Page 20 of Come to Me

She arched a brow. "Is that shrink wisdom?"

It was something his mother would say to the parents she worked with.

But the question must have been rhetorical as Michaela turned her attention to her father. "Dad, you know that Dr. Andres is here to rest and relax, not help you build the dock. I told you I would help you."

"Well, I told him that, didn't I, Doc?" Mr. Kincaid looked at Patrick.

"He did."

"He told me didn't know how to relax."

"That's the first thing you’ve said that I believe." Michaela shook her head at both of them.

"So, I figured if it would make him happy to occupy his time helping me, why not? Besides, it's not like you don't have a to-do list as long as your arm."

"Even so. He can't learn how to relax if you put him to work."

Her father simply shrugged. Patrick did as he planned, stayed neutral.

Michaela sighed. "Mama's going to be looking for you any minute now. If you don't want her to know what you've been up to out here, I suggest you get started back to the house."

Mr. Kincaid eased himself up off the rock, setting his balance, and began walking the path to the house. "Happy wife, happy life. That and the golden rule are the two mottos I live by."

Michaela watched her father as he slowly made his way to the house. With each step her amused expression dropped. It was a reminder to Patrick at how difficult the lives of the Kincaid's had become with the patriarch's illness. A large tourist trap built up the road would be difficult enough for a small family-owned resort like this to survive, but now, with Joe Kincaid severely limited in movement, much of the work fell to Michaela. Low occupancy rates had to mean they weren't bringing in the money to hire help, either.

Finally, she turned away from her father and sat next to Patrick. "First, you're roped into skipping rocks and next put to work. I think we're going to have to refund your money."

"Not at all."

"He really shouldn't be doing any of this."

Patrick got the feeling she was accusing him of enabling her father. "He was already halfway done doing it. Whether I helped him or not, he was going to finish it."

She nodded. "Yeah, he's a stubborn old mule." She picked up a stick and dug in the dirt. "Tate says you plan to go fishing tomorrow."

"That's the plan. I understand it's part of rest and relaxation."

She smirked at him. "Yes, well, you really don't have to do it with Tate."

"I already said I would and as someone accurately told me earlier, I need to follow through on promises I make to children."

Her lips twitched upward.

It caused Patrick's to do the same. "He saw us kissing, you know."

"Yes, so he said."

Patrick studied Michaela’s profile. She didn't seem concerned or embarrassed by that.

"Do you think he's going to tell your parents?"

She shrugged. "I don't know if he'll tell them as in tattling, but I wouldn't be surprised if it somehow came up in conversation."

Patrick swallowed, turning his gaze back over the water.

"Should I be offended that you bothered by the idea that my parents might find out that you kissed me?"

He turned to look at her. "You kissed me. And I'm not ashamed of it, I'm just worried about your parents. I don't need their opinion of me falling any worse than it already is."

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