Page 65 of A Lesson for Laurel

“Good to know, but tell me about this guy you’re dating now.”

She told him what she’d told her aunt. Almost everything she could think of. She didn’t have secrets from her father.

“We get along well despite the rocky start on my end.”

“How you handle those things is more important than anything else,” her father said. “I know it’s hard for you to admit when you’re wrong.”

“Always,” she said. “But I was and had to do it and did.”

“I’m glad to know he thought of coming to your defense when the little prick showed up.”

Her father always thought Philip was on the soft and small end. Again, nothing she’d ever been attracted to before.

She liked what Easton was.

“He did.”

“What’s his story?” her father asked. “You said he’s a bit older than you. No kids or ex-wives? At that age, the odds of one or the other is very possible.”

“No to either,” she said. “He was in a serious relationship that ended over six months ago.”

“Why did it end?” her father asked. Her father would want to know if Easton cheated.

“Easton’s ex ended it. She found someone else. Or she was starting to feel for someone else and broke it off before she cheated on him.”

Her father snorted. “Emotions are still cheating, if she’s even telling the truth.”

“It’s not for me to judge,” she said. “That is between them, but she is engaged to that person and Easton has moved on. He’s not someone to give a person another chance.”

“Good,” her father said. “Or not.”

“What does that mean?” she asked.

“It’s not always the best trait to not forgive,” her father said.

“Considering he gave me a second chance, I’d think he’s got a good handle on that trait.”

Her father laughed and she realized that maybe her father had said that on purpose to see if she’d defend her boyfriend.

Then she wondered when she started to think of him as such.

Considering they were sleeping together, telling people they were dating, and that she was going to ask him to a holiday dinner, it was a fair assessment in her eyes.

“I’m glad you noticed that,” her father said.

“I want him to come to Easter dinner. I talked to Aunt Helen. I haven’t asked him yet. He might say no, but I don’t like that he’d be alone. His only family is in Florida right now.”

“He’ll say yes,” her father said. “Or I’m going to want to know why.”

She let out a sigh. “Speaking of that. If he does come, can you tone it down a bit?”

“No,” his father said. “We are who we are. I’m not pretending to be someone I’m not. I love and care for my daughter and I want that known.”

She smiled.

Philip knew and hated it and she played the peacemaker at times.

She wasn’t going to do that. She realized that she didn’t want to.

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