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“A Mediterranean cruise?” he sputtered.
Hell, that sounded expensive. He remembered Natalie’s parents now. Natalie had gone to college with Nova. He’d met her parents the weekend he’d driven down for parent weekend at the college. Her father had seemed like a cool guy, the mother a little uppity, but she appeared to like Nova, and that was all that mattered.
Rhys shook his head and blew out a deep pocket of air. “I don’t know, Nova. How much are we talking?”
“Nothing! They are footing the bill. I’d just need spending money, I already have a passport, and just need you to say yes.” She hopped up in one place. Hope and excitement lined her face. She poked out her lips in a pout. “Please, Daddy?”
Daddy.
She certainly knew what strings to pull. Rhys still hesitated.
“Why are they footing the bill for everything?” he asked suspiciously.
“Well, Natalie’s cousin was supposed to go with them, but now she can’t and they have extra tickets. Somehow they said they could transfer the tickets into someone else’s name. Natalie asked me if I wanted to go. Please, Daddy. Can I?”
“When?” he asked gruffly. He could already feel the stone wall he’d built around his heart starting to crumble. She had always been a good kid, and it was rare that he had to say no to her. And to see her happy was all he strived for in life as a parent.
“Next week. That’s why they asked me just yesterday. They didn’t want the ticket to go to waste.” She stood in place and batted her eyelashes at him.
Rhys rolled his eyes and nodded. Nova screamed and launched herself at him. The air escaped his lungs at the strength of her hitting him. He smiled and wrapped his arms around her. He bent down and inhaled her scent. This was his little girl, and if he could give her the world, he would.
“I love you, Dad.”
“I love you, too, cupcake,” he mumbled. He hadn’t called her that in a while. It had been a nickname for her when she had been a youngster. How had she grown up so fast? It seemed just like yesterday she had fallen off her bike and needed him to kiss her booboo. Now here she was, jetting off around the world. “We are going to set up some rules.”
“I’m sure we are, but I need to let Natalie and her parents know what you said.” She pulled away and took her cellphone out of her jean shorts pocket.
Frantic barking sounded. Rhys glanced over and took in Jordan running from around the back of the barn. She had a large grin on her face as she sprinted. Honor came barreling around the corner after her. Rhys and Nova laughed at the duo.
Rhys didn’t know why Jordan would ever think she could outrun Honor. The K9 caught up with Jordan and sped in front of her. Jordan almost fell with the way that Honor landed in front of her.
“Hey, girl. Watch it!” Jordan giggled.
She play fought with Honor. The pair had Rhys laughing. Honor was having the time of her life. Jordan looked worn out slightly. Her dark hair was pulled up in a high ponytail, sweat lined her forehead, but she was still gorgeous. She was breathing heavier than usual. She still wasn’t as rested as she should have been. The woman was determined to stay active. He’d caught herworking out yesterday, and she’d brushed him off since it was just yoga.
But he knew her.
She was going to overdo it and hurt herself more, but she wasn’t going to admit it.
“Look who’s up from his beauty nap,” Jordan said. She turned Honor around and pushed her toward him. “Go see Dad.”
Honor took off running toward him. She arrived in front of him, yipping and barking. She danced around him and Nova. He grabbed her body and gave her a few good rubs. Her sides were rising and falling fast. It was easy for her to get overheated with her thick coat.
“Go get water.” He gave her one more good pat on her butt.
She trotted up the stairs and went over to her water bowl on the patio. Rhys turned and caught a slight grimace on Jordan’s face. He narrowed his eyes on her.
He knew it.
“I’m going to go call Natalie. We have a million things to plan,” Nova said. She skipped up the stairs and practically ran into the house.
“I take it she asked you?” Jordan raised an eyebrow. She arrived at his side.
He didn’t want to talk about Nova at the moment. They were going to have to discuss how she wasn’t taking care of herself. She was to be resting. Not running around the farm with the dog.
“What’s wrong?” he asked, ignoring her statement. He jerked his chin toward her.
She rolled her eyes and exhaled. There was pain in her eyes. Didn’t she know he knew her better than she apparently knew herself?
