Free Riptide (Limitless Book 1) by Kinsey Corwin

crumbling down around her and she felt powerless to stop it.
    “Does it matter? Did you give any thought to what you were doing to my company? Or to me?”
    “Sir, with all due respect, I love your daughter, and nothing was done with intent to harm your company.” Hunter tried to keep his voice even, but Phoenix could see the tightness in his jaw and recognized the restraint he showed.
    Her father slammed his hand down and Phoenix jumped. Hunter placed his palm against the small of her back, trying to give her some support. She glanced up at him. He was worried, not for his career, but for them.
    “You want to screw around with someone’s daughter, do it somewhere else and leave mine alone! I want you out. Consider your contract voided.”
    “Dad, knock it off! He’s not going anywhere until he’s goddamn good and ready. You and I both know you aren’t going to cancel his contract.” Phoenix knew the pictures were bad. What father wanted to see their daughter in such positions with any man? Still, this was her life. Her relationship with Hunter didn’t concern him.
    “The hell I won’t. I’ve already contacted my attorney. He will be waiting for us at the office as soon as we get back.” He pointed to the man who’d captured her heart and made her feel so much more than she ever dreamed possible. “You are finished.”
    “I’m not in breach of my contract.”
    “Not yet, but you’ve been walking a thin line for months now. Pack your shit and get out. Aaron’s waiting to drive you to the airport.”
    Hunter’s hand slid from her back, brushing the curve of her ass, and leaving nothing but cold emptiness in the absence of his touch. “You have no idea what you’re doing.”
    “Hunter, I will drive you.” She glared at her father. “I have nothing more to say to you. When Hunter leaves, so do I. You can promote Lila to run the stateside offices. I’m done with you running my life.”
    “Phoenix Olivia Nash, you remember who you’re speaking to. I’m still your father!”
    “Yes you are, but I’m an adult and you can’t control who I fall in love with and who I don’t. If you go through with this, I’m gone.”
    Phoenix took a step back and grabbed Hunter’s hand. This was it, the line in the sand.
    “You can’t do this.” Her father stared at her, a look of panic and hurt on his face.
    “I’m going to pack my things. Leave you to talk.” Hunter kissed her cheek, and whispered against her ear, “Thanks for standing up for me. Guess you really do love me after all. See you in a little bit.”
    She nodded and when he left the room, she turned on her father. “What in the hell has gotten into you? Yes, you’re my dad and I love you more than you could possibly know, but this is unbelievable! I’m twenty-two years old. I’m not a baby anymore. I haven’t been for a long time. I was forced to grow up a long time ago. The sooner you realize that, the better we all will be.”
    “Phoenix, sweetheart, I need you to stay here with me.”
    “Why?” Tears streamed down her face. She was so mad at her father she couldn’t bear looking at him, but she forced herself to wipe away the tears, raise her head, and meet his gaze dead on. A look of fear and utter helplessness set in her father’s eyes. She hadn’t seen that look since she was nine and had hoped to never see it again, but this was her life and nothing he could say would keep her from Hunter.
    “As you’ve noticed, I haven’t been feeling well. I didn’t want to say anything until I knew for sure, but you aren’t leaving me much choice and to be honest, keeping this from you is not working out well for either of us. They found a mass. They’ve done a biopsy and are testing it for cancer.”
    She was wrong. There was something that could keep her at his side and he knew it. His trump card. Right now, she hated him. “Dad, you’re an asshole.”
    “I know and selfish to boot. But I wanted to have a definitive diagnosis