Page 9 of Safe With Me

“No.” He shook his head, a deep chuckle shaking his shoulders. “We all know better than to take time away from her and her big brother.”

Keely was nine years old and the only woman in my life now. No one was ever as happy to see me as she was, and while I tried to make time for her as much as I could, it never seemed to be enough.

But I adored my little sister, and I’d miss these days when she grew up and realized there were so many cooler people to hang out with than me.

We all babied her, but she was a sweet kid, if a bit spoiled—or a lot spoiled. Sometimes I was a little jealous that she was able to grow up living with our dad.

Keely had lived with our dad full time since she was born, not only on Saturdays and Sundays. She could love him freely without having to unlearn how her mother always told her to feel about him.

Keely never had to hide her love for one parent so as not to hurt the other or go through what I had.

And still went through whenever I’d get a text or phone call from my mother.

“How’s everything around here?” I asked, taking a seat in front of my father’s desk.

“Good. Now. My new office manager started yesterday and not a second too soon. She just stepped out for a break. Maxine left all the financials a mess, and she’s been digging through it since she started. I’ll introduce you when she’s back.”

“I actually met her already.”

My father’s head snapped up.

“You met Lila? When?”

“I ran into her when she got into town and met up with Claudia at the bar. I only spoke to her for a few minutes. Claudia said she’s from Philly.”

I left out most of the story, how I’d caught her when she’d almost passed out and that I hadn’t gotten those hazel eyes out of my head or been able to shake off the tingle when I thought of her curvy body pressed against mine.

I didn’t want to embarrass her or give away how much of a first impression she’d left on me.

When I’d first noticed her, I’d thought she might have been lost or had to stop and was looking for help since I knew she wasn’t a resident. She hadn’t struck me as someone up to no good, despite her comment assuming I’d thought she was trying to break in.

Something had drawn me to her, as ifIhad to be the one to rescue her if she was in trouble. Even though that was my job description, for her, it felt more like a visceral need than an obligation.

Strange as hell, yet powerful enough for that fleeting moment to roll around in my head ever since.

“She’s sort of related to Claudia. I spoke to her over the phone before she moved up here. She’d just been laid off and didn’t mind moving. Perfect timing for me.”

“She moved all the way from Philly to workhere? No offense, Dad,” I said when I spotted his raised brow.

He drained the last drop of probably ice-cold coffee from his mug.

“She said she was looking for a change. Claudia vouched for her, and she seems like a nice girl. Quiet so far, but she’s been in the weeds of this accounting fiasco almost since the minute she walked in, so we’ve only really talked shop since she started. I’m sure Claudia will introduce her to the whole town by the weekend, and she won’t be so new for long.”

Dad snickered as I tensed up, thinking of all the guys in town who would love to meet a beautiful woman who’d come to Kelly Lakes all alone. Why the hell did that irritate me so much if I’d only met her for five minutes?

I knew how this town was. Most had good intentions, but when it came to someone new, that caused a wave of fascination.

Was that my problem? I was fixated on the shiny and beautiful new thing in town, and that was why I wanted to know more?

But that wasn’t it. Sure, I was curious like anyone else when someone new moved here, but not to the point of itching to know more about her and why she’d moved all the way from Philly to be an office manager for a small-town construction company.

“It is lucky she was able to start so fast.”

Dad nodded. “She needed a job. She had glowing recommendations from her last manager, and when I had the usual background and credit check done, all was clear and in good standing. So why she wanted to move is none of my or anyone else’s business.”

He shot me a look as he stacked the papers in his hands and dropped them into a folder.

“Which I bet not many around here will accept when they meet her. You know how it is when someone new moves here. The welcoming committee gets pushy.”

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