Incarnate by Claire Kent Read Free Book Online Page B

date.
    There was a thick moment of silence while Seth hesitated. She knew it was entirely possible for Seth to demand to know if Justin had any plans for inappropriately touching his daughter. Or worse.
    Then Seth’s expression relaxed. His lips almost—almost—softened into a smile. “No. You've answered my questions.” He nodded and shifted his eyes to Mackenzie. “He’ll do.”
    Justin unwound visibly, his head sinking back against the couch with relief. And Mackenzie broke into a brilliant grin that caused an ache of emotion in Erin’s chest. The girl loved her father so much, and it meant so much to her that he approved.
    Erin was feeling unusually pleased with Seth herself. She squeezed his knee, giving him a particularly warm look.
    Seth just arched his eyebrows at her. Then his phone rang, and he pulled it out of his jacket pocket. “Excuse me,” he murmured, standing up with his back to them.
    Erin leaned forward and gave Justin an understanding smile. “When did you decide you wanted to go to medical school?”
    “A year or two ago. But I wasn’t really sure until…” His voice trailed off as Seth’s voice grew more distinct on the phone.
    “No,” Seth said in a hard murmur. “That’s not acceptable. You know what happens to anyone who defies me.” It didn’t take long for Erin to realize that, although it sounded like Seth was trying to keep his voice low, he intended for it to be heard.
    Justin tensed and shifted uncomfortably.
    “No exceptions. You only get one chance. I don’t have a reputation for showing mercy to those who abuse my trust. Especially with things that are important to me.”
    Erin inwardly rolled her eyes. Seth had done as well as could be expected. It wouldn’t be in his nature to leave Justin without at least an indirect warning about his behavior.
    For a moment, Justin’s eyes reflected a glimmer of panic. To his credit, he responded with a smile to Mackenzie’s light touch on his arm.
    “That’s my last word on the subject.” Seth clicked his phone off and turned back to Justin. “It was nice to meet you. Enjoy your evening.” He held out his hand for Justin to shake.
    Justin and Mackenzie didn’t linger long after that.
    When the teenagers had left, Erin gave Seth a speaking look, arching her eyebrows at him.
    “What?” he asked, retaining a stoic expression although the corner of his mouth tilted up slightly. “Did I break any of the rules?”
    Erin couldn’t help but laugh. “Next time, ‘no indirect threats’ is going to be one of the rules.”
    Seth leaned over and gave her a kiss on the side of her mouth. “I don’t know how I ever allied myself with such a bossy female.”
    Then he straightened up. “Anna! Stop hiding in the hallway and get in here.”
    A giggling Anna appeared in the doorway. “That was the funniest thing ever. I can’t believe Dad got out-talked by a teenaged boy.”
    Seth frowned. “That’s a clear distortion of the facts. No one out-talks me--except occasionally your mother. But I’ll let it go this time. We need to get ready to go.”
    “Where are we going?” Anna asked, shooting a questioning look over to Erin.
    Erin was as clueless as she was.
    “We’re going out to dinner.” Seth appeared blissful ignorant of his wife and daughter’s confusion. “But you both need to change clothes. Wear something nice.”
    “But, Seth, I thought we were going to stay in,” Erin began. She was exhausted and certainly had no desire to go out tonight.
    “Who ever said that?” Seth demanded. He looked back and forth between Anna and Erin as if they were the ones who had lost their minds. “I’m hungry. Hurry up and go change.”
    “But, Seth,” Erin tried again, more gently this time, “Anna might have had plans with her friends.”
    “No,” Anna interrupted, looking at Seth with almost cautious excitement. “Nothing big. We can go out to eat, if Dad wants to. But I thought he would have wanted to camp out here