Page 74 of The Pilot

Victor crossed his arms over his chest and braced his feet shoulder-width apart. Apparently he wasn’t going to be invited in.

“I brought you some Schloss Steinheim . . . it’s a German pilsner from Trinken Brewing over in Bath. I know how much you like German beer.” Linc held up the six-pack he’d taken the time to go get one day while Harper had been at work and Kash at school. It was a peace offering of sorts. He figured since this man was eventually going to be his father-in-law, he should do what he could to calm the waters between them.

But it didn’t look as if Victor was going to bend an inch. Linc knew the man wasn’t thrilled about his relationship with Harper, but that wasn’t going to make him back off. It had taken too damn long to find the one person he wanted to spend the rest of his life with, he wasn’t going to lose her because her dad was a dick.

Linc mentally sighed. This wasn’t how he wanted this to go, even if it was what he’d expected. He leaned over and placed the beer on the deck. Victor could drink it after he was gone.

“Right. I came over to talk to you about my relationship with Harper.”

“I don’t want to hear it,” Victor said without hesitation. “I stayed quiet when she said she and Kash were moving in with you, but I’m done with that. You’re not good enough for her. You’ve always been disrespectful. When you were young, you had no problem trespassing on my land, even though I told you a thousand times to stay away. Don’t think I didn’t know it was you who TP’d my house. And that time the code enforcement officer came out because he heard my rental properties weren’t up to code . . . I know that was you as well.”

Linc couldn’t help it. He laughed. “I can’t believe you’re still hung up on something that literally happened thirty years ago, when I was ten. News flash, Rogers—kids like to run and play. And if I crossed over onto your property while playing in the woods between our houses, I didn’t even realize it. It was only you who was so tight assed that you didn’t want anyone stepping even one toe over the property line.

“And yeah, I did TP your house.” Linc shrugged. “Again, that’s what kids do. If you remember properly, I also came over and helped clean it up.

“Lastly, I have no idea what you’re talking about in regard to code enforcement. I was probably gone by then, already in the Air Force.

“I know you don’t like us Youngs, and I don’t really know why. All we’ve ever done is try to be nice to you, and you’ve thrown it back in our faces time and time again. We invited you over for Thanksgiving as an olive branch, and that seemed to go well. What’s changed?”

“What’s changed is you taking advantage of my daughter! And stealing my grandson to boot!”

Linc’s eyes widened. “I haven’t stolen Kash from you, and I’m certainly not taking advantage of Harper.” He ran a hand through his hair. This was going nowhere. He needed to say what he came to say and get the hell out of here before he said something he’d regret. “Look, I’m here as a courtesy to let you know my intentions when it comes to Harper. I love her, and I’m going to marry her. I don’t know when, but it’s gonna happen.”

“Fucking hell,” Victor said, pressing his lips together in anger after he spat the words out.

“Harper loves you, as does Kash, and it would mean the world to them if you were supportive of our relationship. But the truth is, it’s going to happen whether you approve or not. I prefer to have you as an ally instead of an enemy, but nothing is going to stop me from making Harper my wife.”

“You’ll take ownership of my property over my dead body,” Victor growled. “And not even then!”

Linc blinked. “What?”

“You think I don’t know the Youngs want my property? Want to expand Lobster Cove? I’m not an idiot! I’ve known for years. And what better way to get your greedy hands on it than to marry my daughter? Well, I’m here to tell you that I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure it never falls into your family’s hands.”

Linc was truly shocked. It was Victor who’d always wanted their land, not the other way around. Why he was making such a crazy claim now, he had no idea, but Linc wasn’t going to let the man turn his greed around on the Youngs.

“I don’t want your property,” Linc said honestly. “The thought never crossed my mind. Or my mom’s, for that matter. She has her hands full with Lobster Cove. She doesn’t want to expand. Never has.”

“Bullshit. This is prime waterfront property, of course you all want it. Your brother and his wife could move in over here and get out of your mother’s hair.”

“First of all, they aren’t in her hair, as you say. Secondly, I’m telling you, we don’t want your land, Rogers.”

“Well, you aren’t getting it no matter how low you stoop, including convincing Harper to marry you.”

The man was delusional. “I love your daughter,” Linc said, irritated beyond belief. He hadn’t exactly thought this meeting would go well, but he’d never thought it would go this bad. “And Kash too. I have no ulterior motives. I simply want to be with them. Love them. I would think that’s what you’d want too.”

“I want her to be with anyone other than a Young.”

And that was the crux of the issue. Victor hated the Young family so much, he’d deny his only daughter happiness, simply to hang on to the bitterness he for some reason held in his heart toward his neighbors.

“I came over today to let you know my intentions. Let you know that you’ve got an amazing daughter and grandson. And to make sure you know that I will take care of them and love them. To reassure you that Harper will never have to live in her car again. Will never go hungry. Will never have to worry about if she has enough money for rent. They’ve had a difficult life, and it’ll be my honor to make sure they’re happy, healthy, and loved for the rest of their days. I’m not here to ask your permission, and I don’t give a damn if you approve of me and my family or not.

“But think about this, Rogers . . . if you continue to be an ass, you’re going to lose them. You’ll die in this house a lonely old man. I’m offering another olive branch. But if you’re an asshole to them, if you continually bad-mouth me and my family, they’re going to pull away. Stop calling. Stop coming to visit. Not because I told them to—but because they won’t like being around you. Enjoy the beer.”

Linc turned around and walked away without looking back.

“We aren’t done here!” Victor called out.

But Linc ignored him. He’d said what he had to say. If the old man didn’t like it, the ball was in his court. He could either accept the inevitable or not. For his sake, and Harper and Kash’s, Linc hoped like hell he’d accept the fact that his daughter was in love with a Young.