Page 67 of Take This Heart
His expression darkens and he curses. “This is…” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry, Goldie. I’ll have a talk with my cousin and see if there’s anything I can do.”
“So you didn’t know about it?”
Hurt crosses his features, but he just shakes his head. “No,” he says finally. “I didn’t.”
I stalk off to the house and my dad and I hang out with Tully and Camden until they have to leave for Camden’s flight. We go over the new plans for the restaurant Milo had already drawn up this morning and Camden is excited about them.
Dad says his goodbyes and goes to lie down as I walk them out. I pull out the flyer and show them and it infuriates them like it did me.
“I want to believe Milo, but I just don’t know,” I admit.
“I think I trust him,” Tully says. “He’s done nothing but help us. It’s not like he’s bringing the project down. If anything, he’s gone above and beyond, don’t you think?”
I nod. “It seems like it, yes. I don’t know…I hate that he’s related to them! And why did he lie?” I pace a few steps and turn back to look at them. “For so long,” I add. “I don’t want to upset Dad with this. I don’t think he needs to know, do you?”
“No. He’s been off since seeing Bruce at the restaurant. I think we keep it to ourselves,” Tully says.
“I agree. He’s been really quiet,” Camden adds. “And the bottom line is, we have the permits in place. Unless someone brings up any serious objections that they can legally back up, there’s nothing anyone can really do about it now.”
“Yeah, I just don’t like to think that anyone in town hates us.” I make a face. “It was important to Dad to have their support and if they’re not giving it now, I’m not sure he’ll be as happy about moving forward.”
“Keep telling people about what we’re really planning todo and I think they’ll get excited about it,” Camden says. He looks at his phone. “We better go.”
We hug again and I have a lump in my throat as my brothers drive away.
Later, I’m sitting out on the deck with a glass of wine, Kevin snoozing in my lap. Dad went to bed an hour ago, and it’s quiet out here except for the sounds of Lake Superior lapping against the shore.
“Got room for me?”
I look up and Milo is standing there. Ugh. There’s no avoiding the man. I hold up the bottle of wine and he laughs.
“You want me to chug it?” he asks.
I shrug. “I have a glass here, but chugging it sounds more fun.”
“You’re right.”
He holds the bottle to his mouth and takes a drink. He sits down next to me and smiles, handing me the bottle. I take a long pull and he stares at me, swallowing hard.
“Feels like we should be playing Truth or Dare or something,” he says, chuckling.
The wine warms my chest. My body is relaxed for the first time all day and that’s probably the only reason I find myself saying, “Okay. I haven’t played that since high school. Right over there.” I point to the firepit closer to the water.
“I bet you always chose truth,” he says, taking another swig.
“And I bet you always tried to charm your way out of answering. That’s the way liars work.”
He flinches but then lifts his shoulders, eyes smiling. “The charm, maybe.”
“Truth or dare,” he says. “Ladies first.”
“Okay, fine.” I narrow my eyes. “Truth or dare, Lombardi.”
“Dare.” He doesn’t hesitate.
“I dare you to hold Kevin and pretend you’re a dog person.”
He reaches for Kevin and I hand him over. The puppy groggily opens his eyes and settles quickly into Milo’s lap.
