Page 56 of One Chance

Dad looked out over the construction site in the distance. He looked proud, hopeful. I had no idea if his condition would remain stable enough for him to live in a place like that, but if he could hope, then so could I.

I clamped a hand down on his shoulder and squeezed. “I think that sounds great, Dad.”

A few moments later, Dad stopped abruptly and turned toward me. “Your mom is gone.”

My mouth pressed together and I nodded, unsure of where this conversation was going and whether it would end with Dad being agitated and angry.

He looked out onto the property. “Now, I know that my Juney is gone, but sometimes it feels like she’s still right here with me, clinging to my ribs. It’s easy to forget all that’s changed ... though I guess that’s a part of it.”

I only nodded and held back the emotions that expanded in my throat.

“There’s someone out there who’s lucky enough to find her way in here.” With two fingers Dad thumped against the center of my chest. “It’ll hurt like hell, but you’ll be a better man for it.”

The only face that came to mind was Annie’s.

* * *

I couldn’t screwthis up with her.

Once I had realized there wasn’t a world in which I could exist without Annie, that was it. My mind was made up.

Waiting for me outside of her downtown apartment, Annie was radiant. She wore a simple white V-neck tank top with slim straps. It was tucked into a satiny gold skirt that fell past her knees, but had a sexy little slit that showed off her thigh.

Her long muscular legs were sun-kissed and freckled from her time spent on the beach, baking in the warm Michigan sun. I knew from our morning in my bed how soft and supple her thighs felt beneath my fingertips, and I itched to drag the hem of that skirt up higher to explore more of her still undiscovered parts.

When Annie stepped up to my truck, I shot her a look that stopped her in her tracks before climbing out of the driver’s seat and pulling open the passenger door.

“A girl could get used to this,” she teased.

I nodded and suppressed a smile. “That’s the point.”

Annie’s apples-and-sunshine scent filled the cab of my truck as I adjusted the air conditioner. The evening coastal air was cool enough to have the windows down, but I didn’t want any reason for that scent to escape.

Annie kept to her side of the cab, and I longed to invade her space—to reach over and plant my palm on her thigh as we drove the few miles out of town to Abel’s Brewery.

I was determined to respect her boundaries, to make her turn those walls to dust herself, until I could show her that fighting this thing between us was utterly useless, and she was begging at my feet.

“What?” Annie asked.

I cocked an eyebrow. “Whatwhat?”

She spun a finger in the air between us and narrowed one eye. “You’ve got that look.”

“What look?” I laughed.

“ThatI’m up to no goodlook. I know you, Lee Sullivan.”

She did know me. All parts of me, and she hadn’t gone running yet. I was determined to hold on to that until my fingers bled. “Just excited about date number three.”

“You promised you would behave.”

I pulled into a space and put the truck in park. “I promised I wouldn’t pull a prank on the Kings.” My smirk spread. “I never promised I would behave.”

With Annie on my arm, we entered the brewery, and all eyes turned toward us. The brewery made the perfect spot for a town spectacle. The back portion of one of the tasting rooms had been converted into an area to mingle before heading to the back for a behind-the-scenes brewery tour and tasting. The main bar and seating area were still open to paying patrons. Those who were on auction dates made the perfect specimens, like being plopped in a fishbowl, while the rest of the town watched behind the glass.

In the back, the auction date scoreboard was prominently displayed, and after my failed stunt with the lederhosen, Royal and Millie were still in the lead for Top Couple. Annie and I were close behind, with Emma and John Mercer third behind us. There were also a whole host of names with no hearts next to them at all. Couples who were at risk for the remix.

My eyes slid to Sylvie and Stumpy Larson. I doubted she would be upset if she and Stumpy changed partners. In fact, I’m sure she was praying for it. After tonight, any truly unhappy couples would be granted a remix.

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