Page 10 of Rhett

Meadow shrugs. “That works for me. Can I go play some of the games in the general store?” They have old-fashioned video games she enjoys.

“Sure.” I pull out my wallet and hand her some money before she slips out of the booth. “Sorry about all this—interrupting your dinner and all the questions. She’s a people person, and I guess…I don’t ever want to dim her light. But I should probably pretend to reel her in from time to time.” I chuckle, and Rhett joins me.

“You don’t have to apologize. She’s great. Reminds me of Ella, actually. Meadow’s so full of life. That’s how Ella was. No one could make East smile the way she did.” He looks down, moves the food around on his plate with his fork. “Anyway, you’re a good dad. She’s lucky to have you.”

I rub a hand over my face, then cross my arms. “I feel like I’m the lucky one to have her.”

He tilts his head up, those brown eyes zeroing in on me, studying me as if I’m a puzzle he can’t figure out. “That’s one of the things that makes you a good father. Not everyone sees it that way.”

Is he speaking from experience? The somber tone tells me he is.

“Thank you. That means a lot to me.” Rhett just nods but doesn’t reply, so I press on. “Tell me about yourself, Rhett Swift.” I can’t say I’ve spent much of my life wondering about him, but I am now.

He frowns, which I’m not sure he realizes. Something about his expression says that Rhett isn’t used to people asking about him.

“There’s not a lot to tell that you don’t know. Ex-lawyer, went to Harvard, currently unemployed.”

“And none of those things tell me a damn thing about you.”

His mouth drops open slightly, his confusion obvious.

“I used to be married…?” he says, like it’s a question.

“Nope. Not good enough. I already know that.” I grin. “Hm…what’s your favorite dessert?”

“Thattells you something about me, but being an ex-lawyer doesn’t?”

“Dessert is very important. For example, I don’t trust people who like pumpkin pie.”

“I like pumpkin pie,” Rhett counters.

“Damn it. I guess I’ll give you three strikes.”

He leans back, legs stretched across the floor beneath the table. One of them bumps mine, and he pulls it away. “Shit…umm…apple crisp.”

“You just redeemed yourself,” I tease.

“So you trust me now?”

“Getting there.”

Rhett rolls his eyes, but he’s got a smirk on his lips.

“With vanilla ice cream and caramel sauce.”

I groan. “There you go. A man after my own heart.” I wonder how often people talk to Rhett this way—about stuff that doesn’t have to do with his job, his father, or the rest of the family. Rhett and Gregory Swift worked together a lot, were the face of Birchbark, but something is telling me Rhett got a bit lost in all that—at least who Rhett really is. It’s presumptuous of me to assume, but I can’t stop it.

“I’m going to ask you at least one question like that every time I see you, Rhett.” My voice is entirely too flirty with a man I’m fairly certain is straight. A man my daughter likes, so even if he were interested, that truth would scare me away from pursuing anything with him. She’s already lost her mom. I won’t risk her losing someone else she cares about if it doesn’t work out.

“I should go,” Rhett says.

I wish he wouldn’t, but I won’t push him to do something he’s uncomfortable with. Hell, even the fact that I was flirting with him says it’s a good idea if he does go. Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I flirted with someone. I haven’t been with a man in entirely too long, and yeah, there are some women in town I hook up with from time to time, but it’s a situation where we all know it’s just for fun and none of us are looking for anything serious. I don’t flirt with them.

“Okay.”

He pulls out his wallet and sets a twenty on the table.

“How about it’s our treat this time?” I ask, but Rhett shakes his head.

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