Page 62 of The Himbo and the Lord

CHAPTERTWENTY-SIX

Nate

“It’sthe third publishing house to come knocking since I turned fifty. I’m taking it personally now.”

Dad bursts out laughing at the end of Chase’s outraged monologue, and all I can do is shake my head at both of them as an identical chuckle escapes me.

“You’re ridiculous,” I tell Chase.

“I am not. I swear they think I’m on my deathbed or something. Who the hell would want to read the autobiography of a fifty-year-old dude who’s not famous?”

“But youarefamous,” Dad points out. “In certain circles,” he adds in a quieter voice. Chase justpffsat him and goes back to his steak.

The smile stays firmly on my face as they keep discussing their old age, and I’m having a better time than I thought I would when Dad told me about the dinner.

He hadn’t come to England to have dinner with Chase, but to check on a few things for Aunt Shirley. The invite came right as we were finishing up lunch—one where Dad showed his true colors and let his inner old lady out for a spectacular tea-spilling session.

It was funny when he finally let his awe show at Ru being a lord. Then hearing all the news from back home kept me in a great mood, right up until Dad got Chase’s text.

I didn’t want to come all the way to London only to have to go back to Oxford late at night, but now I realize that this dinner makes me feel like I’m back home.

Could have something to do with hearing two accents as American as mine, or it could have something to do with Dad, but I’m enjoying it.

“Actually, I made a friend who’s in the book business. Or well, he will be.”

“You made a friend?” Dad asks suggestively, and I have to roll my eyes at him. I warned him that Chase knows who Ru is, and to not say shit about him because Ru isn’t out, but he can’t help teasing me a bit more about mywooingways.

“Yes, my first day at Oxford. His name’s Noah and he’s getting a masters in publishing this year because he wants to become a literary agent. He’s been working around books for years and years now. So,” I say, looking at Chase now. “If you ever do decide to write your autobiography or take all that damn money those people are offering you, then I recommend Noah. He’s smart as hell, hardworking, and a good person.”

“I doubt I’ll ever go for it,” Chase says in a grumble.

“You really should. In fact?—”

Dad gets cut off by the ringing of my phone.

I frown as I fish it out of my pants, but then I have to smile when Ru’s name appears on the screen. I don’t even care about being polite, I hit answer right away.

“Hey,” I greet him, trying to infuse the joy I feel into that one word.

“Nate.”

The tortured tone of his voice has me on alert right away.

“What’s wrong?”

“My father, uh—” He stops and I can hear his big intake of breath through the phone. “He collapsed before dinner.”

“Oh my God,” I whisper.

“He’s stable now. I don’t know what’s going to happen next, but he’s stable now and we got him transferred to Wellington Hospital, but I need—I want you here, please.”

It takes me a moment to grasp onto what his request must mean. It’s not something I’m going to talk about with him over the phone, though. “Are you sure?” I ask, just to make sure.

“Please,” he says simply, sounding so unlike the man I woke up with this morning.

“All right, give me the name of the hospital again please. I’m in London having dinner with Chase and Dad,” I add, just to warn him, then listen intently. “The Wellington Hospital, okay, I’ll let you know how fast I can get there?—”

“It’s only five minutes away,” Chase interrupts me. My gaze shoots up to him and I see he’s worried. He doesn’t even know who I’m talking to, but he’s worried that someone I know is in the hospital. He’s such a good man. “I know the head of cardio. I can make sure whoever it is, is comfortable and taken care of.”

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