Mom died four years ago, and he hasn’t looked at another woman since.
Dad has had such a rough time in his life. He’s lost two women he loved. I think losing both of them has killed his faith in love. Totally understandable.
And that’s why I stay single. I only bother with a woman when I need to get laid.
The phone starts to ring. “Golden Oaks.”
“Hey son, how you doing?”
“Hey Dad, I’m good. How’s Grandpa doing? He driving you crazy yet?”
He laughs. “Of course. You know your Grandpa. How are things at the hotel?”
“Yeah, good. We’ve got a guest staying at the moment. She’s here for two weeks.”
“She?” Silence. “You’ve got a woman staying there right now?”
“Yes, Dad.” I sigh.
“Is she alone?”
“Yep.”
“How old is she?”
“I don’t know, around my age, maybe a few years younger.”
“Does she have a boyfriend?”
“Jesus, Dad.” I sigh again. “I don’t know her relationship status—” A lie. “—because I don’t need to. I’m not gonna touch her, okay? She’s not my type.”
That one is a small lie. Mia isn’t my usual type. She’s so much more.
“Every girl is your type, Jordan.”
“Not every girl!” I scoff. “I would never sleep with an ugly girl. Jeez, give me some f**kin’ credit, Dad.”
“Jesus, Jordan, do you have to cuss so much?”
“Yes, I f**king do.”
How do parents have the ability to turn you from a grown ass man into a teenager in the matter of seconds?
“So, she’s ugly then?” he says, starting in again.
“Who?” I play out.
He lets out a loud sigh. “The girl you have no intention of trying to get into bed.”
“Well … no, she’s not what I would call ugly…”
He laughs. Loudly.
It really pisses me off.
“Look, I know you think I’m a f**k up, and I know that’s my fault, but I am fully capable of keeping my hands to myself. I’m staying away from this girl. She’s a guest. End of.”
“Whoa, calm down, son. First off, I do not think you’re a f**k-up. You hear me? I just worry about you. Parent’s privilege. I just want you to be happy, but you always seem to look for happiness in all the wrong places. More so recently.”
This is getting a little deeper than I like. I don’t do deep. Especially not with my dad.
I lean my arm against the wall and rest my forehead on it.
I blow out a breath. “I’m fine, Dad. I’m happy. Look, I have to go. Say hi to Grandpa for me, will you?”
“Sure.” He sounds resigned, and I’m glad. I don’t want this conversation to go on any longer than necessary. “Take care, son. Speak to you soon.”
I hang up the phone, then realize I forgot to tell him about Dozer’s accident. Whatever. I’m not in the mood to call him back right now. I’ll tell him later.
I take our coffees outside. Mia is sitting at the table. Her sunglasses are off, and she’s leaned back in her chair, head tilted, staring up at the sky.
I watch her for longer than I should.
Her head comes up suddenly, and she catches me staring.
Acting like there is nothing weird about me staring at her, I smile and walk over, putting her coffee on the table in front of her.
“Thanks.” She smiles up at me, and it feels like I just got punched in the chest.
That is seriously starting to drive me crazy. Not the smiles … no, those are awesome. It’s my reaction to them that’s pissing me off. My reaction to her.
I take the chair across from her. Settling back, I take a sip of my coffee and set it down.
“Any idea where you want to start?” I nod at the papers in front of her.
Mia takes a sip of coffee, her eyes watching mine over the brim of the cup. “I thought maybe I would start with the Anna that lives in Farmington. That’s the largest town, right? Because I thought if I were her and I was getting away that’s where I would go. Or maybe go to another state altogether, so I’d be harder to find.”
Her lips downturn. I feel a pang of … I don’t know. All I do know is I really don’t like to see her sad.
“Think positive, Mia. Start with what we have and go from there.”
Her eyes lift. “You’re right. I’ll drive out there tomorrow—”
“We,” I emphasize.
I could really do without going to Farmington. I’ve avoided that place like the plague since what happened with Dad. But I can’t let her go there alone. And the likelihood I’ll see anyone I don’t want to see, during the day, is slim to none.
The likes of me only come out to play at night.
Mia places her cup down. “You don’t have to come with me. You’ve helped me enough already – and you have the hotel to run.”
Leaning back, I cross my leg over my other and rest my ankle on my thigh. “If you haven’t noticed, we’re not exactly busy. You’re my only guest, so call this the all-inclusive package.” I grin so that it doesn’t come off as creepy.
She laughs.
Good sign.
Her eyebrow lifts, and she starts pulling on that damn lip again. “So … what does this all-inclusive package entail?”