“Right. I thought you said you were going to stop working so hard.”
He sighed. “I discovered that’s not an option anytime soon. The only thing keeping us going is the government work trying to keep the peace and protect citizens.”
Penny’s hair slid over her shoulders and she looked down. “I know. But at least things are getting better.”
“Somewhat.”
Penny returned to smiling. “Okay, Mister Doom and Gloom. Guess who is using the exercise equipment at this time of night?”
“Why would I care?”
“Patty. She must be in there bleeding off some stress.”
Concern hit him. “Damn.”
“She’s a very nice lady. I like her a lot.”
The tone in his daughter’s voice told him Penny was up to something. He lifted one eyebrow and leaned on his desk. “I like her, too.”
She laughed. “Duh.”
He closed his eyes and sighed again. When he opened them Penny’s mischievous expression hadn’t changed. “What are you getting at?”
“When is she moving in with you?”
“What?”
“Dad, you’re not deaf. We all know you care about her.”
“Well there’s a big leap between caring about a woman and moving in together.”
She rolled her eyes to the ceiling for a second before shaking her head. “You’ve known her over a year.”
“So?”
“So don’t try to pretend this is a superficial relationship.”
“She doesn’t have anyone she can turn to.”
“You’re saying that’s all she is to you? A damsel in distress that’s a friend? Ian mentioned how scared you looked when you rushed out of here earlier today to rescue her.”
Ah, hell, Graham. You’re not getting yourself out of this one. His daughter was way too savvy.
He twiddled his thumbs. “It doesn’t matter what I feel or think. She’s probably not ready for anything like that. She’s already chastised me a couple of times because she thought I was trying to order her around.”
Penny frowned. “Were you?”
“I think I came off like it. But I explained to her that I understood her independence. I’m not trying to change that.”
“You’re worried she’ll get hurt. That her ex will do something to her.”
“Of course.”
She sighed. “Just like you were worried I’d get hurt when I came from California.”
“I’ve always worried about you. I know you didn’t get that at first. You’re my little girl, damn it.”
“I know. And I love you for it.” All humor was gone from her face. “It sounds like she’s gun-shy.”
Alexander found the conversation too damned personal. Here he was talking about women with his own daughter. But on the other hand, this discussion wouldn’t have happened a year or so ago. He’d learned a lot since then, and she’d forgiven him for being too much of a hands-off father.
“Any tips for an old codger like me? How to charm a beautiful lady?” he asked.
“Old codger? Dad, you’re only forty-nine.”
“Fifty next month.”
He knew Penny had forgiven him for what had happened between him and her mother. “So you wouldn’t feel weird if Patty and I dated?”
“No. If you think about it, you’ve been dating her for a year.” She smiled and made a face at him. “Not very romantic dates, that’s for certain, but…”
He snorted. “Right. It’s a little hard to create romance in this world when shit keeps falling apart around us on a daily basis.”
“It’s getting better, Dad.” She shifted to the edge of her chair. “Don’t worry. Mom was…she was special in her own way, but she had a lot of problems. A lot of things you couldn’t have solved if you’d been more open, sent her flowers, been with her all the time. You know that now. Time to stop being afraid of making a mistake. Just be genuine with Patty. Let her in. Tell her what you feel. All of it. Don’t let your reserve get in the way.”
He nodded and smiled. “Okay. How did you get to be so damned smart?”
She stood and came around the desk. “Well, I am my father’s
He sighed. “I discovered that’s not an option anytime soon. The only thing keeping us going is the government work trying to keep the peace and protect citizens.”
Penny’s hair slid over her shoulders and she looked down. “I know. But at least things are getting better.”
“Somewhat.”
Penny returned to smiling. “Okay, Mister Doom and Gloom. Guess who is using the exercise equipment at this time of night?”
“Why would I care?”
“Patty. She must be in there bleeding off some stress.”
Concern hit him. “Damn.”
“She’s a very nice lady. I like her a lot.”
The tone in his daughter’s voice told him Penny was up to something. He lifted one eyebrow and leaned on his desk. “I like her, too.”
She laughed. “Duh.”
He closed his eyes and sighed again. When he opened them Penny’s mischievous expression hadn’t changed. “What are you getting at?”
“When is she moving in with you?”
“What?”
“Dad, you’re not deaf. We all know you care about her.”
“Well there’s a big leap between caring about a woman and moving in together.”
She rolled her eyes to the ceiling for a second before shaking her head. “You’ve known her over a year.”
“So?”
“So don’t try to pretend this is a superficial relationship.”
“She doesn’t have anyone she can turn to.”
“You’re saying that’s all she is to you? A damsel in distress that’s a friend? Ian mentioned how scared you looked when you rushed out of here earlier today to rescue her.”
Ah, hell, Graham. You’re not getting yourself out of this one. His daughter was way too savvy.
He twiddled his thumbs. “It doesn’t matter what I feel or think. She’s probably not ready for anything like that. She’s already chastised me a couple of times because she thought I was trying to order her around.”
Penny frowned. “Were you?”
“I think I came off like it. But I explained to her that I understood her independence. I’m not trying to change that.”
“You’re worried she’ll get hurt. That her ex will do something to her.”
“Of course.”
She sighed. “Just like you were worried I’d get hurt when I came from California.”
“I’ve always worried about you. I know you didn’t get that at first. You’re my little girl, damn it.”
“I know. And I love you for it.” All humor was gone from her face. “It sounds like she’s gun-shy.”
Alexander found the conversation too damned personal. Here he was talking about women with his own daughter. But on the other hand, this discussion wouldn’t have happened a year or so ago. He’d learned a lot since then, and she’d forgiven him for being too much of a hands-off father.
“Any tips for an old codger like me? How to charm a beautiful lady?” he asked.
“Old codger? Dad, you’re only forty-nine.”
“Fifty next month.”
He knew Penny had forgiven him for what had happened between him and her mother. “So you wouldn’t feel weird if Patty and I dated?”
“No. If you think about it, you’ve been dating her for a year.” She smiled and made a face at him. “Not very romantic dates, that’s for certain, but…”
He snorted. “Right. It’s a little hard to create romance in this world when shit keeps falling apart around us on a daily basis.”
“It’s getting better, Dad.” She shifted to the edge of her chair. “Don’t worry. Mom was…she was special in her own way, but she had a lot of problems. A lot of things you couldn’t have solved if you’d been more open, sent her flowers, been with her all the time. You know that now. Time to stop being afraid of making a mistake. Just be genuine with Patty. Let her in. Tell her what you feel. All of it. Don’t let your reserve get in the way.”
He nodded and smiled. “Okay. How did you get to be so damned smart?”
She stood and came around the desk. “Well, I am my father’s
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