live here.”
    “And now my daughter is living with the two of you?” Carl’s voice was beginning to rise. “Which one of you is she fucking?”
    “Papa!” Cadence gasped, and he whirled toward her.
    “I watched you leaving last week after the concert,” he told her. “I saw the holding and the kisses, but I didn’t want to believe it. So last night I came to your concert. I saw the way you looked at them ,” he spat out as he gestured toward Chris and Ryan. “But I thought that you were a good girl and that your studies would come first. No relationships yet. Especially with someone so much older!” he stopped for a second and swallowed. “You looked so much like your mother up there, and the music was beautiful.” He paused for a moment. “I wanted to apologize, so I went to your apartment this morning. And what do I find?” he was shouting now. “You’ve left your apartment to move in with them!”
    “Mr. Bennett,” Ryan began. “We were only trying to…”
    “Trying to get into my daughter’s bed!” Carl roared. He turned back toward Cadence. “If you don’t leave here with me this instant, you can forget about any financial support while you’re establishing your career. You obviously have it quite good here,” he waved his hand around to indicate the posh apartment.
    “But, Papa!” Cadence said. “They were helping me out!”
    “Helping my ass,” he yelled back. “I didn’t raise you to be a whore!”
    Cadence stood frozen and staring. How could he say that about her? She couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. Pain filled her chest as his hurtful comment drove straight to her heart.
    “Mr. Bennett, I think you need to leave now,” Ryan said quietly, stepping in front of Cadence.
    “I’m not leaving without my daughter!” Carl cried.
    “The daughter you just called a whore?” Chris sneered. “Somehow I don’t think that was the best way to convince her to go.”
    “You can