Page 11 of Summer with a Daddy

“Um, Brooke, I’m going to call you back later.” I don’t wait for her to say anything else, I just push the button to hang up.

I stare at Luke as he leans one arm up on the doorway doing the romance hero lean that I’ve dreamed about him doing.

“Beard Daddy?” he asks with a smile.

“Um, it’s just something Brooke thinks is funny.”

“And you talk about me with Brooke?”

“I choose not to answer that because it will incriminate me. I mean, may incriminate me.”

He raises one eyebrow and walks toward me where I sit on the chair. I only have one shoe on and feel oddly naked when he notices.

“Where were you going?”

“Out.” I give the obvious answer. Why am I poking this bear?

“Anywhere in particular?” He leans down and helps but on my other shoe.

“Um…” I’m distracted by Luke on his knees in front of me and forget what my plan from twenty minutes ago was. “I was maybe going to out.”

“That sounds like fun. Can I come with you?”

“Aren’t you upset with me? You’ve ignored me all day. I assumed that you didn’t want to spend any more time with me.” I sound like a child.

“Sweet girl, did you miss me?” He stands up and holds out his hand. “I’m sorry I was gone so long. I was never mad at you, Natalie. I just had some things that I had to do today. I won’t leave like that without telling you when I’ll be back again. I’m not used to having someone else caring about where I am.”

I grab his hand and instantly forgive him. I’m curious about what he’s done today, but if he wants to tell me he will.

“Let’s go explore Love Beach and have some fun.”

* * *

LUKE

I hate that I upset Natalie again. There seem to just be too many miscommunications happening between us and that has to stop. I know how I feel about her and what I want. I think that she feels the same way, but doesn’t want to upset her dad.

We need to tell Cameron that things have developed between us, but after we’ve solidified what we are. I don’t know how my best friend will act when he finds out I’m in love with his daughter. It won’t change anything for me, but it will be better for Natalie if he can accept us and we can remain friends.

Natalie and I walk into the BAR. It’s pretty empty since it’s a Monday and still early. I wave at the bartender, who I’ve met a couple of times in town, and pull out a chair for Natalie at one of the small tables.

“I’m going to order us a couple of drinks. Is there something particular you want?” I ask, leaning down and placing a kiss on her ear.

“I’ll let you pick,” she says with a smile.

I order a beer and a rum and coke at the bar. A man sitting at the bar nods in Natalie’s direction. “Who’s she?”

“Excuse me?”

“She’s not from around her. Wondering if she’s fresh meat for the summer?” The man’s slurred words let me know that he’s not on his first round of drinks, but that doesn’t excuse him to talk about my woman that way.

“I think you’ve had too much to drink, buddy.” I try and laugh him off.

“She’s hot and looks like one of those that would be grateful.” He laughs. “You know what I mean. I saw you kiss her. You can pass her this way when you’re done.”

I tried, I really tried. “You need to shut the fuck up and get out of here.”

He stands up, almost falling over, and then says, “You going to make me?”

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