Page 19 of Come to Me

Patrick paused, not sure if he was talking about the truck or Michaela. Both were beautiful, but he nodded instead of answering. The man might not like Patrick noticing his daughter, especially after the faux pas of the morning. The kiss lingered in his mind, but a part of him wondered if he’d imagined it.

No, because Tate had asked about it. Good God, what if he told his grandparents? Patrick was already on their bad side for stepping into family business about Tate that morning. What would they do if they knew he’d kissed their daughter?

Technically, she kissed him, but he couldn’t be sure her parents would care about the distinction.

“Let me apologize for this morning…about giving my opinion about Tate.” Patrick wanted to be clear that his apology had to do with butting into their family business, and not kissing Michaela. Unless Tate said something to his grandparents, Patrick decided he’d keep the kiss to himself and not apologize until he had to.

Mr. Kincaid shrugged. “What’s done is done.”

But not forgotten, Patrick noted. It was clear Patrick’s behavior had changed the way they thought about him. It bothered him because he’d always thought he was a good and kind person. Clearly, he could be insensitive and overstep the boundaries.

A scream and giggle sounded from honeymooner’s cabin. Sheila ran out the door wearing a barely-there bikini. Her husband Mark trailed her wearing swim trunks. He didn’t catch her until they were in the water, their arms wrapped around each other, and their lips fused.

“Ah, young love.” Mr. Kincaid smiled at the sight. “Me and the missus used to be like that.”

Patrick rarely thought of parents being in love or amorous. He still couldn’t believe his parents ever had sex. He was convinced they used medical procedures to get pregnant so they could avoid physical intimacy.

Looking into the bright blue eyes of Mr. Kincaid, Patrick saw the young, active man he’d once been. The night before, he’d seen the love he had for his wife and her for him. Patrick saw it in Sydney and Mitch as well. Maybe there was something in the water in central Virginia that created true love. It sure didn’t exist in his world in Manhattan.

“Why aren’t you married yet, Doc? Or are you one of those confirmed bachelors.”

Patrick frowned, wondering if the man meant committed. “No. I just haven’t found the right woman.”

Mr. Kincaid nodded. “You do need to wait for the right one. You can’t just order one up despite what all those highfalutin phone gizmos tell you.”

Patrick’s lips twitched upward. “It’s a relief to hear you say that. Most people think I’m too close past my prime.” As distant and aloof as his mother was, she wanted grandchildren. But Patrick knew she wouldn’t be the cookie making, spoiling type of grandparent. She’d be the bragging one, using her grandchildren to support her image.

“Yes, well, you do need to get into the pond and swim with the fishes, if you know what I mean. Sure, love will hit you when you least expect it, but you’ve got be in the water for it find you.”

Patrick chose not to explain how he’d once thought he’d marry Sydney. She was a regular here at the resort with the love of her life and their children. Besides, based on some of the razzing he’d gotten from Michaela, he had the feeling they knew already.

Mr. Kincaid sighed. “I keep telling Micki the same. I love the girl to death and I’m grateful that she sticks around to help her old man out, but I worry we’re holding her back. Kincaid Lake Resort isn’t long for this world. Not with our inability to maintain it and that new water park resort up the road. She needs to get out into the world. I bet there are nice places in New York that could use her degree in hospitality.”

Patrick pretended to idly pick grass as he worked out what Mr. Kincaid was saying underneath the words. Did he want Patrick to take her away to New York? Or did the words mean exactly what he was saying?

"Ut oh, look out. Trouble is coming."

Patrick looked where Mr. Kincaid's eyes were directed. He'd expected to see a furious Mrs. Kincaid striding toward them. Instead, Michaela, her eyes narrowed in suspicion, was making her way to them.

"Just play it cool, Doc, and will both come out alive."

Patrick knew Mr. Kincaid was joking, but he also understood that jokes frequently included bits of reality.

Michaela stopped when she reached them, putting her hands on her hips, and giving them both a pointed look. "What's going on here, boys?"

"Just two men enjoying the great outdoors," her father said.

Patrick had the sense that Mr. Kincaid had years of practice deflecting his wife and his daughter's concerns about him.

Michaela nodded toward the pile of planks. "And how did those get down here?"

Mr. Kincaid looked at Patrick and shrugged. Patrick was in a tough spot. Who should he side with? Who was he afraid of annoying more, Mr. Kincaid, or Michaela?

Finally, he lifted his hands in surrender. "I learned my lesson at breakfast. I'm Switzerland. Neutral territory."

"Coward," Michaela and her father said in unison.

Patrick looked up at Michaela. "There's really no sense in asking questions that you already know the answer to."

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