Slater’s eyes went wide. “My…”
“Yeah. Your father. He’s here and he’s up at the lodge and he touched me and it was just…” She shuddered. “Why do men think it’s okay to just…put their arms around women, huh? What’s up with that?”
“He touched you?”
And yeah, she heard the barely contained rage in his voice.
“Yup. I was standing in line for a snickerdoodle, and he was in front of me flirting with a couple of women. He said his name and I gasped, and then he turned around and started hitting on me.” Another shudder. “I am so glad you’re not like him.” Stepping around him, she went to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge. “I feel like I need a shower.”
When she turned around, she saw Slater sitting on the couch with his head in his hands.
Uh-oh…
“I’m sorry,” she said as she sat beside him. “I guess I could have broken the news to you a little differently. That was crappy of me.”
But he shook his head before looking up at her with the most heartbreaking look on his face.
“You’re wrong, Evie,” he said gruffly.
“What do you…?”
“I am like him. I’m so much like him, I hate it.” Another head shake.
“Slater, you’re not.” Twisting to face him, she took his hands in hers. “You and I have known each other for a few years, and I have never seen you do anything so sleazy like your father just did.”
“You don’t…”
“Yes, I do,” she interrupted. “He may have played on a baseball team, but I can guarantee you he was only genuinely looking out for himself. That’s not you. Look at everything you’ve done in your life. You rebuilt the resort with the guys you met here when you were just kids. You stayed in each other’s lives—supported them throughout the highs and lows without asking for anything in return. You look out for the people you care about. Nora told me about all the times you were there for her with different jobs and situations, and you brought her here because you knew it was going to be good for her.”
“It’s not the same, Evie.”
“It is,” she said softly. “From everything you’ve said—which isn’t much—it doesn’t sound like your father ever did anything for anyone else. He’s always been selfish and self-centered and only concerned with what makes him feel and look good.”
“I do that too,” he countered. “I’ve always been the guy who never stuck around and was only looking for a good time.”
“Did you ever purposely hurt someone? Were you ever deliberately mean to them?”
He shook his head. “No.”
“Do you think your father was?”
“Yes.”
“Then see? You’re not like him.” Unable to help herself, she released his hands so she could hug him. When his head rested on her shoulder, tears stung her eyes.
This poor, wonderful man has been carrying the weight of something that doesn’t belong to him…
Her hand gently rubbed his back. “You’re nothing like him. You have feelings. You care. And you may think that you’re selfish, but I’ve never seen that side of you. I mean…you opened up your cabin to me when you didn’t have to. I could have stayed up in the lodge and been fine. But you asked me to stay with you.”
His arms slowly went around her, hugging her back. “I didn’t really ask; I just told you that you were staying.”
His grumpy tone made her smile. “Yeah, well…and you purchased all the stuff I’d need until I could get into the cabin to get my own things.”
“I would have preferred you naked, but I figured you might have a problem with that.”
Pulling back, she smiled at him. “I might not have minded as long as no one would bother us for a few days.”
One dark brow arched. “A few days, huh? Now you tell me!”
