AllFreeNovel
Share Us
Damn it. She had a boyfriend. Named Nigel. That was a brutal disappointment. Not surprising, but disappointing.
“He should trust you,” Eddie said.
“That’s not the point. I wouldn’t like it if he was sharing an apartment with a hot woman. I have to extend him the same courtesy.”
So… she thought he was hot. Sullivan fought the urge to grin and just stood there, letting this unfold.
“We’re practically engaged,” Eddie emphasized, sparing Sullivan a quick glance, as if she wanted to make sure he understood how truly off-limits she was.
She didn’t have to worry. He might be a manwhore but he wasn’t a cheater. If she had a boyfriend, he wasn’t going to touch her. No matter how tempting.
“Engaged? Since when?” Eddie demanded. He straightened up to his full height. “I haven’t gotten any phone calls from Nigel asking for my permission to marry my daughter.”
“Dad, no one does that anymore.”
“Maybe not in the big city, but here they do. It’s a sign of respect. Did he ask George instead of me?”
“No, of course not.”
Sullivan had no idea who George was, but this seemed like a hot button for Eddie.
Eddie turned to Sullivan. “Did you ask your wife’s father for her hand before you proposed?”
Sullivan cleared his throat. It wasn’t so entertaining to be involved in this anymore. Going to Kendra’s father to tell her he wanted to marry her at the tender age of twenty-one was a bittersweet memory. He hadn’t known then how little time they would have together. “Uh, yes, I did.”
“You’remarried?” Eddie blurted out. “I thought…”
That he was a manwhore. He could practically hear the unspoken words.
Sullivan shook his head. “My wife died four years ago,” he said quietly. “I’m not in any sort of relationship.”
“Oh, God, I’m sorry, Sullivan. I didn’t know. I don’t talk to a lot of people from Beaver Bend, just Winnie and my dad and grandparents and sometimes Mrs. Wilson because she stops me whenever I walk to the coffee shop, and…” she trailed off, her cheeks pink. “I’m really so sorry.”
Her genuine sympathy touched him. He didn’t like condolences generally because he never knew what the fuck to say in return, but he appreciated Edwina’s concern.
“It’s okay.” He always said that, even though it had never really been okay. Not for him, not for Finn, and certainly not for Kendra, who was missing out on watching her son grow up.
“I’m not trying to be inhospitable but I still don’t think Sullivan staying here is appropriate,” she said. “Once I leave it’s fine but…” She looked at her dad like she wanted him to save the situation.
Eddie was having none of it.
“His little boy will be staying with him. What’s inappropriate about providing shelter for a homeless man and his child? Nigel needs to get a grip.” Eddie Senior was tall, but leaning over on his crutches he seemed like he was intentionally making himself look more hunched over, more frail than he actually was.
Sullivan had the sudden feeling maybe Eddie didn’t like his daughter’s boyfriend.
“You have a little boy?” Edwina’s face softened. “How old is he?”
“He’s four. Finn. He’s the coolest little guy ever.” He couldn’t help it. Pride sneaked into his voice. For a kid growing up without a mother, Finn was really a sweet boy.
“Oh, that must be hard for you, being a single dad.” The sympathy was really there now.
It always made Sullivan bristle. He didn’t want sympathy or props for being a single dad. He wanted his wife back.
He could feel his mood souring. He should find somewhere else to stay. Edwina had an almost-fiancé, and now she felt sorry for him. The situation had gone from flirty and fun to awkward as fuck.
For him, anyway.
He was saved from having to respond by Finn himself, who came running up the driveway.
