“I am a man with standards. I don’t have a high tolerance for stupidity, disrespect, or arrogance.”
I slowly nodded. “I know, Dad. I know. I’ll be right back.”
I got up and walked out of the dining room to wait for Xander. I was having second thoughts about bringing Xander to meet my father. Serious second thoughts. I sometimes forgot how abrasive he could be. He was very abrasive.
I prayed everything went well. It just had to.
Chapter 23
Xander
I pulled my car up to the valet and got out, handing him the keys. Evie was standing outside the restaurant, waiting for me. I walked toward her, putting one hand on her waist and dropping a kiss on her cheek. “You look stunning,” I told her.
The dress she was wearing hugged every curve. It gave her an hourglass figure, a la Marilyn Monroe. I liked it. If only we weren’t having dinner with her father. My imagination was running wild. There was so much I could say to her that would get her juices flowing and get her into that bathroom stall with me pounding deep inside her.
“Thank you.”
“You are meeting me outside,” I commented. “Does that mean your dad isn’t here yet?”
“No, he’s here. He’s always early.”
I grimaced. “And I’m always late.”
“You’re not late tonight. At least, not that late.”
“Sorry,” I murmured.
“It’s fine.”
She didn’t move to go into the restaurant. I could sense her discomfort. “Is everything okay?”
“Yes, of course. Great.”
I touched her cheek, being careful not to press too hard and ruin the makeup she had so carefully applied. I liked the look on her. It was very dramatic. “If everything is great, why are you out here and your dad is in there?”
She sighed and looked down at her feet. “Because I felt like I should warn you.”
“Warn me about what?”
“My dad. He can be, uh, off-putting sometimes. He really is a good guy, and he has a beautiful heart and soul, but he can make it difficult for people to see it.”
I smiled. “Evie, I have dealt with men like him my entire life. I know how to fly under the radar and avoid saying things that will piss them off. I’ve told you my dad wasn’t the easiest to get along with. I survived him. I can survive your father.”
“You’re right. I’m making a big deal out of nothing.”
“If you are that worried about the two of us meeting, I can make up an excuse and bow out. I don’t want you uncomfortable. I agreed to come because I thought you wanted me to. If you would rather we not do this, I’m cool with it.”
She softly laughed. “I’m sure you are. No one wants to meet the parents.”
“But this isn’t that,” I reminded her. “We’re not doing an official meet the parents. This is me meeting your dad in a very casual way.”
She nodded. “You’re right.”
“Should we go in or do you need a minute?” I questioned.
“I’m good. Thank you for asking. Just remember, he is all bark and no bite.”
“Is he going to dislike me on principle?”
She gave me a look that said that was exactly it. She was so friendly and open, I couldn’t imagine her coming from a man that was the total opposite. “Maybe. He dislikes most people when he first meets them. It isn’t anything personal. It’s just the kind of man he is.”
“I’m going to be fine,” I assured her. “If he doesn’t like me, I will survive. I’m not going to get too hung up on another person’s opinion of me. I learned how to ignore that shit a long time ago.”
“I wish I was as thick-skinned as you,” she said. “I try and tell myself I don’t care what people think about me, but I do.”
“You are perfect the way you are.”
She looked up at me and smiled. “Thank you. Let’s do this.”
I opened the door for her and let her pass in front of me, taking a minute to appreciate the fine ass that was hugged and lifted in the dress. I looked away. I wasn’t sure where her father was sitting. I didn’t want him to see me checking out his daughter’s ass the first time he met me. I wasn’t sure what she’d told him about us, but I didn’t want to do anything that would embarrass her or make her uncomfortable. We were friends that had never seen each other naked as far as I was concerned.
Evie wound around a few tables. I could see the top of a man’s head with a menu shielding his face and assumed that was where we were headed. There was a slight hint of nerves in my belly as I stopped in front of the table.
“Dad,” Evie said.
The man lowered his menu and looked up at his daughter. Nerves turned to anger as I stared at Dr. Fucking Marsh. “You are fucking kidding me,” I mumbled under my breath.
Evie scowled at me. “Xander, this is my father, Dr. Philip Marsh. Dad, please meet Xander Holland.”
I stared at the man who had attempted to derail my dreams of becoming a ship designer. “Mr. Holland,” he said, his lip curling in disgust.
“Will you sit, please?” Evie pleaded with me.
I realized the people at the other tables were taking notice. I sat down, making a big show of jerking my chair away from him. “Marsh,” I said his name.
Evie sat down. I looked at her and could see the confusion on her face. “Do you two know each other?” she nervously asked.
I looked at Professor Marsh. “Do we, professor?” I sneered.
Marsh looked at his daughter. I could see the irritation in his eyes. I would not let him make her feel bad for this encounter. “I know this punk, yes.”
“Dad!” she exclaimed. “Stop it.”
“This is one of the worst students I have ever had the displeasure of having in one of my classes. He is the kid I measure all the other horrible students against. I have yet to meet a student that is as arrogant, rude, and antagonistic as him. This is your friend? Evie, we need to have a very long talk. You must choose better people to call friends.”
“It’s funny you say all that about me because that is exactly how I feel about you. Although I think I would add stubborn and archaic to my description of you.”
Evie held up her hands. “What the hell is going on? You were in his class?”
The question was directed at me. “I was. It was the worst four months of my life. I hated the class and I found every reason to avoid going.”
“Yes, because you were a spoiled, entitled brat who thought you knew better than anyone else,” he snapped.
I sneered at him. “My billions of dollars sitting in my bank account would say I did know better than anyone else, most especially you.”
“Bullshit,” he seethed, spittle forming in the corners of his mouth.
I slowly shook my head. “It isn’t bullshit. I made it, despite your attempts to hold me back. You did everything in your power to hold me down. I rose anyway. The cream always rises.”
He smirked, shaking his head and looking at Evie. “See? Arrogant. This kid thinks he is the smartest person in the room. He thinks he knows so much more than the guy with the PhD.”