Page 58 of Sandbar Sunrise
He wanted his daughter to know he was there for her. He didn’t want to just underwrite or fund or donate to something that would donate to something else. None of that was a real connection.Connection. That was what he’d been missing.
He wanted to be like the guy who owned the hardware store. He wanted to be the dad hugging his little girl. He wanted to be the man who ran to help his wife no matter what the obstacle.
This was the life he had missed.
He didn’t know how to get it exactly. But it seemed to start with just showing up. The people of Irish Hills showed up for each other.
He also wasn’t an idiot.
The woman whom everyone in town leaned on was Libby Quinn, and before her, Emma Ford. Instead of doing the opposite of whatever they did, he was going to follow their lead. He was going to stop getting in their way and start getting on their page.
The tornado was a turning point for him.
Sure, he got punched in the face by Libby Quinn at the jump, but that was a badge of honor.
And now, he’d just helped J.J. Tucker liberate a mama swan from a fishing line like it was the most natural thing in the world.
I’ve got boots on the ground. Well, in this case, the lake.
ChapterTwenty
J.J.
J.J., in her revised outfit, stood with Stone watching the mama swan. Stone was wearing jeans, a casual polo shirt, and boat shoes. This was a much more dressed down Stone Stirling than she’d ever seen, even the days they worked in the salon.
When he tore his eyes away from the nest of cygnets, he said, “Wow.”
“What? Do I have lipstick on my teeth or…?”
She did not feel like her dress was “wow.” But maybe it was the jean jacket, a Goldie castoff, that upped her look?
“No, just, you look so pretty.”
He had to be joking. Pretty? He was used to supermodels and whatnot.
“Great, you’re drunk. Give me the keys.”
“You need to learn to take a compliment. In English, the customary response would be, thank you.”
“Ha, ha. Let’s go.” She laughed.
Stone didn’t.
Oh, he wasn’t joking about the pretty thing. Well, what do you know about that? I look pretty. And I like hearing it from Stone Stirling. Will wonders never cease?
“We better get going. My little swan escapade has us a little late.”
Stone offered her his arm.
“Come on, it isn’t prom.”
“I was raised with manners, so you know, this is manners.”
“Your nanny teach you that?”
“Yes, bingo, now let me assist you into the car so I can close the door and not hear you for ten seconds as I come around to the driver’s seat.”
She slugged his arm and then took it as they walked to his SUV. She’d opted for sandals with a tiny heel, but a heel could mean disaster. If a man offers to help you avoid disaster, don’t be an idiot. Take the help.
