Page 55 of Fire in My Heart

“I can take care of myself,” Dad said gruffly.

Why was everyone saying that lately?

“The festival looked like it was a success. I didn’t see the final numbers yet, but I’m sure Charlotte will show me a spreadsheet shortly.”

“That’s good.”

“I’m wondering if you shouldn’t take some time for yourself. You don’t need to work so much. We could manage without you sometimes.”

I was helping Axel renovate his cabin some nights, but he still hadn’t told the rest of the family. “Is this about everyone already being paired off?”

Dad pursed his lips. “Partly.”

I sighed. “Maybe marriage isn’t in the cards for me.”

Dad gave me a pointed look. “You haven’t had a serious relationship since college. And don’t think I didn’t know that you broke up with her when you came home.”

I grabbed a glass from the cabinet so he couldn’t scrutinize my expression. “I didn’t have time for a relationship then.”

“Or any time since?”

I moved to the fridge and filled the glass with water, then ice. “You know I don’t talk about stuff like that with you.”

“I’m just worried about you.”

I lowered the glass. “Isn’t that my job?”

“You know parents never stop worrying about their kids.”

I leaned against the counter; grateful the island was between us. “Yeah, but I haven’t needed that kind of parenting in a long time.”

Dad raised a brow. “I’m starting to wonder if I let you takeon too much responsibility after Mom died. You had to grow up too soon.”

“I was an adult. I didn’t enjoy the partying at school anyway. I just wanted to get my degree and go to the academy.”

“You’ve accomplished everything you’ve wanted to.”

My stomach dropped out. I didn’t like where this was going.

“But I want you to be settled and happy.”

I chuckled without any humor. “You don’t get much more settled than building a house.”

“I heard the guys talking about you and Charlotte, and I can’t help but think she’d be great for you.”

I held up a hand, hating to have to lie to him. But I wasn’t sure if this thing with Charlotte would last. “You know I don’t like her.”

“If not with Charlotte, then someone else.”

“Charlotte isn’t my type. She’s too—” I was going to say flighty, but now that I’d gotten to know her, she wasn’t. She was passionate and intentional about everything she did. She was a genuinely good person and deserved someone who could give her the white picket fence. “My job is dangerous. You know that.”

Dad’s forehead wrinkled. “Lots of police officers have families.”

“The divorce rate is high,” I said reverting to the stats I used on my coworkers who gave me shit for being single.

Dad gave me a look. “You commit to everything you do. Somehow, I think you’d work at a relationship too.”

“A woman shouldn’t have to settle for my lifestyle. The crazy shifts. The danger. Work and family are my main priorities. I don’t see that changing anytime soon.” I held onto the beliefs I’d had for years. I wasn’t ready to let go.

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