Page 338 of Hidden Depths

Nathan finally lifted his head.

“No. It’s been years since I’ve seen her. I forced myself to stay away. But since I’ve been watching over you girls without your knowledge. I’ve watched her, too, and my feelings have grown stronger. But what would someone as beautiful as your mom have to do with the likes of me?”

Rose stepped closer.

“Are you certain?”

“Yes.”

Frank looked doubtful.

“Women usually know.”

Rose nodded.

“We always know.”

Nathan handed the phone back to Ward.

“Eleanor never had a reason to look at me that way.”

“Because she loved Dad,” I said.

“Yes.”

There was no bitterness in his answer.

Only respect.

“She loved your father with everything she had. He was my friend. Your grandfather was my friend. I would never have come between them.”

“And after Dad died?” Calle asked.

Nathan’s eyes returned to Mom’s photograph.

“She had five daughters to raise. A company to protect. A husband to grieve.”

“That was years ago.”

“She still deserved the freedom to decide when she was ready.”

Rose touched Nathan’s arm.

“And you waited.”

“I stayed her friend, far enough away where she didn’t feel pressured. She didn’t know about my feelings. Because I never told her.”

Frank sighed.

“I waited three weeks for Rose.”

Rose rolled her eyes.

“You asked me to marry you four days after we met.”

“I knew what I wanted.”

“You also proposed beside a broken sewage pipe.”