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“You look awfully pensive for a pre-wedding dinner,” Mr. Moriarity said, sinking down on the couch beside Cooper. He handed off a glass of scotch, then settled back against the pillows with his own drink. “What’s going on?”
Cooper shifted in his seat and straightened his back. Maybe it was old-fashioned, but he couldn’t slouch in front of his elders. “I was just thinking about next week, sir.”
He didn’t know why he told him the truth. He should have lied and said he was admiring the beauty of the moment or some shit like that. But he’d already lied to the man about being in love with his daughter. Wasn’t that enough?
“Your departure?” her father asked, his tone somber.
“Yeah. It’s fast approaching.”
Cooper looked at Kayla. She was laughing with Susan, and her mother watched them both with such love that Cooper wanted to take a picture and shove it under Kayla’s nose. They obviously adored her, and if she just explained she didn’t want a man in her life—that it hurt her when they pressured her to conform to their idea of what her life should be, rather than accepting her for who she is—they would get it. He didn’t doubt that. It might take some time for her family to adjust, but they’d get there.
“You really love her, don’t you?” her dad asked. “I can see it in your eyes.”
Cooper swallowed a sip of whiskey and almost choked on his drink, unsure of what exactly to say to that question. “She’s very special, sir,” he offered.
That, at least, was the truth.
“You’ve got that right.” Her father watched Kayla, a soft smile on his lips. “Are you upset you’re leaving her?”
“Yes, sir. Very much.”
That was true, too.
“A lot of men don’t start relationships before they leave for that reason,” Mr. Moriarity said. “You seem like the type of man who wouldn’t want to put a woman through that. I had breakfast with Frankie this morning, and we were discussing you. I’m sorry about your best friend, by the way.”
Cooper stiffened. “You know about that?”
“I do. I like to know what my daughter has gotten herself into. And I’m not going to apologize for that.” He lifted the glass to his lips and took a gulp. “I like what I see, Cooper. You seem like a good guy, which is why I’m surprised you started up a relationship shortly before leaving.”
“Sir…” He hesitated. “I debated breaking it off, to be honest. I don’t like leaving her behind to worry. Don’t like putting her through that.” He ran his hand through his hair. “I’m still not sure I shouldn’t break it off.”
He’d admitted that with a calculated risk. He knew full well that her father might be angry hearing such a thing. But that one little sentence would pave the way when he did leave. She could use that as an excuse for the break-up. It was genius.
So why did he feel as if he wanted to throw up after saying it?
“I think you underestimate Kayla. She can handle it.” He finally looked away from his daughter and turned those blue eyes that were so like Kayla’s on Cooper. “If she loves you, she’ll be fine. I was a cop while she was growing up, and always in danger. She’s used to it. As far as partners go, she might be your best bet. She knows what she’s getting herself into.”
Cooper swallowed hard. He was almost tempted to agree with the man. To say fuck it, and ask Kayla to wait for him. But that wouldn’t be best for her—it would be best for him. He refused to be selfish when it came to Kayla. She deserved so much more than an internet boyfriend.
“I’m sure she’s perfectly capable of handling the stress, sir,” Cooper managed to say. “But still, I worry about her. I can’t help it.”
Her father nodded. Mr. Moriarity seemed to like this side of Cooper, which was ironic since it was the first time he’d been completely honest with the man. “I know the feeling. I’ve been worrying about her since the moment I first laid eyes on her. She thinks we’re old-fashioned because we want to see her settled down. But that’s not it. I just want to know that if something happened to me, she’d be okay, you know? That someone would take care of her.”
Cooper finished his drink. He knew what her father wanted from him—a promise that he would watch out for his little girl. The problem was, he couldn’t give it.
He’d made up his mind. He was leaving on Tuesday and he’d never see Kayla again. A fake relationship was one thing. A real one… Too complicated.
“I get that, sir.” He stood up and lifted his empty glass. “But for now, I need another drink. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Son?”
Cooper stiffened. “Yes, sir?”
“Just be good to her. That’s all I ask.”
Cooper nodded and walked away. Damn it all to hell, this was getting too serious and too damn real. Her father was asking him to take care of her, and he wanted to.
He really fucking wanted to.
