Page 90 of Let Me Be the One

“On the sly?” Callie asked.

“It was the only way. He loved getting updates on you.” With a shake of his head, her dad said, “He continued to adore Liz. Said she was a wonderful woman and only wanted the best for her family. He understood her drive.”

Callie cuddled into his side, loving him even more in that moment. “You never gave up on him.”

“He was my brother,” he said simply. “For the sake of my marriage and because Reggie really could be a royal pain in the ass, I bowed to Liz’s wishes. Her memories of childhood aren’t as fondly remembered as mine. Liz was ambitious when I met her and that hasn’t changed.”

No, it hadn’t. “I’m not reuniting with Sutter, Dad.”

“I want you to be happy.” They stepped into the shady interior of the garage. “No matter what, remember that, okay?”

Callie tipped her head as she stripped off her work gloves. “What does that mean, exactly?”

“Liz is going to tell you all about it, but the truth is, the alliance would have saved us.”

Dazed, Callie stared at him without a single blink. “Saved us?”

“We’re overextended.” He waved a hand. “Suffered a few losses and all that. I don’t mind so much. I could happily sell off half of what we own and never miss it.” Picking up a hoe, then swinging it like a golf club, he said, “I could even move back here to Hoker and be happy with a simpler life. But your mother… She knows there will be talk and her reputation means everything to her.”

More than her daughter’s happiness? “I don’t understand.”

“I screwed up. That’s the long and short of it. I got a little too comfortable with the life of leisure. Lost my edge—and my hunger.” His mouth tightened with shame. “I didn’t supervise the accountant closely enough, took foolish financial advice, and made too many bad decisions.” Carefully, with precision, he replaced the hoe in its designated spot. Looking at his hands, now dirty, he said, “I speculated on travel to places where no one wants to vacation. With the economic downturn, we’re strapped. Uniting our family business with the Griffin family business through marriage with you and Sutter… The association and their investments might have given us new life, or at least kept the wolves at bay long enough for us to shuffle a few things, redirect and recover.”

“Dad.” Having never suspected, Callie felt sick with dread. She naturally stepped into her dad’s waiting arms. “I’m sorry. I never guessed.”

“No reason you should have. And no reason for you to marry to fix it. That’s what I wanted you to know. Your mother is going to bluster and explain, and she’ll try to convince you. That’s just how she is.” He held Callie back and gave her a ridiculous grin that didn’t do a thing to hide his agitation. “That’s how she shows her love.”

Callie snorted, but it was more with humor than disagreement. She thought of her own investments, the profits she’d made the last few years. She couldn’t think of a better way to use them. “Dad, I have some money of my own that I would happily give—”

“No.” He shook his head. “I would never do that.”

“But—”

“It wouldn’t help, anyway. No, this is a lifestyle problem butting up to a changing market. A loan, or even a gift, wouldn’t help. It’s big, but I have faith in your mother. She’ll come around.”

“You really think so?”

“I’ve learned the hard way after living five decades that family is what matters. Nothing else is as important.”

And her family needed her. Such a depressing thought.

“Callie,” he chastened. “Don’t misunderstand. I’ve loved your mother from the day I met her. The two of you have been the world to me. I want you to have that same kind of love. Nothing less.”

His little speech humbled her. “Thank you, Dad.”

“Just remember, no matter what I say—or don’t say—during your mother’s arguments, I want you to be happy. If it’s not happening with Sutter, then that’s the end of it.”

After everything her father had just confided, it hurt Callie to speak the truth, but he deserved that much. “Not Sutter.” She couldn’t, especially now that Tanner had showed her what she’d been missing. “Not ever.”

He gave her a bright smile. “Then that’s that.”

Her stomach twisted. “Couldn’t you and the Griffins work out something else?”

Shaking his head, he explained, “You know their entire hotel business is run by family. They’re old-­fashioned and not very trusting of outsiders.”

Yet their son was a flagrant cheater. “Are they aware that you’ve had a financial downturn?”

“No. God, no. And I’m hoping they don’t find out. So far, both sides have only concentrated on howmutually beneficial it would be to combine efforts. Sort of a legacy for any offspring you’d have together.”

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