“I guess I’d better get it.” I excuse myself from the table and slide my finger across the screen and step into the bathroom for privacy. “Dad,” I say when I answer.
“I take it you have good news for me?” His gruff voice booms through the phone.
“Yeah, we tracked down the owner, and an offer is in place. Looks like everything is a go. We can break ground in the spring.”
“I wanted that done by now, Nathan. Time is money.”
“It was out of my hands,” I say, understanding it was supposed to be well underway by now, and I was supposed to move on to the next venture once construction started. Now, I’m not in such a hurry to do that. “We’ve done everything we could.”
“Maybe I should fly there myself to make sure this gets done.”
I pinch the bridge of my nose. The last thing I need is my father here undermining my decisions. “No need. It’s all under control.”
“Don’t disappoint me,” he says, and the line goes dead. I exhale loudly and turn on the water. I splash it on my face and work to pull myself together. Talking to my father always leaves me angry. But I do have this under control. He just has to trust me.
My phone buzzes again. “What now?” I pick it up and read the text from Oliver, and the world goes a little fuzzy around me as I sag against the sink. She refused the offer, is all the message said.
Goddammit. I text back: We need this. She’s playing hardball. Up the offer. She’ll give in when we get the right amount.
I shove the phone into my pocket, run my hands through my hair, and take a deep, fueling breath. Laughter swirls around me as I exit the men’s room, and the second I sit next to Kira, who is tucking her phone away, it lightens my mood.
“Everything okay?” she asks.
“My father.” She nods. “Now, let’s eat these bad boys,” I say and dig into the lobster. Juice squirts from the claw and gets me in the face. “Dammit,” I say, and Kira laughs.
She uses her napkin to wipe my face, and I don’t miss the way Izzy is watching us. I’ve given up trying to hide what I feel for Kira. This has grown into so much more than a hookup. I listen in as Albert tells a tale about his younger days fishing, elaborating on everything, and making those around the table laugh. We enjoy our lobster and finish our wine, and once the shells and dishes have been cleared, the lights dim for the Saturday night dance.
I check my phone a few more times, as it keeps lighting up in my pants. Caller display informs me it’s my three brothers who keep calling, and I don’t answer.
“I need to go wash up,” Kira says, and I note the way she’s looking at her phone again, a frown on her face, as she enters the women’s room.
When she comes back, it’s my turn to ask if she’s okay. She nods, but her body language says otherwise. Whatever she has on her mind, she’s keeping to herself. Who am I to talk? I’m doing the same thing, but I don’t want to ruin this night with my troubles. Maybe she’s feeling the same way. Hopefully we can talk later because I want to be there for her if she has something weighing on her.
The music starts, and Sam grabs Kira and takes her to the dance floor. It’s easy to tell how much they like each other, but I no longer feel the jealousy because Sam is one of the good guys and would protect his sister with his life.
Izzy grabs my hand. “Come on, boss,” she says, and I groan.
“Don’t make me.”
“Well, I’m not going to let you sit here and mope because Kira is in Sam’s arms and not yours.”
I follow her to the dance floor and step in beside Sam and Kira, who are laughing and having a great time. My heart swells to see her happy. I want to make