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Reece was worried. “I don’t want her to feel trapped. You don’t think she’ll change her mind, do you?”
Her father shook his head. “I’m not sure. I believe she’ll second guess it a few times, but I don’t think she’ll call it off completely.”
“I know the thought of being in the spotlight bothers her.”
“As it would for anyone who’s not used to it, but Nicole doesn’t know her own strength.”
Reece snorted. “I’ll say.”
Nicholas leaned forward, pressing his hands to his knees. “I don’t mean physical strength, although that punch she delivered surprised the hell out of me.” He chuckled in memory. “Coley never knows how to cope or endure something until she’s doing it. She’s a stubborn girl who fights for what’s important to her. From what I’ve seen, next to her writing, you’re the most important thing in her life.”
?
?I’d like to think so, but she’s run from this thing between us and . . .”
Her father interrupted him. “Do you love my daughter?”
“Of course I do.”
Nicholas nodded. “I’ve seen the pictures, boy. I know you do.”
“Why did you ask?”
He pointed to Reece’s face. “You’re having second thoughts. I see it in your eyes. You’re worried she’s not going to fight for this relationship, but the truth is, you can’t expect her to fight for it if you’re not willing to fight as well.”
“I feel like a salmon swimming against the current.”
“No one said the journey to true love was easy.”
The ladies wandered toward the bar, leaving the men to their talk. Reece glanced toward them before turning back to Nicholas. He moved to the seat Lindsey vacated.
“I’m glad we’ve gotten an opportunity to talk privately, sir. I want to apologize for what happened last year. I cannot begin to tell you how sorry I am.”
Nicholas crossed his arms. “I take it you mean the pictures, not meeting my daughter.”
“Yes sir, the pictures. I could never regret meeting Nicole, although I do regret the black eye she received from our fall. Still, I don’t regret meeting her. Even if things hadn’t progressed between us the way they had, I would have considered her a good friend.”
“Friends always make the best spouses. You can be yourself around them and let them see the real you, warts and all. They’ll love you anyway.”
“What if the relationship goes sour? You’ll not only lose their love but their friendship as well.”
“If that’s the case, it wasn’t a true friendship. My Lydia and I have been married for thirty years. We’ve known each other since we were five years old—when we were playing in the rain and making mud patties. I’ve known her my entire life. She’s seen me at my worst, but she’s always been there when I’ve needed a friend. Even if the relationship doesn’t work out with Coley, she’ll still be your friend and be there when you need her. When she cares about someone, she’s in it for the long haul.”
“That’s not what she said last night.”
Nicholas’ mouth tightened. “I’m sure that was the anger talking. Coley has my temper. She says a lot of things she doesn’t mean. It’s a defensive mechanism—a way to protect herself from being hurt.”
“She ends up hurting others and herself in the process.”
Her father’s head tipped to the side. “Very true, but like I said, if you love her, you won’t give up on her.”
“Why do you call her Coley?”
Nicholas chuckled. “When she was first learning to spell her name, she always pronounced the ‘e’ at the end of Nicole. She’d say her name was Nicoley. I shortened it. The name stuck. Her mother is the only one who doesn’t use it, but my Lydia has always been very proper.”
Reece smiled. “I look forward to meeting her.”
“Don’t be too eager. She still wants to twist your ear and give you what for.”
