Read Online Betraying Innocence by Airicka Phoenix - Free Book Online
Authors: Airicka Phoenix
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that coming from the grumpy little boy. “No problem.”
Seconds passed, each more suffocating than the last. Her father continued to watch them — or rather slowly magnify-roast Rafe like an ant at a picnic. Even the way he held the net, like a baseball bat over his shoulder said very loudly just how much he disapproved of the boy darkening his doorway and committing the ultimate crime — being within a hundred miles of his daughter. Ana could only sigh and pray to be evaporated on the spot.
It was Rafe who broke the palpable silence . “I should…” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder, already inching backwards towards the door. “I’ll catch you later.”
“Ana will be busy later,” Dad piped in, somehow making those five little words come off like a threat.
Rafe bobbed his head slowly like that made perfect sense. “Right. See—”
Bang! The door slammed shut in his face.
“Dad!” Ana exclaimed, horrified.
“He was leaving!” he cried with all the innocence of an evil villain. “Besides, do you really want to be friends with a guy like that?”
She gaped, too outraged, mortified … appalled to formulate words for a sold minute. Then it all came charging back. “ What does that even mean?”
“It means that boys who look dangerous, usually are. He’s a far cry from Jaime.”
“I was never interested in Jaime.”
Dad threw his hands up. “Well, maybe that’s the kind of guy you should be setting your sights on, Ana.” He put his hands up to stop her when she opened her mouth to argue. “Look, I get that you’re almost an adult and there’s something exciting about a guy like…”
“Rafe,” she supplied.
“Whatever. But boys like him only want one thing and I sure as hell won’t let him get that from my daughter.”
A na wanted to laugh. Rafe didn’t need her to get that one thing. Most of the girls in town were tripping over their panties chasing him. He had his pick of any one of them. But she didn’t tell her father that.
Instead, she folded her arms and replied, “I’m not stupid. I’m not going to let some guy go there just because he’s hot, okay?”
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I never said you were stupid, but that kid sets off all my daddy senses, okay? Just stay away from him.”
“I can make that decision on my own . I’m going to be eighteen next year.”
Dad squeezed her shoulder, shrugged his own and replied simply, “That’s still a whole twelve months away. Until then, I reserve the right to be a total jerk until further notice.” He shrugged again. “It’s one of the perks of being a dad.”
Then, w ith a brilliant smile, he pivoted on his heels and strolled into the kitchen, whistling.
Chapter Five
Ana
The creak of rusted hinges stole the thin wisps of sleep Ana was trying desperately to cling on to. It seeped through her wall of defense and her eyes snapped open. They darted to the door. Still firmly shut. They moved to the closet. Also shut. It was three fifteen in the morning.
Groaning, she pushed upright. “Dad? Is that you?”
Silence curled through the house , dense like fog. Part of her wondered if she could touch it if she reached out.
Mitzy hopped off the bed and slinked over to the door. He sat on his haunches and mewled.
“Now?” she hissed. The last thing she wanted was to open the door. “Can’t you hold it in?”
The cat twisted his head around and pinned her with unimpressed green eyes and mewled again, clearly not taking no for an answer.
Resigned, Ana pushed back the sheets and swung her legs over the edge of the mattress. She yawned and stuffed a fist into her eyelid. Still half asleep, she rose and shivered as the cold soaked into the bottom of her feet. She made a mental note to ask for a heater.
“I’m coming!” she grumbled when Mitzy growled his displeasure. “God you’re a bossy cat!”
Shuffling to the door, she yanked it open. Mitzy bolted past her, padding stealthy to the
Seconds passed, each more suffocating than the last. Her father continued to watch them — or rather slowly magnify-roast Rafe like an ant at a picnic. Even the way he held the net, like a baseball bat over his shoulder said very loudly just how much he disapproved of the boy darkening his doorway and committing the ultimate crime — being within a hundred miles of his daughter. Ana could only sigh and pray to be evaporated on the spot.
It was Rafe who broke the palpable silence . “I should…” He jerked a thumb over his shoulder, already inching backwards towards the door. “I’ll catch you later.”
“Ana will be busy later,” Dad piped in, somehow making those five little words come off like a threat.
Rafe bobbed his head slowly like that made perfect sense. “Right. See—”
Bang! The door slammed shut in his face.
“Dad!” Ana exclaimed, horrified.
“He was leaving!” he cried with all the innocence of an evil villain. “Besides, do you really want to be friends with a guy like that?”
She gaped, too outraged, mortified … appalled to formulate words for a sold minute. Then it all came charging back. “ What does that even mean?”
“It means that boys who look dangerous, usually are. He’s a far cry from Jaime.”
“I was never interested in Jaime.”
Dad threw his hands up. “Well, maybe that’s the kind of guy you should be setting your sights on, Ana.” He put his hands up to stop her when she opened her mouth to argue. “Look, I get that you’re almost an adult and there’s something exciting about a guy like…”
“Rafe,” she supplied.
“Whatever. But boys like him only want one thing and I sure as hell won’t let him get that from my daughter.”
A na wanted to laugh. Rafe didn’t need her to get that one thing. Most of the girls in town were tripping over their panties chasing him. He had his pick of any one of them. But she didn’t tell her father that.
Instead, she folded her arms and replied, “I’m not stupid. I’m not going to let some guy go there just because he’s hot, okay?”
He placed a gentle hand on her shoulder. “I never said you were stupid, but that kid sets off all my daddy senses, okay? Just stay away from him.”
“I can make that decision on my own . I’m going to be eighteen next year.”
Dad squeezed her shoulder, shrugged his own and replied simply, “That’s still a whole twelve months away. Until then, I reserve the right to be a total jerk until further notice.” He shrugged again. “It’s one of the perks of being a dad.”
Then, w ith a brilliant smile, he pivoted on his heels and strolled into the kitchen, whistling.
Chapter Five
Ana
The creak of rusted hinges stole the thin wisps of sleep Ana was trying desperately to cling on to. It seeped through her wall of defense and her eyes snapped open. They darted to the door. Still firmly shut. They moved to the closet. Also shut. It was three fifteen in the morning.
Groaning, she pushed upright. “Dad? Is that you?”
Silence curled through the house , dense like fog. Part of her wondered if she could touch it if she reached out.
Mitzy hopped off the bed and slinked over to the door. He sat on his haunches and mewled.
“Now?” she hissed. The last thing she wanted was to open the door. “Can’t you hold it in?”
The cat twisted his head around and pinned her with unimpressed green eyes and mewled again, clearly not taking no for an answer.
Resigned, Ana pushed back the sheets and swung her legs over the edge of the mattress. She yawned and stuffed a fist into her eyelid. Still half asleep, she rose and shivered as the cold soaked into the bottom of her feet. She made a mental note to ask for a heater.
“I’m coming!” she grumbled when Mitzy growled his displeasure. “God you’re a bossy cat!”
Shuffling to the door, she yanked it open. Mitzy bolted past her, padding stealthy to the
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