using it regularly. I'd asked him about it one day, and he'd said he intended to be around for a long time, and if eating steamed fish was what it took, he would do it.
My gaze crossed Dylan’s as he played with Buddy while talking to Dad about the most recent basketball game, and I knew that keeping this sexy man from slipping into my heart wasn’t going to be easy.
Chapter Fifteen
Dylan
After cooking him dinner, she packed everything carefully in plastic containers, putting them in the fridge. Fucking hell, this woman was something else.
"You youngsters should go. I have an online meeting with my book club, where we’ll discuss the latest James Patterson," Martin said.
Mel smiled. "Okay. When it's about James Patterson, I’ve learned there's no distracting my dad. Come on, let's go. He takes his book club meetings very seriously."
I put an arm around her shoulders as we said our goodbyes and walked out of the house. They were stiff. I massaged her neck while we walked to the car. She dipped her head back, humming lightly.
"Oh, this is good. This is so, so good."
She pouted when I had to let go to open her door. “Hey, don’t stop.”
“I’ll carry on once we’re out of the car. That’s a promise.”
After she got inside, I moved to the other door, climbing in the driver seat.
"Your dad seems to have embraced technology a lot."
“He had to. To be honest, this was a bit of a blessing for Dad since leaving the house is a bit complicated for him. And he has a pretty active social life online. He's part of multiple clubs. He also plays cards and is even in a group that solves mysteries. Don't ask."
"He is a great guy."
"He really is. He was the best dad I could wish for."
"So, it was just the two of you since you were little?"
"Yes. Dad kept a few pictures of Mom, but I realized at some point that it was hurting him to see her, so I put them in boxes. And, anyway, it was also hurtful for me. You should have seen him when I was in school. He helped me with all the plays. He’s not a touchy-feely guy, but he got involved in all the activities at school. I never realized we were different from other families until I started having sleepovers and noticed all the things moms did. Dad and I divided tasks between the two of us at home once I was old enough to reach the sink. He worked two jobs while I was growing up because there weren’t enough construction sites in our small town. Not like here. He worked in a bar in the evening after I went to bed. It was the only way we could make things work.”
“That sounds intense.”
She shrugged.
She'd had a lot on her shoulders since she was a kid. Her childhood was nothing like mine: laid-back and without any responsibilities. The only rough patches had been in those winters when there hadn’t been enough snow and my parents had to take on second jobs. I wondered if she'd ever had an easy stretch in her life, if she ever had someone focus on her. I wanted to be the one to do that.
"Okay, so my plan didn't work today. It's too late for the sunset. But we can do something else," I said on the drive back home. "We can do something from your list.”
"Hmm. Let me think." She lowered in the seat, tapping her fingers against her legs. "I've always wanted to go on a boat on the river."
I nodded. "Yeah, I've seen a few of those. There’s one near my apartment. North Cove Yacht Harbor.”
“I know. I always walk around there when my breaks between sessions are short.”
“Can you look on your phone and see if there’s any service still operating now, or are they only during the daytime?"
"Let me look." She took out her phone, tapping on it. "Hey, it says here that we can still rent one. They have several types, but for some of the big ones, you need a boating license.”
“I have a license.”
“Mr. Gallagher, I like you more with every passing day.” With a chuckle, she added, “We have to bring it back by midnight."
I nodded. "Okay. That sounds great.”
“I’m so excited. And so are you. You’re grinning.”
“Told you that you’re captivating.”
She laughed, looking at me. “Thanks again for coming with me to Dad’s and helping out.”
“No problem. Happy I met him.”
“He