If for Any Reason (Nantucket Love Story #1) - Courtney Walsh Page 0,62

her eyes and thought about what Emily had said. He should tell Jolie that it was all he wanted—for her to stay the entire summer, to get to know her better, to be what he hadn’t been before—a father—but for some reason none of those words came out.

“I’ll talk to your mom,” he said, finishing the lemonade and extending the glass in her direction.

She reached her hand out to take the glass, her face a mix of sadness and worry. He wanted her to know he’d almost single-handedly brought the children’s show back to the arts center. He wanted to tell her he’d done that for her so they could spend more time together. He wanted her to know he was sorry he’d been such a jerk, but explaining all the reasons behind his behavior meant telling Jolie a whole truth he wasn’t ready to share.

So instead he chose silence, and he prayed it didn’t break her heart.

Jolie turned to go inside, and Hollis picked up the sledgehammer again.

“Hey, JoJo?”

She turned back.

“I really hope she says yes.”

His daughter watched him for several seconds; then her face softened ever so slightly. It wasn’t a smile, but it wasn’t a frown, and it was the first sign of a genuine connection he’d had with her since she arrived on the island. Maybe since long before that.

And he said a silent prayer it wouldn’t be the last.

CHAPTER 23

EMILY AVOIDED HOLLIS THE REST OF THE DAY, which wasn’t difficult because he’d placed himself out on the patio and had cleared almost the entire concrete slab by himself.

He’d smack the thing with the sledgehammer, break up enough to throw chunks of concrete into a wheelbarrow he must’ve brought from home, and then haul it off to the place where old concrete went. (A Dumpster? The back of a truck? A black hole somewhere?)

The trouble was, starting around 11 a.m., he did all of his work shirtless. Shirtless! How was she supposed to stay mad at him?

Emily had sworn off men. Too much trouble. Too much risk to the heart. But as she watched Hollis from the kitchen window, she felt her resolve crumbling.

Hollis might be moody and overprotective, but he was also a distractingly good-looking man. His torso and arms were toned the way an athlete’s should be, and he’d spent enough time in the sun that his skin had darkened to the perfect shade of bronze.

“I think it’s clean.”

Emily jumped at the sound of a woman’s voice behind her and slammed her hand down on the faucet to turn off the stream that had been running for far longer than it took to wash a glass.

Gladys gave a knowing glance through the window and into the backyard, taking in the view that had been so distracting to Emily that she hadn’t heard the old woman enter the room at all.

Gladys stood behind her with a raised brow. Emily set the glass in the sink and grabbed a towel to dry her hands.

“Mrs. Middlebury, what are you doing here?”

“I came for your answer,” Gladys said through thin lips.

“Already?”

“It’s Monday.”

It was, in fact, Monday. Through the window, she spotted Jolie running toward Hollis. The girl had gone home at some point and changed into her polka-dot bathing suit and was no doubt trying to convince her dad to call it a day.

“Miss Ackerman?”

Emily watched the exchange between Hollis and Jolie. The girl’s face fell. She hugged her towel to her chest and walked back the way she’d come, clearly deflated.

Emily fought the urge to run out there and give Hollis a piece of her mind.

Are you really this dense? she’d say in her most demanding voice. Any idiot can see that girl just wants your attention! Do you want her here or not?

“I don’t have all day.” Gladys’s clipped tone pulled Emily from her imaginary argument.

She inhaled a sharp breath.

JoJo had been so excited that morning when she thought Emily was directing this show. How could she say no?

Once upon a time, she was Jolie. Once upon a time, she’d been lost and lonely and wishing for the attention of a father who was as far away as Hollis probably felt from his daughter.

Don’t do it, Emily. You’re just setting yourself up for another failure. You’re not a teacher. You’re not a director. You don’t even know if you like kids. You have a house to renovate.

She had a plethora of excuses not to do this.

And yet, there were plenty of reasons to jump in, too.