Page 162 of All This Time

“I’m proud of you,” he croaks out, making my eyes sting. “You are ten times the player I ever was.”

I glance over my shoulder, fighting back my own tears. “And I’ll be ten times the father you were too. We’ll talk again once you’re clean,” I say, and then leave him there all alone, wondering if he’ll actually follow through on his promises for once.

I want to believe him. The boy in me will always want a relationship with his dad.

But all that matters at this point is Laney, and our future. So that’s my focus until I can start to trust my father again.

***

Laney jumps into my arms the second I get out of my truck and crashes her mouth to mine. “God, I missed you.”

“This is such a better greeting than the last time I returned to Blossom Peak.”

She giggles against my lips before a moan travels up her throat, egging me on to kiss her deeper and harder.

Fuck, I missed her too. More than I’ll ever be able to articulate.

“Thank you again for my postcards.”

While I was away, I sent her a total of three postcards, and fuck if she didn’t have me tearing up when we talked about them on the phone late at night. “You’re welcome. I’m glad you loved them.”

She leans back in my arms as I carry her up to the main building at Hart Winery. “I can’t wait to show you later just how much.”

Groaning, I find her lips again as we walk inside, but a throat clearing to my left has me pulling away from Laney’s mouth, only to find George Hart standing in the main tasting room, assessing us.

Laney slides down my body, concealing my cock that’s straining against the zipper of my shorts. “Uh, yeah. I probably should have said something earlier, but…”

George extends his hand. “Fletcher.”

I nod, shaking his hand. “George.”

He shoves his hands in his pockets. “I know you’re in love with my daughter, but do you mind keeping the PDA to a minimum when you’re around me? That’s still my little girl.”

Laney rolls her eyes at him, but I nod. “I can do that, sir.”

George clears his throat. “I want to apologize to you, Fletcher.”

“Why?”

“For not seeing what I should have seen when you were a kid.”

Laney rubs my arm at my side. Dropping my eyes to the ground, I clear my throat of the lump developing there. “It wasn’t your responsibility.”

George steps closer to me. “That’s where you’re wrong.It was. Any adult should be watching out for a child, especially when that child is part of the family. I’m sorry, Fletcher.”

Meeting his eyes again, I reply, “Thank you.”

“And because I think of you as family, I hope you’ll understand why I’ve asked you to be here.”

I look over at Laney and she squeezes my hand. “It’s okay. I think tonight has been a long time coming.”

George leads us through the winery back to his office. When he opens the door, I find my three best friends sitting around a blackjack table, along with three other men I vaguely recognize, chatting lightheartedly. But as soon as they see Laney and me holding hands, the room goes silent.

Laney presses up on her toes, planting a kiss to my cheek. “Don’t be nervous.”

Rhonan speaks first. “Laney, I know you’re all in love with Fletcher, but that doesn’t mean I want to see it.”

Laney plants her hands on her hips. “Get used to it, Rhonan. I’ve waited a long time for this,” she says, looking back at me and winking over her shoulder. “Now, should I stay out here in the hall in case I need to call the police to break up another fight, or can I leave while you all talk and promise not to kill each other?”