Free Dirty For Me (Motor City Royals) by Jackie Ashenden Page B

to make sure Robert was on board.”
    “This is not a takeover meeting, Dad. This isn’t business. This is marriage we’re talking about.”
    His smile began to fade, the look in his eyes becoming harder, sharper, the way it always did when she caused a fuss about anything. “You know, don’t you, what your mother and I have sacrificed to give you the future you have?”
    Tamara shut her mouth, biting down on the hot flow of words that threatened to spill out. Her father hated overemotional responses and, God knew, she wouldn’t make anything easier if she got angry with him. But that didn’t stop the sudden spike of fury that licked up inside her.
    A low blow, that reminder. Because of course she knew what they’d sacrificed for her. All the money that had been thrown around and the lies told to cover up what she’d done. To pretend that nothing had happened.
    Yet even though they never talked about it, never discussed it, they still knew. Normally she didn’t think about the unspoken weight of that knowledge. But now she felt it like a building falling down on top of her.
    “I know,” she said tightly. “I remember, Dad. Believe me, I remember.”
    The pressure of his gaze didn’t lessen. “All we want is what’s best for you, Tamara. That’s all we ever wanted.”
    No, that’s not what they want. They want you to pay. That’s all they ever wanted.
    Tamara ignored the thought, buried it right down deep so it would never surface again. “I understand. And I know you do.”
    “We love you, Tamara. Never forget that.”
    Of course they did. They told her that constantly ever since Will died.
    She looked away again, reaching for her glass and this time taking a much larger swallow than before, hoping to drown the sick feeling inside her. “I know, Dad. I know.”
    There was another heavy silence.
    “So,” her father said eventually, his expression softening again. “What do you think? Your mom’s gone a little crazy and organized something. I told her not to, but you know how she gets when she’s excited.”
    The wine sat uneasily in her stomach, the apprehension deepening into something cold and sharp. “What’s she organized?” It seemed the least problematic question to ask.
    “A small party.” Her father gave a rueful shake of his head. “I promised not to tell you.”
    Oh shit.
    “Not to tell me what?”
    God help her, there was actually a twinkle in her father’s eye, like he thought this was great news.
    “Awww.” Helaughed. “And now I have to tell you. Your mother planned a little surprise engagement party for you and Robert. So you’re going to have to pretend I didn’t tell you, okay?”
    Tamara blinked. She felt like a trapeze artist who’d just missed a vital catch and was now falling and falling into the net below. Except, there was no net. And she couldn’t understand how she’d missed the catch.
    “But . . . Robert hasn’t mentioned a word about this yet.”
    Her father’s smile turned smug. “Oh, he will, don’t worry about that. We’ve got it all arranged. He’s going ask you at the party. So just remember to look surprised.”
    Tamara opened her mouth. Then closed it.
    Her parents were doing what was best for her and perhaps she needed to trust that. After all, hadn’t she known that perhaps this had been their aim the day they’d introduced her to Robert in the first place? They’d encouraged her to date him from the get-go, had made loud noises about how perfect he was for her, and she’d happily agreed with them. Just like she’d agreed with everything they’d told her.
    But you don’t want this. You never wanted this.
    No, she couldn’t think that. She couldn’t ever think that. She had to believe this was the right thing to do. She had to trust her parent’s judgment. After all, her choices were suspect and only people who hadn’t taken a life got to make decisions like this.
    Anyway, she had to remember: her career and Robert. Those were her