Page 69 of Meet Me at the Grand

His dad reached for the bag. “Have I mentioned lately how highly I value you?”

She held it out of reach. “Enough to give me a raise?” Her eyes sparkled behind her glasses.

“Don’t push it.” Lunging, he grabbed the bag from her and brought it greedily to his chest.

She just laughed.

Liam’s jaw went slack. What. Was. Happening? Were his dad and Marianne flirting?

How had he never seen this? Holy cow. They were perfect for each other. But if his dad’s words were true, he hadn’t even dared think about dating.

Wow.

Marianne blew a kiss at the screen. “Would love to stay and chat, but I’ve got to get to bingo. I invited your father, but he claims he’s got some all-important business to attend to.” Marianne’s eye roll told Liam exactly what she thought of that.

“Bye, Mare. Good to talk to you. See you soon.”

“Bye, hon.” Then the secretary hustled out of the room, and the click of the door said she was gone.

Dad started pulling containers out of the bag. “All right, where were we?”

“You were telling me that it’s too late for you to ever fall in love again. But I don’t think Mom would agree with you.”

His dad’s hand paused half inside the bag, and he lifted his head. “Don’t bring your mother into this.”

“Why not? Isn’t she the one who taught us that love always wins?”

Love always wins, my boy.He remembered the soothing tone of her voice as she’d stroked his head one day when he was young, comforting him over something. He couldn’t even remember what. He only remembered her words and the love with which she gave them. “Remember, Dad? ‘Love is patient, it is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.’”

“She did always love those verses, didn’t she?” Dad pushed aside the bag of food and steepled his fingers, placing them against his closed lips. His forehead scrunched. Then he nodded. “And she used to say that love would find a way. That God would provide a path even when we couldn’t see one. And that His paths always lead to love—often love we didn’t see coming.” His dad’s eyes grew misty. “So maybe you’re right. Maybe I shouldn’t give up on love just yet.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t,” Liam said. “Dad?”

“Yes, son?”

“I think maybe you’ve got a bingo game to get to.”

Dad sat up straighter. Blinked. “I think maybe you’re right.”

“Win one for me, all right?”

“Will do. Love you, son.”

“Love you back.” Hanging up, Liam set his phone on the bed beside him. Huh. Imagine that. Dad was going to take a chance on love after all.

And if he could do it, maybe Liam could too.

ChapterThirteen

Today had been exactly what Dani needed.

To be outdoors, to get away from the desk, out into nature on the island that was more than home to her.

The weather was finally nice enough to take her fat-tire bike off her patio and pump the tires up, and she’d asked Cody if Liam could borrow his. And now, here they stood at the top of Sunset Cove, watching as the sun descended from the sky. Bidding them farewell with the last vestiges of its rays that looked like melting lava across the lake’s surface.

“Other than the Grand, this might just be my favorite spot on the whole island.”

“I can see why.” Liam leaned forward against the stone wall built at the edge of the lookout. A blue spring jacket had replaced his fancy coat, and he wore sneakers instead of his loafers. He looked every bit the islander, his cheeks and nose red with the chill of riding into the breeze, his eyes full of wonder at the beautiful sight before them.

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