When August Ends(30)

“You didn’t have me pegged as a nerd, did you?”

“No. Just the opposite. I think intelligence is amazingly sexy.”

Pipe down.

After I took his order, we exchanged numbers. Maybe a date with Jared would be exactly what I needed. He’d be going back to Cambridge, so there wouldn’t be any obligation to continue things beyond the summer. And Lord knows, I needed a distraction from Noah. It would do me good to redirect my focus toward someone else.





CHAPTER TEN




* * *



NOAH




Later that week, I was working outside Heather’s house when a man I didn’t recognize approached me. He was probably in his early fifties. My guard immediately went up.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“I’m here to see my daughter. Who are you?”

This is Heather’s father?

“I’m Noah Cavallari. I’ve been renting the boathouse.”

He held out his hand. “Rick Chadwick.”

I wiped the dirt off my palms and shook his hand. “Good to meet you.”

Rick was stocky and wearing an oversized, brown Members Only-type jacket. If I weren’t a big guy myself, I might have been intimidated by the way he was looking at me.

At that moment, Heather opened the door. “Hey, Dad.”

“Hi, darling.”

She looked between us. “I see you’ve met Noah.”

“Briefly, yes.”

Heather turned to me. “My father is in town for a couple of days.”

I remembered she’d said her dad did a yearly visit.

It would’ve been nice if she’d given me some warning.

“Would you want to join us for dinner tonight, Noah?”

What am I supposed to say? “I don’t want to intrude.”

Rick intervened. “No intrusion at all. I’d prefer to get to know the man spending so much time on the property.”

Great.

“See you at seven,” Heather said before disappearing inside the house with him.

Had I missed the part where I’d said yes?

As I continued to work outside, my phone vibrated.



Heather: I’m sorry I didn’t say anything about him coming. I didn’t know until this morning. He wasn’t supposed to visit until the fall. He sprung this on me. I think it’s because he heard we’re selling the house. He’s against it.



This was going to be a real fun fucking dinner. A hoot.



Noah: I’m not sure I should be joining you.



Heather: I would appreciate your company. I feel like I need a buffer tonight.



How could I refuse that?



Noah: Okay. Can I bring something?



Heather: Do you even have to ask what to bring? ;-)



Noah: I’ll pick up some garlic bread. Anything else you need?



Heather: New parents? LOL



Noah: They don’t sell those at Stop and Shop.



Heather: See you at 7.



I smiled.



Noah: K.

***

The fact that Heather’s father stayed at a hotel when they had this huge house with a couple of guest rooms really spoke volumes about the nature of his relationship with Heather and Alice.

When I arrived for dinner, it surprised me to see Alice out and about in the kitchen with Heather. It was as if she knew her daughter needed her. Somehow, she’d been able to get her shit together tonight.

Rick and I sat at the kitchen table as Heather and her mother chopped vegetables for the salad. He’d brought a six-pack of Corona and offered me one. I gladly partook. Anything to take the edge off this situation.

Heather and Alice refused my numerous offers to help, and I noticed Rick hadn’t even offered once. So far, the only good thing about this guy seemed to be the striking blue eyes he’d passed on to Heather.

His voice startled me. “Noah, what is it exactly that you do?”

“I’m a photographer.”

Heather looked over at us. “Noah is amazing. He’s traveled the world and covered a lot of big events. You should see his website.”

Rick didn’t seem like he was buying what Heather was selling. “If you have such a great life, why would you want to spend the summer on Lake Winnipesaukee?”

His question pissed me off. I didn’t like the way he’d said that, as if there was nothing of value here.

“Just looking for a change of pace.”

“Actually, Noah’s handiwork is the reason we’re able to put the house on the market. He’s been a big help,” Heather said.

Rick gave me the stink eye. “Is that so…”

I couldn’t figure out why he wasn’t in favor of the sale.

Dinner was finally served. Heather had made a meatloaf that was really tasty. The way the ketchup cooked into the top of the meat reminded me of the way my mother used to make it.

She sat next to me, seeming really tense.

I leaned into her. “Good job on the meatloaf. It’s delicious.”

She smiled. “Thank you.”

For the longest time, it was a quiet and awkward meal with clanking silverware the only sound. Her damn father hadn’t said a thing as he scarfed down the food. I kept sane by sneaking bits of my meal to Fathead, who was hanging out by my feet.