One Look: A grumpy, single dad small town romance(53)

“You look hungry.” Lee’s grin spread across his face.

I picked up my beer and tipped it toward him. “You mean thirsty?”

His smile widened as he looked over at Lark. “Nah.”

What a shit.

Duke looked up from his phone. “Beckett is driving in. Said we can meet him at his place in an hour or so. He’ll have the fire all set up.”

I nodded. Beckett’s family had summered in Outtatowner for much of his life. One summer he and Duke had struck up a friendship, and they’d kept in touch over the years. Beckett had taken a job as some big-shot contractor in Chicago but came back every few months to visit. His little brother, Declan, was the piece of shit who strung Katie’s along and broke her heart. I tried not to hold it against Beckett, but it was hard not to when Lee so accurately recalled how hard she cried over what Declan had done to her.

Their family owned one of the large beach houses along the shore. Built into the side of a dune, it was massive, and the entire wall that faced the water was made of glass, but the beach was private.

While we drank our beer and made small talk, I was acutely aware of Lark. Nothing about her seemed out of place in my little hometown. The women laughed and talked and danced along to the music coming from the band. Any outsider could easily mistake her for someone who’d been a part of our community forever.

Across the bar, I spied the King brothers. Mostly they seemed to be keeping to themselves, shooting the shit like we were. I didn’t miss the way Royal’s eyes locked onto Lark as she and her friends danced. The familiar wave of jealous possessiveness coursed through me, but I only gripped my bottle tighter. I wouldn’t embarrass either of us by starting shit and ruining Lark’s night.

“You ready?” Duke had drained his beer and was already wanting to leave.

I tipped my bottle to my lips and set it down with a hard clank. Leaving was a good idea, because if I stayed any longer, I wouldn’t be able to help myself. I was pretty certain it was only a matter of time before I wound my arms around Lark and pulled her into me on the dance floor.

And I never danced.





Mitch



I think I met a girl.





Oh yeah? Another one?





Mitch



Dick.





Something different about this one.





Jersey chaser?





Mitch



Sure hope not.





Good luck.





The fire crackled in front of me as the sun slowly dipped into the water on the horizon of Lake Michigan. Orange and peach faded into deep indigo as the sun set into the water. Barefoot, I dug my toes into the soft sand.

Lee plopped into the Adirondack chair next to me and handed me a beer. It was some fancy IPA from the local brewery, one I hadn’t tried yet. I scowled into my beer as I sipped.

“What’s got your panties in a twist?” Duke sat diagonally across the fire from me, Beckett to his left.

Lee was next to me and bumped my arm as he leaned in. “He’s pissy that we left the Grudge, and Royal was there eyeballing his woman.”

I pushed his arm off mine. “Fuck off.”

Lee laughed as though my reaction confirmed his suspicions. “Told you.”

“You should have danced with her, man.” Lee loved the Grudge and the attention from townies and tourists alike.

My jaw tightened as I thought of her on the dance floor. “Probably. But I don’t care about that arrogant prick.” Lie.

Lee tipped his bottle toward the fire. “You cared enough to stake your claim against Royal King and nearly knock his head off his shoulders the first time she stepped into the Grudge.”

“That was different. She was new and didn’t know how things are here.”

“Seems she’s figuring it out,” Duke added.

I stretched my legs. Relaxing at beach bonfires with my brothers, just shooting the shit, was something I had missed. There was a sliver of comfort in our shared history, no matter how depressing it was. Despite the fact that I was fundamentally disconnected from them, in the growing darkness, we shared the peaceful silence of the fire crackling and waves lapping against the beach.

I stared into the bonfire, watching the flames lick the wood and dance in front of me. “I don’t want Pickle getting too attached.”

“Like you’re not already attached?” Duke shook his head. I didn’t miss his implication that it wasn’t solely my daughter whose feelings for Lark were changing.

“We’re all attached. Lark is great. Is that a bad thing?” Lee asked.

I shook my head, ignoring his comment that Lark had already woven herself into the fabric of my town—and my family—with her grace and sunshine. “Maybe not. Lark is really sweet with Penny. It’s just . . . the last nanny we had was her only real friend. Then she met one of my teammates, and when he got traded, she went with him. It was hard on Penny.”

And now I’m fucking this one just to make it extra complicated.

“It was bound to happen, though, right? It’s not like she’s got a lot of women around her.” Duke’s comment was particularly insightful, and it grated on me.