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Her gaze met mine. “I am happy.”
I grunted instead of saying what I was really thinking. From what I’d gleaned the last few days, she worked long hours and didn’t have time for relationships. That didn’t sound great to me. “I retired from the military because I wanted more.”
Fiona frowned. “I thought you felt guilty over leaving Marley, and then your grandmother died.”
“That was part of it. But I was starting to feel like I was missing out on something. I wanted something I could get excited about.”
Fiona kept her gaze on my face. “And the military wasn’t doing that for you anymore?”
“I enlisted so that they’d turn me into a man.”
Her hand moved up my thigh, and I tensed. “Surely, you must know that your job doesn’t make you worthy. It’s who you are.”
Her words wrapped around my heart.
Then she squeezed my thigh one more time before releasing it. “We should get inside. The others are going to wonder where we are.”
I wanted to stay on the porch all night talking to her about our dreams, wants, and desires. But she was retreating. I didn’t want to let her go. She was supposed to be home for a few more weeks. I just hoped I wouldn’t waste the time I had.
Inside, it was loud. Most of the guests were part of the Monroe family, but Fiona’s father was here too. I’d never officially met him, but I’d seen him around the Calloway farm when I snuck around to visit Fiona.
“Do you want me to introduce you to my father?” Fiona asked.
“You probably should.” I was done sneaking around. If her father asked about our relationship, I’d be honest with him.
Fiona raised a brow. “Are you sure? I promise he doesn’t know anything about us. My brothers do, but we keep that kind of thing from him.”
We approached him where he was talking to Lori. “Dad, this is Aiden Matthews, he co-owns the inn with his sister, Marley.”
“You can call me Al. Thank you for your service.”
“Nice to meet you, sir.” I was surprised he knew anything about me, much less that I was retired from the military. But then again, it was a small town.
“I’m not going to bother telling you not to address me as sir. It would be wasting my breath.” Al chuckled before he asked Fiona, “How are things at the inn? He treating you right?”
Fiona stiffened. “He’s been a good host. He showed me the gardens and even some rooms in the basement he’s thinking of having renovated.”
Al turned his attention to me. “I remember there was a movie theater on site years ago.”
“What do you remember about the inn when it was fully functional?” I asked him, genuinely curious.
“I heard there was a theater, and maybe even a bowling alley. I can’t say I was ever a guest,” Al said thoughtfully.
I nodded. “There’s also a game room, but it’s mainly billiards, and a bar. It’s quite the set up.”
“You going to restore her to her former glory?” Al asked me.
I tipped my head toward his daughter. “Fiona seems determined that we do.”
Al touched Fiona’s shoulder. “She’s good at what she does. Her bosses don’t listen to her ideas though. Make sure you do.”
Fiona flushed with pleasure. “How do you know what my bosses listen to?”
“Daphne tells me what you two talk about. At least when it comes to work.”
Fiona chewed her lip. “I didn’t realize she shared.”
“I want to hear how you’re doing,” her father said.
