Chapter 23
Luke
“Time doesn’t go any faster just because you keep looking at your watch, son.”
I glanced up at my dad, guilt gnawing at me that I’d been distracted enough during our visit that he noticed.
“Sorry.” The truth was, I’d been thinking about Mina and whether to call her.
It had been a couple of days since I’d seen her.
We’d talked, but I’d been too busy to make it back to Parker’s Landing.
Kado had been overseeing the job in my absence.
“Don’t be. Tell me what’s got you anxious to leave.”
Leaning forward with my elbows propped on my knees, I rubbed my hands together and stared out the window for a long moment. “It’s not so much that I’m anxious to leave. I’m just…” I shrugged and looked at him. “I met someone.”
Eyes widening, Dad stared at me. Then, a slow smile spread over his face. “Really?”
“Really.” An answering smile kicked up one side of my mouth. “You know her too. Mina Kensington.”
Just as quickly, Dad’s smile disappeared. “A client? Son—”
I held up a hand. “I know what you’re going to say. Don’t mix business with pleasure and all that. It wasn’t like I was looking to start something with her. It just sort of happened. She’s amazing.”
“I agree, but…” Dad’s voice trailed off and he shook his head. “How’s it working out? That reno hasn’t been the easiest. Now you add a relationship into the mix?”
I sat back, crossing my arms. “It’s definitely complicated. The renovation side of things is going fine.”
“Uh-oh. That sounds like the relationship is in trouble.”
“It’s not that it’s in trouble, it’s just”—again, I shrugged—“complicated.”
“What’s complicated about it? You either like the woman and want to be with her or you don’t.”
“I do like her, but I’m not the one complicating things.”
“Mina’s being unreasonable?” Dad frowned.
“No. I think it’s more that she’s seeing things that aren’t there.”
“Such as?”
“Do you remember Taylor Bray?”
“Henry Bray’s daughter? The one you dated after we did their cabin remodel?”
I nodded. “Yeah. She stumbled through Parker’s Landing the other day, and it just happened to be when I was with Mina.
Now, I think Mina feels like she doesn’t measure up.
That she’s not pretty enough or young enough.
” I blew out a breath, getting more perturbed about the situation as I talked.
“I don’t understand it. She’s beautiful, and I don’t care that she’s older than me. ”
“Have you told her that?”
“I tried, but I got called away before I could, and now I haven’t seen her in a few days, and we haven’t had more than a couple of phone chats and some text messages.”
Dad groaned and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Why didn’t you go talk to her the moment you had a second?”
I snorted. “Because I haven’t had a second. This happened the day you had to have that second stent placed. I’ve either been here or working since.”
“I didn’t ask you to be here.” Dad held out a hand and motioned to his room at the rehab center, where he currently lived until the doctors were happy for him to go home.
“I know you didn’t, but it doesn’t change the fact that I want to be. You’re my dad.” Why was he upset I wanted to visit him?
“I get that, but I also know your life is busier than busy with me out of commission. Some days, a phone call will suffice, Luke. If you want a relationship with Mina to work, you need to put some of your time toward her. You can’t put in minimal effort for days on end and expect everything to stay hunky-dory. ”
Jaw working, I looked out the window. I knew he was right, but that didn’t mean I liked being called out on my hesitation.
“Why haven’t you stopped to talk to her?” He lifted a hand to point a finger at me. “I want a real answer, not some BS line about being busy.”
“I guess—” I stopped, shrugged, then tried again, turning to look at him.
“I guess I’m just worried she’ll push me away.
If I don’t go see her, everything stays status quo, right?
” An ironic tilt drew up one side of my mouth.
“I know by continuing to avoid contact, the distance is growing between us, but in my mind, it feels like we’re just stuck on the spot we left off, you know? Like we pushed pause.”
“Ah. No, I understand that. But eventually, even on pause, things shut down. If you don’t want to have to start over with her, you need to press play, son.”
Turning away again, I worried the corner of my cheek with my teeth. “I know.” And I did, but that didn’t make it any easier to get past the fear.
“Why are you still sitting there?”
My gaze snapped to his. “You think I should go now?” I glanced at my watch. It was already after eight.
“Yes.” Dad narrowed his eyes. “I already told you I don’t need you to babysit me.”
“I’m not babysitting you.”
“Sure, sure.” He waved a hand and rolled his eyes. “If you’re not here, it’s your mother or your sister. I never get to be alone. But that’s a different discussion. Go woo your lady friend. I like Mina, Aalot more than that Bray girl, and I don’t want you to screw this up.”
I barked a short laugh. “How about this? I’ll leave you be, so you can get some alone time. Tomorrow, I promise I will go see Mina.”
Dad’s mouth opened, and I could see the protest forming on his face.
I held up a hand. “She has to get up early for work and will probably go to bed in the next hour. I don’t want this to be a rushed discussion.”
“Fine.” He wagged a finger at me. “But you better do it. I expect an update tomorrow—with a phone call.”
Smiling, I stood. “Yes, sir.” Snatching my keys off the table by the chair I just vacated, I turned for the door.
“Luke?”
I paused and looked at him in question.
“I’m not sure I’ve said it, but thank you for taking over the way you have. I know it’s a lot, but you’re doing great, and I’m proud of you.”
The lump of emotion that formed in my throat temporarily choked off my words.
I swallowed it down. “Thank you. And you’re welcome, Dad.
Even knowing how much work it is now, I’d do it again in a second.
” Walking over to the bed, I put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed lightly.
“I’ll see you later. Get some rest, yeah? ”
He reached up and patted my hand. “Yeah. Now get out of here.”
My smile returning, I stepped back. “Have a good night.” With a quick wave, I left.
In the hall, I glanced at my watch once more.
I know I said I wanted to wait until tomorrow, but was it wise?
It had already been three days. We’d gone the whole weekend with little contact.
It was more than last time life got in the way and I turned chicken, but I knew I was verging on being that guy who ghosted her again.
After I left Parker’s Landing Thursday, I spent Friday at the hospital with Dad or at the office, so I could be nearby if something happened.
Over the weekend, I caught up with other projects and spent time with my family.
Other than a few phone calls to keep her updated on Dad, a quick chat on Saturday in between moving from one mound of paperwork to another, and a text yesterday to tell her I missed her, we hadn’t had a meaningful conversation about Taylor and Mina’s reaction to her.
Finishing that conversation wasn’t something I wanted to do over the phone.
The doors to the facility swished open, releasing me into the warm evening air. I crossed to my truck and hopped in.
While the engine rumbled to life and settled into a steady idle, I stared down the road, debating what to do.
My gaze landed on the clock.
Eight-seventeen.
Screw it.
I buckled my seatbelt and put the truck in gear.
She could just be tired tomorrow.
Or she might slam the door in your face.
Grimacing, I acknowledged that possibility, but I kept my truck pointed toward Parker’s Landing.
Nerves ate at my gut the entire way there, until when I finally arrived at Mina’s, I was sure if it were visible, it’d look like a moth-eaten piece of cloth.
I didn’t let it stop me, though. Parking in her driveway, I walked up to her front door, purpose in every step.
Rapping my knuckles on her door, I waited.
Sweat dampened my palms as the seconds passed. I swiped them on my jeans, and a moment later, the front door swung open.
“Hi.”
Her soft, lilting voice sent a wave of yearning through me. I wanted to reach out and fold her into my arms, but I didn’t dare. Not until we cleared the air.
“Hey. Can I come in?”
Without a word, she stepped back so I could move past her.
The door snicked closed behind me, and I turned to face her.
“How’s your dad?” she asked.
“He’s good.” Guilt sucker-punched me. For days, I’d kept my distance, used my dad and work as excuses, and here she was, asking me how he was doing. I should have come by sooner.
The first hint of a smile crossed her lips. “I’m glad.”
“Me too.” Reaching up, I rubbed the back of my neck. “Mina, I—”
Her phone rang from the living room. I bit back a groan as she held up a finger and turned away to answer it.
Following behind, I was close enough to see the frown cross her face as she picked up her cell. Before I could ask what was wrong, she swiped her finger over the screen and answered.
“Hello?”
I hung back and waited, getting increasingly more concerned as her frown deepened. When she gasped and her gaze met mine, worry in her eyes, my senses went on alert.
“Okay. I’m on my way. Thank you.” Quickly, she hung up.
“What?” I moved a step closer. “What’s wrong?”
“That was the alarm company. The alarm at the coffeeshop is going off. I need to go.”
“Put your shoes on.” I pointed to her bare feet. “I’ll drive.”