Page 8 of Craig

“You’re still bent on opening that modeling agency.”

She nodded.

“The bank is being diplomatic and taking me through the hoops. God! I hate bankers. They say a lot of things without saying anything at all.”

“I told you I have some money saved up-”

“Which I’m not going to accept,” she told him firmly. He had offered it before and she had been tempted.

But she knew he wanted to retire from the police force when he turned fifty. She had no intention of ruining that for him.

“I’ll find a way out. I’ll meet a wealthy man who wants to lavish me with several million dollars.”

“What about that... that trust-fund idiot?”

“Wayne?” She nibbled on a breadstick and smiled.

“He turned out to be a mama’s boy. Pity, he would have suited me just fine. But then he had to get approval from her for everything, and she took an instant dislike to me. She said I was too loud and had no class.”

“Imagine that.” He grinned at the dirty look she aimed at him.

“You’re better off without him. I didn’t like him at all. Too eager to please.”

“You’re right of course.” She sighed.

Picking up her drink, she took an appreciative sip. “Something will work out.”

“I believe that it will.” He paused, waiting for their food to be placed in front of them.

This time the waiter took one look at Dylan and scurried away.

“You do that so well.”

“I’ve been practicing,” he told her easily. He saw no other way and just plunged right in.

“Dad called me.”

She tensed and braced for the worst.

“What kind of trouble is he in now?”

“He’s getting married again.”

“What number is it now? Five?”

“Six.” Dylan’s lips tightened.

The man had messed them up so much, he wondered if they were ever going to have faith in the institution of marriage. Here he was, thirty-five and still single.

The last relationship he had ended just months ago. And he knew it was mostly his fault.

Sherry had accused him of being emotionally unavailable, and he had to agree with her. As bad as he had it, Regina had it even worse.

Douglas Graham had been charming and distant and never had time for his only daughter. The man had his son to prove his manhood and carry on his name; a daughter had been an inconvenience.

Dylan had been heartbroken when he left Regina’s mother after sticking around for five years.

“How young is this one?” Regina told herself she had gotten over the fact that her father had not wanted her.