She smiled as he eased to one side and she watched him. “Jake Chapman, you’re not saying I’m too much to handle?”
He laughed, deep and husky, and opened his eyes. “Just about, baby.”
Grinning, she turned to prop herself up on an elbow. “So tell me about this week you’ve had.”
“The grading and prep is nearly finished, thank God.”
Claire nodded. “Tammy told me as much. What about your orders? On schedule?”
“For the most part. I’ll have to go up to Orlando on Monday to kick some ass in gear. We’ll have the footings done before the end of next week, so I have to make sure the posts for the apparatus will be delivered by then.”
“It’s going to be amazing, Jake.”
“I hope so.”
She saw a flicker of worry on his face, something she’d never seen before. He was usually the picture of confidence.
“You’ll have to take me out to the site soon. I’d love to see what you’re doing.”
His eyes lit. “You’ll love it. I know you can envision the big picture, along with all the little details.”
She certainly saw the confidence he had in her. It did a lot for a girl’s ego, that obvious faith. “Just say when.”
“How about tomorrow?”
“Sure, I’d…” Damn. She had to see Cally tomorrow. “I can’t tomorrow.”
“Oh. What are you up to?”
Holding the sheets up to cover herself, she came to a sitting position. “I go see my father on Saturdays.”
His brows rose. “I didn’t know that. Every Saturday?”
She nodded. “He lives over in St. Cloud. In that fifty-five plus community over on one-ninety-two.”
“I’ll just have to entertain myself until your visit is over. How long will you be there?”
“I’m not sure. I usually take him somewhere. Maybe we’ll go walk around Old Town Village.”
“That place with the quirky shops and rides and stuff?”
“And old-fashion arcade. That’s Cally’s favorite. Cally, that’s my dad. Joseph Callahan.”
“I’d love to meet him someday.”
That shocked her. Jake wanted to meet Cally? They weren’t a meet-the-parents type of couple, were they?
“Maybe,” was all she’d say.
“You know Claire, I don’t know anything about your family.”
“You know everything now. Cally is all I have.”
He gave a slow nod. “You lost your mom.”
“Yes. It’s been about five years ago now. Breast cancer.”
“I’m sorry. Mine died when I was twelve. A heart thing.”
“So your dad raised you?”
Jake laughed but the sound wasn’t warm at all. “Hardly. Bill threw money at us and sent us to the best schools. I have to give him that, if nothing else.”
Claire knew there had to be more to the story, but she wasn’t going to pry. The last thing she would want was for anyone to know about her father’s weakness and her crushing responsibilities because of it.
“You’re close to your brother,” she said. “That must be wonderful. I miss having a brother or sister.”
“We have a sister. Cassie.”
“That’s right. I think I’ve heard Rick talk about her a couple of times. Where is she now?”
“Who the hell knows? The kid likes to travel and party, so she’s currently running wild all over Europe.”
Concern was etched on his face and she reached out to stroke his arm. “You miss her.”
“I miss family, Claire. I’m loving being down here with Rick and my nephew.”
“You’ll miss them when you go.”
It was a flat statement but he didn’t deny it. They both knew he would go when the adventure courses were up and running.
“Yeah.” He lifted a lock of her hair and rubbed it between his fingers, a soft smile on his lips. “They’re not all I’ll miss.”
She looked down, knowing she would be unable to hide what his words made her feel. She would miss him, too.
“Hey, I can come back to visit.” Jake kissed her. “As often as I can.”
She just nodded. If that’s what this was, a convenient relationship that was on and off, she would just go with it. She was in no position to hope for more, and she didn’t have the time or energy to devote to it.
“Sure,” she said brightly. “So, where are you taking me tomorrow night?”
He blinked at the quick change of subject, then grinned. “Anywhere you like. Maybe out on the coast?”
“Mmm.” She cuddled against him and let the rise and fall of his chest distract her. “Sounds good.”
He murmured something as he stroked her hair, and she took it to mean tenderness. That was all he offered her and it would have to be enough.
***
Claire parked her Prius beside the T-bird and got out. As she stepped up to Cally’s screen door, she caught the tail end of his phone conversation.
“That’s the one. Yeah. I’m all in.”
Her heart dropped to her stomach. All in? Was he gambling again?
She rapped on the door. “Dad?”
Her father’s smiling face filled the screen door. “Claire-bear!” He hung up on his call and placed the phone back in the cradle. “Come in!”
“Am I interrupting something?”
“What, the call? No. Barry just called and asked me what kind of pizza I wanted tonight.”
She guessed that made sense. His bright eyes and innocent expression made it seem like he was being truthful. She’d seen enough of his act to know it wasn’t always on the up and up, though.
“Pizza?”
“Yep. They order in but sometimes on Saturday I’m too stuffed from wherever you and I go to slap on the feedbag.”
Laughing softly, she shrugged. “You might be hungry tonight, then. I thought we’d head over to Old Town Village and hit the arcade. They have the vintage car show there this weekend, too.”
“That’s right!” Cally rubbed his hands together. “We haven’t gone there since last winter.”
“I thought you’d like it.”
They stepped outside and he clicked his tongue at her car. “Let’s take the Thunderbird, Claire. You can drive.”
Her heart raced as she imagined herself behind the wheel. Her sensible-shoe car just stared at her with its half smile while the T-bird seemed to grin at her in encouragement.
“Okay.”
Cally brightened and she used the key on her ring. Sliding behind the wheel, she let her hands caress the tan leather seats for a minute.
“You look good sitting there, Claire.” Cally got in and clicked his seatbelt, then tapped the dashboard. “Now, let’s roll.”
She backed out and they set off. The ride would take about half an hour. A few minutes in, Cally insisted they put the top down and she couldn’t resist the notion. It was cooler now, and the breeze freed some hair from her ponytail to blow around her face. Cally leaned back, a look of pride on his face. Pride for his car and pride for his daughter. She knew how he loved her. That was never in question. It was nice to see the evidence of it today, though.
“You should take this car back to Cypress with you, Claire. It’s made for you. The color and all.”
“Not with my hair.”
“Don’t be silly. Your mother had the same beautiful hair and she looked good in everything.”
Claire nodded. “Mom was a beauty.”
“And so are you.”
She glanced at him and smiled. “Thanks for saying that.”
“I’m not just saying it. It’s true. So tell me what’s been going on with you.”
She thought about Jake and their disclosures last night. Maybe she could share a little bit of that honesty with her father.
“I’m seeing someone.”
“Yeah?” Cally straightened. “Is he good enough for you?”
“Oh, he’s good enough for anybody.”
“Hmm
.”
She glanced at him again. “What’s that mean?”
“Who is this guy, Claire?”
“His name is Jake Chapman and he’s building adventure courses out at Cypress.”
“What’s an adventure course?”
“A fitness course with obstacles and climbing walls and bridges. It’s going to be amazing and there will be something for the kids, too.”
“Sounds interesting. Your boss is on board?”
“Yes. It can only make money for their investors.”
“And more money for you to count. That’s good.”
“Yes, it is.”
Cally grew quiet and Claire let the drive take over her. Driving this car was intoxicating, even if it clashed with her coloring. It was beautiful, though. And by the interested looks a carload of guys gave her at a red light, maybe it didn’t clash all that much. Maybe she’d start wearing her favorite color now and then. Maybe accessories at least. She had a few things in her closet in just this shade.
They arrived at Old Town Village and were directed to the place the show cars were parked. Cally said to take the special treatment so she parked the T-bird between a sixty-four Mustang and a Charger done up like the General Lee. She put up the top and locked it up tight.
They could hear the fifties music playing from the concourse of the village, and she grinned at her father.
“Now let’s go play some Skee-ball.”
“Skee-ball?” He laughed. “Claire-bear, you’re on.”
She put aside the strange sensation she’d had when she’d overheard that bit of his phone conversation and focused on a day spent having fun with her dad.
Chapter 18
“So what’s Claire up to today?” Rick asked as he took a few burgers off the grill.
“She’s spending the day with her dad.”
“I think she does that every Saturday,” Harmony put in, sitting across from Jake at the table.
She poured a cup of juice for Nick, who was playing with his trucks on the grass as usual. The kid looked extra cute today in his hooded sweatshirt emblazoned with the Cypress Institute’s logo.
“That’s what she told me. What’s up with him?”
Harmony shrugged. “I’m not sure. He has a problem with his eyes. Or one eye. Macular Degeneration. So he can’t work.”
“She supports him,” Jake stated.
Harmony’s brows rose. “I guess that makes sense. She never treats herself to anything.”
Jake nodded. “She is frugal, but I figured that was because she worked with numbers all the time. Now I get it.”
“She’s amazing with numbers.” Rick set the platter of burgers on the table and sat. “We’ve been very happy with her.”
“But is she happy?” Jake wondered aloud.
“What do you mean?” Harmony asked.
“I can’t put my finger on it, but she seems so…cautious.”
“She’s dating you,” Rick said. “She can’t be that cautious.”
Jake smirked at his brother. “Ha. Very funny. I mean in everything else, bro.”
Harmony seemed to think for a long minute, then nodded. “I don’t know what happened before she came to Cypress, but she was very closed-off when she first got here. Even I couldn’t get her to do anything but work and go straight home every night.”
“I think Nick wore her down,” Rick said.
Jake smiled. “That’s no surprise.”
Harmony gazed at her son and smiled. “I admit I used him to ask Claire repeatedly to join us for dinner. My little monster did the trick.”
Jake laughed. “Hey, Nick!”
“Yeah, Uncle Jake?”
“Do you like Claire?”
“Sure.” He jumped up and ran over to the table. “Why? Is she coming? Is she bringing cookies?”
“No, honey,” Harmony said. “She’s busy today.”
“Oh. Maybe Uncle Jake could get some of her cookies tonight and bring me some.”
“You’re half right,” Rick said.
Jake shot him another look and took a bite of his juicy burger.
“How’s the construction going?” Rick asked.
“Good.” Jake wiped his mouth. “The footings are ready and everything’s on track.”
“When do you think it will be done?”
“In plenty of time for the New Year’s opening.”
“That’s fast,” Harmony said.
“A lot of the structure is pre-built. The rope bridges will need to be assembled, though. That will take time.”
“And the rock-climbing wall?”
“That’s pre-fab. The one for the kids, too.”
“The kids?” Nick piped up. “When can I play on it?”
“Once it’s done and certified safe, bud,” Jake told him. “You can be the first kid to try it out.”
Nick beamed at him. “Me? Yay!”
“Yay, indeed,” Harmony said.
“Worried, sis?” Jake asked. “Don’t be. I’d never hurt a hair on this little guy’s head.”
He ruffled Nick’s hair for effect and the little boy giggled. Harmony’s brow furrowed and she shared a look with Rick. Trepidation began to swirl in Jake’s belly.
“What?”
Rick nodded and Harmony smiled at Jake.
“I know I probably shouldn’t say anything. Claire’s a big girl and can handle her own life.”
“What are you saying, Harmony?” Jake asked.
“I just don’t want you to hurt her.”
Jake blinked rapidly. “I would never hurt her.”
“You might not mean to, but come on,” his brother said.
“We’ve had this conversation, bro.” Jake took a breath to calm the irritation churning inside. “And Harmony, I know Claire is your friend. She’s mine too, and I really like her.”
Harmony opened her mouth, then shut it with a snap. She held her hands up in apparent surrender. “I believe you, Jake. I won’t say anything more about it.”
“Good.” He bent down and grabbed Nick up in his arms. “Now how about we go for a walk down on the dock, Nick? I’ll show you where the kids’ course is going to be.”
“Honey?” Rick asked.
Harmony waved a hand. “Go. I’ll clean up.”
Rick gave her a kiss, a bend-her-over-one-arm-and-kiss-the-daylights-out-of-her kiss, and straightened. “You’re the best.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Harmony kissed Nick’s cheek, then waved her hands at her flushed cheeks. “Boys.”
Jake and Rick both laughed as they each took one of Nick’s hands and led the way to the dock. Jake couldn’t help thinking about what Harmony and Rick said, though. He didn’t want to hurt Claire. He liked spending time with her and loved getting as close as he could, too. She seemed to like what they had going on right now. Did she want more?
It didn’t matter. More wasn’t in the cards for him. That prospect was as foreign as his sister Cassie’s favorite club of the moment.
***
Claire stood in front of her closet, trying to decide what to wear for her date with Jake. They were going out to the coast, so a pair of tan skinny jeans and a scoop-neck top would work topped with one of her ever-present cardigans. She pulled on the jeans and stood there in her bra debating shirt and sweater combinations. God, she was so boring.
A flash of poppy orange caught her eye then. It was the sweater she’d treated herself to at the mall in Orlando a few weeks ago. She picked it up. It was soft and had the sweetest little pearl buttons. Turning to the mirror hanging on the back of the closet door, she held the sweater up to her freckled face.
“Not totally frightening,” she said to herself.
With one hand she swept her hair to rest it over one shoulder on top of the sweater. Instead of the cringe-worthy orange nightmare she’d expected her hair looked lustrous against the knit. Smiling at her reflection, she grabbed a white t-shirt with a deep V and tugged it on. Shrugging into the sweater, she smoothed it and checked hers
elf again.
“Not bad.” She rummaged through her jewelry drawer for the chunky necklace she’d bought on that same trip, a collection of different-sized faux stones in varying shades of her favorite color. It would drape beautifully above the neckline of her shirt and was the perfect touch.
Sliding on a pair of flats, she left her room to wait for Jake. She didn’t have to wait long. He rang the bell right when he’d texted her he would. Six on the dot.
She pulled the door open and found herself gazing at his backside. Not that he didn’t have a great backside but she tapped him on the shoulder anyway. He started, then turned to her with a grin.
“Man, that car is gorgeous.”
She saw he was eyeing the T-bird. “Yeah. It’s my dad’s but he can’t drive anymore. I took him to Old Town Village in it and he insisted I drive it home after.”
He looked at the car again, then back at her. “You drove that? That is so hot.”
She smiled up at him. “Yeah? Better than my boring old Prius?”
“Oh, yeah.” He finally stepped into the house and wrapped his arms around her. “I think I want to fool around with you in that T-bird.”
At the moment she could envision making out with him on the soft tan leather seats. The image made her chuckle.
“There’s very little room in that car, Jake.”
He dropped his hands to her butt and pulled her close against him. “Then we’ll have to settle for your bed or the climax couch.”
She laughed. “Climax couch?”
“What would you call it?”
“I don’t know, but I won’t be able to look at it the same way ever again.”
The heat in his eyes told her he was thinking about every delicious thing they’d done on that couch, up to and including the night she took charge for once.
Pulling back, she pressed her hands against her flaming cheeks and cleared her thoughts. “You ready to go?”
“Sure.” He stepped out onto the porch again. “We’re so taking the T-bird.”
“Okay.” They walked to the car and Claire dug in her purse. “You drive.”
Jake’s brows rose, then he took the keys from her hand. “Whatever the lady wants.”
Oh, he could make anything sound naughty.
He held her door open and she slid inside. When he got behind the wheel, he took a minute to just stroke the steering wheel.
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