Page 37 of Back for More
“Is that how it works?” I don’t have to look back to know that he’s arching his eyebrows at me, grinning. “That may work forme, but I’m pretty sure you’re a guy with a plan for everything.”
“That’s right.” I lower the wheelbarrow. “Part of having a plan is knowing where and when to enact it. The place is definitely not here, and the time is not now.”
“Never is, when it comes to her. You do realize you’ve been alive for a quarter of a century, and the closest thing you’ve had to a relationship with a girl is with her? You’ve had women lining up to be whatever you want them to be to you, but you never give them a real chance because on some secret, twisted level you’ve always been committed to Lily. Even when you hadn’t seen her in years.”
I shush him.
“Now she’s here, and she may leave again—who knows—but there’s never going to be an ideal time for you two to get together. If all this is because of your mother—”
“It’s not.”
“Good. Because I don’t regret one second that I spent with her, and I’d do it all over again.”
“I know that. She’ll be back,” I say, just as I’ve said every year since my mother left.
My dad waves his hand in the air dismissively, like he does every time I say it. “So anyway…shit or get off the pot.”
I’ve always hated that phrase. Especially when it’s being applied to me and my totally awesome ability to be patient while focused on the big picture. “Could we talk about absolutely anything else? Like your bunions, for instance?”
“Not here, not now,” he grumbles, mocking me. “Not a problem. We’re all gonna live forever. No time like tomorrow. Especially where blue balls are concerned.”
“My balls aren’t blue.” I carry a paver over to the center of the cleared hexagonal space where the gazebo will be erected.
“Right. Steel gray.”
“Damn straight.”
“Good thing,” he says as he glances over toward the main house. “Not Here, Not Now is here.”
I glance over my shoulder and loosen my grip on the paver and my steely resolve when I catch sight of Lily in a tank top and shorts, those damned long legs exposed and begging to be stroked and maneuvered and hiked up over my shoulders. Her hair is in a ponytail again, that damned long neck exposed and begging to be licked and sucked and bitten and— I curse out loud when the paver hits my foot.
I’m wearing work boots—it’s not the impact that hurts; it’s my pride.
My dad waves at her, and I look back to find her lifting her sunglasses off her face and waving back at him. She looks genuinely surprised to see us. She probably completely forgot that she asked for this gazebo.
Figures.
I give her a perfunctory nod and get back to work. Isn’t it nice that she can lie out on the patio while lazily flipping through the pages ofThe Commercial Real Estate Investor’s Handbookwhile “the help” builds her a structure under which she can sit and admire the work that my father has done, on the land that her father owns… Christ, I sound bitter. Am I bitter? Or is it just a mild case of denial and blue balls?
I get a whiff of hot coffee and something even hotter—something subtly intoxicating that was designed to ruin my day and my life.
“Morning, Carvers. You boys need some help?” Her sing-song voice is sexy and excruciating.
“Aww, we got things under control here, darlin’. Thanks, though.”
“Really? Because it sounded to me like at least one of you could use a little assistance carrying these things.”
“They’re called pavers,” I snap. “And you shouldn’t walk around here in those little sandals.”
Shit. I should not have looked at her feet. I am so not a foot guy, but I want to suck that little gold ring right off her toe.
She is beaming, ever so amused, as she hands her coffee mug to my dad. “Here, Toby. I haven’t drunk from it yet. Although I think your son might need it more.”
“I agree.” My dad isn’t usually a traitor. Less than a week, and she’s already weaseled her way back into his heart.
“I respectfully disagree.” I brush past her to pick up another paver from the wheelbarrow. “Excuse me.”
She takes a step back. “I really would like to help, if I can.” She sounds so sincere. “I’ll go change my shoes, and…everything else that I’m wearing.”
