Page 70 of Miss Fortune

“Yeah, he’s been great. Not only about the smoker and the dry rub, but he gave me some ideas about how to create the garden I’ve been envisioning. Helped me measure and write out a list of materials. I think I’ll try to put in some tomatoes.”

“Uh-huh. And that’s not weird for you?”

“Why would it be weird?”

“Because I’m not your girlfriend, and you’re bonding with my father. You do realize they’re sizing you up as a future son-in-law, don’t you?”

He winced at my words before sighing. “It’s fine, Daisy. He knows how I feel about you and I figured spending time with me gave you and your mother a chance to hash things out.”

Evidently my dad knew more about how Caleb felt about me than I did.

“Did your mom apologize about the restaurant?”

I shrugged. “In her own sort of way. We moved past it.”

“Then why are you frowning?”

Because I was falling for him and now so would my parents. “I didn’t think hanging with each other’s families was part of the deal.”

“If it makes you feel better, you could meet my sister at some point. She’s been meaning to make it up to LA one of these weekends.”

“Okay, sounds good.” Don’t think of it as a relationship step, don’t think of it as a relationship step.

He opened the trunk of my car. “Wow, hope everyone’s hungry.”

Yeah, good thing I’d eaten so much breakfast in order to prove a point.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

Caleb

I didn’t typically do things on a whim; however, inviting Daisy’s parents over for a barbeque had seemed like the right thing to do. Her father enjoyed talking about growing up on a farm, smoking ribs, and of course, how much he loved his daughter. Ironically, I felt more relaxed and able to be myself with a stranger than I did with my own father. But Warren made it easy. He viewed conversation as a way of passing on wisdom, and he listened instead of judged. He hadn’t posed one question about what school I’d attended, where I worked, or what my billing rate was. I could definitely see where his daughter had learned the ability to be so incredibly comfortable in her own skin.

“Glad the women are able to get together and work things through. Gina loves Daisy more than anything and has good intentions despite the wrong words coming out sometimes.”

He handed me one of the cigars he’d purchased. “By the way, this little smoke break stays between us. A couple should always have their mysteries, especially when this particular secret gets me yelled at.” He added a conspiratorial wink.

I chuckled since I also enjoyed an occasional cigar. Especially with a glass of bourbon. We both sipped some of my best while watching the smoker hum along, the delicious maple scent permeating the air. “Your secret is safe with me.”

“I like you, Caleb. Tell me, are you good for my daughter?”

The question wasn’t completely unexpected, but I wasn’t sure how to phrase an answer. “I think it’s fair to say your daughter will always be too good for me, but I recognize that. She’s the smartest, kindest, and most generous person I’ve ever met.”

He sat back, regarding me in the blue Adirondack chair on my porch. “I can’t think of a better way to put it. Back when she was sick, I used to wonder why her? As a parent, I would’ve traded places with her a thousand times over. To see her now so healthy with a second chance at life— Well, I just want her to be happy. She deserves nothing less.”

“I agree.” I swallowed past the lump forming in my throat. What Daisy and I had enjoyed over the last few months had been incredible, but was it enough for her?

I wouldn’t make her happy in the long term with my inability to commit to a relationship, and unfortunately, the longer I stayed with her, the harder it would be to walk away. Selfishly however, I hoped to soak her affection in while I could. She’d move on to her next city in six more months, and there she’d undoubtedly meet someone who could give her marriage and a family. A man who might come closer to deserving her than I ever would.

“Let’s talk about your plans for your landscaping back here.” Suddenly Warren was up and taking a walk around my backyard.

I was more than happy for the dramatic change of subject.

After Daisy’s arrival with her mother, I could tell the tension between them from earlier was gone. I was happy to see it. As much as I was Team Daisy all the way, it was apparent her mother was simply struggling with her daughter’s independence. Her worry over her daughter’s health was manifesting itself in her saying all the wrong things.

For some reason, seeing Daisy freak out about her parents showing up had made me able to remain calm. I’d offered for her to meet my sister Brooke, sensing it might be good to balance things out.

I found her alone in the kitchen, clearly the plates in the sink. “You doing okay?”