Page 10 of Hearts of Wealth

“What do you have up your sleeve?” he asked.

“Nothing.”

I wanted to talk to him about Timothy and Paisley, but I knew he wasn’t exactly thrilled with the idea of me being with Timothy. He tolerated him, but I knew my dad expected Timothy to break my heart.

“All right,” he said. “Let’s go for a walk.”

We walked down the street.

“Do you have big plans for the house?” Dad asked.

“I do.” I nodded. “I have a feeling my client is going to push back a little. He likes the modern look. It’ll probably end up just being flipped.”

“But at least it’s protected by the historical guidelines,” he said.

“Yes. Thank goodness. I have a feeling he’s going to challenge me every step of the way.”

“What contractors did you bring on?”

I quickly gave him the rundown. “He did have an inspection report that gives us a better look at what we can’t see. I did get a look at the electric panel. That’s a nightmare.”

“Hire Luke,” he said. “He’s a good electrician. And he respects you. He’ll keep the other contractors in line.”

I couldn’t help but smile at his suggestion. “Eat that salad, and I’ll do it,” I replied, extending my hand for him to shake.

He rolled his eyes in mock exasperation before shaking my hand. “Fine,” he said. “But I’m putting ranch on it. That crap you gave me is nasty.”

“Fine, ranch, but you can’t drown the lettuce in it.”

He muttered under his breath.

“Dad, you know the rules,” I laughed, nudging him with my elbow.

“I know, I know,” he grumbled. “Fine print and all that.”

We continued our walk in comfortable silence while I mulled over my thoughts. Bringing Luke onto the jobsite wasn’t exactly an exciting prospect. He flirted with me as well. But he was respectful. And he was a nice guy.

“How’s work going on your house?” Dad asked.

“It’s going...slow,” I confessed, a sigh slipping past my lips. “I’ve spent so much time focusing on other projects that I’ve neglected my own place.”

“I could have told you that,” Dad countered, giving me a gentle nudge with his elbow. “Why don’t you hire some help? Isn’t that what you’re always suggesting to your clients?”

“Dad, it’s not that simple. It’s not just about having the personnel; it’s about having the time to manage them,” I said, frustration lingering in my tone. “And I want to do it on my own.”

He chuckled. “Of course you do. But you’re going to need some help.”

“Luke has offered, and I will be taking it from him when I get to that point.”

“Well, that’s wise of you,” he said, his eyes twinkling with approval. “Luke’s good people.”

“Yes, he is,” I agreed, pursing my lips in a tight smile. “But stop trying to play matchmaker. Luke and I are friends. Nothing more.”

“Don’t you worry that Timothy might just not be the right one?” he asked. “That man has one foot here and another foot in New York and another one with his ex.”

“He only has two feet,” I said dryly.

“And you know what I mean. You’re the type to settle down. He’s not ready for that. Not yet.”

“I know, Dad. I understand what you’re trying to say,” I sighed. “But Timothy and I... We’re just figuring things out. It’s complicated.”

“Love shouldn’t be so complicated,” he retorted. “Take it from an old man who knows a thing or two about love. When it’s right, it’s simple.”

“Things aren’t always black and white, Dad.”

He gave me a thoughtful look before patting my hand. “No, they aren’t, sweetheart. But sometimes, we create the gray areas because we don’t want to face the truth.”

I paused before answering, his words sinking in. “Maybe you’re right,” I said quietly. “But right now, the gray area is where I need to be.”

He nodded. “All right, just remember, even in the gray, you need to take care of yourself.”

“I will,” I assured him as we ended our walk and returned to the shop. “I’ll see you later. Eat that salad for dinner.”

“I will,” he said. “Thanks for looking out for me.”

“It’s my pleasure.”

I went home and returned to the bathroom to work on the tile. I hoped my dad would come around when it came to Timothy. It wasn’t that he didn’t like him, he was just a little leery. He was convinced Timothy was going to break my heart. Maybe he would, but that didn’t seem to deter me from wanting to enjoy the present. Maybe I only had him for a while. Maybe I would have him for the rest of my life. I wasn’t sure. That was half the fun.