Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
SAM
Shit. I’m late. Glancing at my watch, I should have left twenty minutes ago, but a few of the guests were worried about their trail ride today. Always one to put someone at ease, I talked them through what they would be doing with our team.
By the time I left, they were excited.
Which means I’m running late. At this point, I’ll be lucky to get there for dinner.
I grab the bowl of pasta salad from the fridge and go to leave, but stop short when someone walks inside.
“Lennox. What are you doing here?”
“Hi to you too.”
“Sorry.” I pull her in for a hug. “I was just getting ready to go to Greg and Nina’s house for a cookout.”
“Oh, okay.”
“Why don’t you come with me?”
“You sure?”
“Of course,” I say. “They would love to see you.”
“If you’re sure.”
“C’mon.” I push her out the door and lock up behind us. “I wish I knew you were going to be coming over.”
She shrugs a shoulder. Her blonde hair is piled on top of her head, but she looks tired. “Just wanted to see you.”
“Is everything okay? We can stay home.”
“Tired of the job search not going anywhere.”
“Still no luck?”
Starting the truck, I steer us toward the main road.
“Why’d you let me go into marketing? No one is looking to hire someone with a marketing degree.”
I wince. “Lenny, if I told you not to go into marketing, what would you have done?”
She smirks. “Gone into marketing.”
“Exactly. You’re as stubborn as your mother.”
“Maybe she could’ve talked some sense into me.”
“I doubt it.” I laugh. “You probably would have yelled at either of us for trying.”
“Maybe.” Lennox rolls her eyes. “Or maybe I just need to move.”
“There’s always that possibility, but maybe wait until you’ve exhausted all your options here.”
I love having my daughter in town. Even though I don’t see her as much as I would like to—she has her own life—I love that she can pop by to see me when she wants.
“We’ll see.”
“Can you try for your old man? He likes having you around.”
She laughs. “Ugh. Hanging out with my dad? I’m so cool.”
“Ouch. You wound me.”
“I’m kidding. Someone has to make sure you’re taking care of yourself since you don’t seem to want to settle down.”
I shift in my seat. It’s getting harder and harder to dodge the questions about my love life.
After Casie died, I never worried about someone taking care of me.
But now that I have Joey, I like being able to take care of her.
To help her out with things, like her car and taking care of them when they were sick.
“You know me.” I clear my throat. “I’m fine on my own.”
“Are you though?” she asks, turning in her seat to face me. “You haven’t had a real relationship since Mom died.”
“What’s with the sudden interest in my love life?”
“I don’t know. If I do move, I want to make sure you’re happy too, Dad.”
“I am.” I pat her arm. “I have you.”
“I mean more than just me. You’re allowed to have someone,” she says.
“Are you trying to parent me?” I cast an eye her way.
“Someone has to.”
“I’ll think about it, okay?”
“And you say I’m stubborn.”
I laugh and let the conversation end there as we get to the main road in town.
I wish I didn’t have to lie to my daughter about who I’m seeing.
The last thing I want is to put any kind of strain on our relationship, and I don’t know what she would say if she knew I was dating someone only a few years older than she is.
It hasn’t been easy on her, losing her mother. But I don’t know if I could handle losing what we’ve gotten back.
I flip my blinker on and turn into the long drive at Greg and Nina’s. Kids are running around the front yard as I pull to a stop behind a few other cars.
Hopping out, I grab the covered bowl and am attacked by someone around the legs.
“Sam. Mommy said you were coming.”
“Hey, Max.”
He’s wearing the baseball hat I gave him the other night. It looks like Joey tightened it for him, but it’s still huge on his head.
“My tummy is hungry.”
“Think we should go eat then?” I ask him.
He nods before looking to Lennox. “Who’s that?”
“That’s my daughter, Lennox.”
“What’s your name?” she asks, dropping down next to him.
“Max. Do you want to see my tomato?”
“Your tomato?”
I laugh as Lennox looks confused.
“He’s cool.”
Max takes her hand and drags her out to the backyard.
I follow behind them. String lights are hung up, casting a low glow over the space. Tables are set up with huge spreads of food. A cooler of drinks is at one end with the men huddled around the grill.
“Look who finally decided to show up,” Greg jokes.
“Yeah, yeah.” I wave him off. “I had to make sure the guests were all set for their rides this afternoon then a few of the horses needed shoe changes. Couldn’t put that off.”
Dennis claps me on the shoulder. “You’re a good person, Sam. I could never do what you do.”
“Probably because you’re scared of horses.”
“Hey, I have a healthy respect for them. I don’t want to get bucked off.”
I shake my head at him before going to add my bowl to the food table and grab a beer. Poppy is organizing a game of tag, having roped in Rylee, Georgia, and Lennox. Max is running around after them. I know it’s a simple game, but it’s nice to see Lennox hanging out with them.
The one woman I’m hoping to at least say hi to is nowhere in sight.
“Hey Sam,” Greg calls out. “Mind going inside and grabbing the extra hamburger patties?”
I nod. “Sure thing.”
Walking the familiar path, I head into the kitchen and am met with the best sight. Joey is assembling a tray of veggies for the burgers. Tomatoes, lettuce, onions, the works.
She’s wearing a simple button-down flannel shirt and jeans, but damn, does she look beautiful.
“Need any help?”
She jumps, pressing a hand over her heart. “Jesus, you scared me.”
I sip my beer before setting it on the old Formica countertop and walking over to her. I’m a foot away from her. Too far in my opinion, but considering where we are, this is as close as I can get.
“Didn’t mean to.”
Her face softens. “I didn’t think you were coming.”
“Got a late start. Wouldn’t miss it.”
“Good. Max was excited you were planning to be here.”
A smile tilts the corner of my mouth. “Only Max?”
“Just Max.” She tries not to laugh, biting down on her bottom lip. “No one else.”
“Damn. Probably should have stayed home then.”
“Not a chance.”
Joey looks around, and when it’s safe, presses up to give me a fleeting kiss.
“Worth it just for that.” I smile down at her.
I wish I could pull her into my arms and deepen the kiss. Spend a lazy few minutes with her in here without the threat of being caught by someone.
I didn’t think it would be like this when we first got together. I was na?ve to think it could be one and done. That time is long gone. Every time I’m with Joey, it’s better than the last.
And it’s not just the sex, even though it’s incredible. I just love being around this woman.
I love her.
It’s been a long time since I’ve felt this way and had these feelings for another person. It’s highly inconvenient that I feel this way about my best friend’s daughter. She’s twenty years younger than I am. I can already hear what people would say.
You need to find someone your age.
It doesn’t matter. The heart wants what the heart wants.
“I should probably take the burgers out,” I say, not wanting to leave her.
“I should get these out too.” She lifts the tray.
I grab the patties from the fridge and follow her outside. I shouldn’t be ogling that perfect ass of hers, but I am.
“Took you long enough,” Greg says.
I flip him off. “Next time I’ll let you get them.”
“Is that any way to repay the chef?”
“See if I save you anything at our next poker night.” I shake my head.
“That would require you to make it,” Dennis says.
Astute fucker.
“Sorry some of us have busy jobs that require us to work odd hours,” I say.
“Who knew the ranch business could be so hard.” Greg laughs. “Joey seems to be working hard out there too.”
“From what I see of her. Our paths don’t cross that often.”
“Well, she’s always speaking very highly of the ranch and everything Kade has done out there.”
I nod in agreement. “He deserves all the credit. That place was going to hell in a handbasket with Verne at the end there.”
“I was out there for the celebration,” Greg says, flipping the patties. “It really looks great.”
“So lay off me then,” I say, smirk fixed firmly in place. “Work comes first. I’ll get to poker here soon.”
Lennox chooses that moment to walk up. Thank God. I don’t want to think about the reasons I’ve been skipping our poker games.
“Burger or brat?” I ask her.
“Brat. Easier to eat.” Her cheeks are pink and a happy smile rests on her face.
“Having fun?”
“Yeah. I was talking to Chase and Rylee, and Chase is going to help me out with a job at The Dusty Spur until I can find something full-time. Might even let me help with some marketing there.”
“That’s great.”
“Maybe it’ll give me some good experience.”
“I hope so.”
She darts back off to join the girls, and it makes me happy that they’re getting along. All of them have their heads together, talking about something.
I want Lennox to be a part of something. I want this—cookouts and family gatherings—to be our new normal. If only I could do it with Joey at my side.
I look at my friends, all shooting the shit, while I sip my beer.
I doubt I would still get this if I talked to Greg about dating his daughter. I can’t even imagine how that would go. He’d likely castrate me on the spot.
Until then, it’s going to be stolen nights and quick kisses in the kitchen so no one catches us.
I only pray that one day we’ll get a chance to be together.
For real.