Incarnate by Claire Kent Read Free Book Online Page A

man—brown hair, brown eyes, and classic features. And he had an open, easy smile that Erin immediately responded to. She was pretty sure she liked him, and his friendly, social manner would be a good match for composed, reserved Mackenzie.
    Erin’s ironic side couldn’t help but giggle privately at the scene in the living room.
    Erin and Seth were seated side by side on one sofa and Mackenzie and Justin seated on the sofa across from them. Anna was peeking in from the hall with a malicious grin on her face.
    Mackenzie looked stiff and wary, her suspicious gaze focused on her father. Justin was smiling and putting on an impressively confident front, but he appeared slightly uncomfortable.
    Seth looked like he was about to give opening arguments in court. “Mackenzie tells me you play basketball.”
    “Yes, sir. I’m on the varsity team.”
    Seth appeared eminently unimpressed. “I suppose you expect sports to get you somewhere in your future.”
    Justin’s eyes darted over to Mackenzie, who was frowning at her father. “I expect basketball to help pay my way through a good college. Sir.”
    Erin’s mouth twitched slightly. It was a good answer.
    Seth’s eyes narrowed. “So you are planning to go to college?”
    “Of course, sir.”
    “Where do you see yourself twenty years from now?”
    “Dad!” Mackenzie objected.
    “He’s just seventeen,” Erin said softly, putting on hand on Seth’s knee. “It might not be a fair question.”
    “No,” Justin countered, “I’ll answer it.” He met Seth’s eyes squarely. “I’m planning to do pre-med in college, then go to medical school. I was part of a service project in Africa last summer and saw all the disease there. It was terrible. I’d like to be able to do my part to help. Sir.”
    Mackenzie’s face was glowing as she gazed up at Justin. With a pang, Erin wondered what adolescent male could possibly resist her daughter when she looked at him that way.
    Justin himself appeared torn between sheepishness and pride at having so well tackled Seth’s interrogation.
    Anna cackled audibly from the hall.
    Seth looked mildly annoyed. He cleared this throat. “So you’re one of those do-gooders who’ll always live without comforts because you’ve given all your money away?”
    “No, sir. I like money too much to give all of it away.”
    The set of Seth’s shoulders relaxed slightly, so minor a change that Erin doubted anyone would notice it but her. “So what are your plans for my daughter tonight?”
    Mackenzie sucked in a sharp breath and Justin adjusted in his seat. “I, uh, plan to take her to dinner at Antonio’s.”
    “Oh, that’s my favorite place,” Mackenzie said, her smile broadening.
    “I know. Then we’re going to a movie.” At Seth’s hard stare, Justin added, “PG-13 rated.”
    Erin couldn’t hold back a throaty chuckle, and she could hear Anna’s giggle echoing back from the hall.
    “And what time does the movie start?”
    “Eight-thirty.”
    “And what are your plans for after the movie?”
    “I thought we might go for dessert.” When Seth’s back stiffened, Justin added in a rush, “At an ice-cream shop. There’s one near the theater. But only if Mackenzie wants to.”
    “And where are you taking her after that?”
    Erin was pleased to see that Justin was no fool. He recognized the stony look in Seth’s eyes for what it was.
    Justin said, “I’m taking her right back home, sir.”
    “Dad,” Mackenzie tried again. Her cheeks were a lovely shade of pink. “You’re embarrassing me.”
    Seth’s face softened a little when he turned his eyes back to his daughter—who was clearly trying to appease him but at the same time have a semblance of a normal social life.
    “No, it’s all right,” Justin said. He looked Seth straight in the eye. “You can ask me any question you want, sir.”
    Erin smiled, feeling inexplicably proud of the boy and proud of her daughter for having chosen him. If only for her first