Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
“No.” He’s taking over my heart. “We’re…more than friends.”
“Yes, you’re co-workers.”
“More than that.”
Every second ticked off in his head as he waited for her to figure it out.
“Dad!” Her eyes went wide and she did not temper her exasperation. “You’re lovers?”
Ding. Ding. Ding. “Yes.”
She snapped her gaping mouth closed. “Holy shit! I knew you two were close, but I had no idea you felt that way about Nolan.”
“Neither did Nolan.”
She pressed her fingers to her lips. “Wow, so both of you are gay.” It wasn’t a question but a surprised statement.
“No, not gay. We both like women, too.”
“So, that’s how you kept it a secret. And Mom? Does she—did she know?”
“Yes. It was something we discussed in depth when we separated. But nobody else knew.” He was now glad he’d had that in-depth conversation with his ex. Laurel might not like the idea that Cam hid his sexuality from her, but she would hate it even more if he had hidden it from her mother.
“Why did you feel the need to hide it?”
That answer was easy, and one she’d understand. “I did what I had to do while I worked at PSP.”
Her eyes filled with sorrow. “Dad…”
He hated when his baby girl was sad. He’d wiped too many of her tears away while she was growing up. He didn’t want to be the reason for more. Only, she wasn’t upset about him being bi, but because he had to hide it. He was proud of how she turned out to be so accepting of others.
“It’s fine, honey.”
Her shoulders pulled back and her chin raised. “Well, now you’re free to do what you want to do.”
There was the confident warrior he helped raise. “Yes and nobody here will look at me any differently.”
“Well then…I’m happy that you can finally live your truth, Dad.”
She sounded a lot more confident in that than what he felt. “We’ll see.”
“Did Nolan hide it, too?”
“He did.”
“So both of you wanted to be more than friends but never admitted it?”
Unfortunately. “Yes.”
Laurel rushed over, wrapped her arms around his waist and squeezed him tight. “Oh, Dad.” She rested her cheek on his chest. A good reminder that he was still shirtless.
He enveloped her more tightly, because what father didn’t love his girl’s hugs?
Now that his daughter was here, tonight’s plans would have to change. Or at least be delayed. He tucked two fingers under her chin and tipped her face up. “Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“I wanted to surprise you. I figured you were lonely since we haven’t had much of an opportunity to spend time together. I had no idea—”
“Laurel, I live on a resort constantly full of people. I hardly have a chance to be lonely.”
“I mean be with someone who loves you…” When she pulled out of his arms, her brown eyes were wide. She slapped his bare chest and stage-whispered, “Wait. Do you love each other? Is this like, serious?”
He wasn’t sure how to answer that, especially with Nolan right on the other side of the door. He shot a glance toward the bedroom. He kept his voice low when he explained, “It’s leaning toward serious, but we haven’t said the L word.”
Yet. Cam knew what was in his heart, but he wasn’t sure about Nolan.
Anyway, they were in no rush since they were still getting to know each other as more than friends. A lot more.
Plus, a relationship hit differently when you spent just about twenty-four-seven with someone.
Besides his ex-wife, Cam had never lived with anyone before. And the cabin was small enough they could easily get on each other’s nerves. While that hadn’t happened yet, it didn’t mean it wouldn’t eventually. If their relationship continued to grow, they might have to find a bigger place.
However, if it came to that, he doubted it would be on the ranch.
“But you feel that strongly about him,” Laurel concluded.
“I have for a long time, but being”—sexually involved—“together just made it stronger.”
“So, Uncle Nolan might become Daddy Nolan?”
Chapter Twenty-One
Cam grimaced at the term Daddy. In certain situations, one adult calling another adult Daddy hit differently. “You’re rushing things, honey. This is all new for us. Just because we’re…uh…seeing each other doesn’t mean a wedding is in the near future.” Or ever.
“New? You’ve known each other for years.”
“Yes, but in a different capacity.” He needed to change the subject before Nolan came out of the bedroom. It certainly didn’t take this long to tug on a shirt, so he had to be giving them some privacy. “We’re heading to dinner, Laurel. You’ll join us, right?”
She shot him a huge smile. “Of course! I was hoping you hadn’t eaten yet since the food was excellent the last time I was here. I actually planned on spending the night, but I don’t want to intrude.”
When she wiggled her eyebrows, Cam silently groaned in his head while forcing his expression to remain neutral. “You can absolutely stay the night. You’re the reason I have a pull-out bed in the first place.”