Page 68 of A Tempting Seduction

I grinned.

Dad nodded, taking a slow sip of his coffee. We sat in comfortable silence for a moment, listening to the sounds of Jasper Creek settling into evening. Mrs. Henderson's porch light flickered on across the street, and somewhere in the distance, a dog barked.

“It's good to see Fiona doing so well,” Dad said eventually.

“She looked happy tonight. Really happy.” I thought about the way my sister had practically glowed when she'd left for her girls' night, how excited she'd been about something as simple as dinner and drinks with friends. “Maybe it's a good thing that jerk isn't paying any support.”

“Ford Larson. Language.”

I shook my head and laughed. Dad swore worse than I did. “What? It's true.” I took a sip of coffee. “At least this way he isn't contaminating the kids with his special brand of slime. JR and Suzy are better off without him.”

“Language.”

I snorted. “Dad, I'm thirty-one years old. I think I'm allowed to call my sister's ex-husband names.”

“Not in front of the house where your nephew and niece might hear you.” But Dad's mouth twitched with what might have been approval. We both knew what he thought of Fiona's ex-husband, even if he was too much of a gentleman to say it out loud.

We lapsed into silence again, and I found myself thinking about Ruby. The way she'd looked tonight in that soft sweater, how her green eyes had lit up when JR had wanted the tomatoes he’d picked on the pizza. The way she'd fit so perfectly against me when we'd kissed on her couch.

“So,” Dad said, and I could hear the carefully casual tone that meant he was going to fish for information. “Ruby seems nice.”

“She is.”

“Pretty girl.”

“Very.”

Dad waited, but I didn't elaborate. After a moment, he tried a different approach.

“I hear Carrie’s kids really like her, I’m assuming Fiona’s do, too?”

“They love her.”

“Fiona mentioned she's the one who's been making those fancy coffee drinks you've been raving about.”

I shot him a look. “What's your point, Dad?”

“No point. Just making conversation with my son.” Dad's expression was perfectly innocent, which immediately made me suspicious. “Though I have to say, you seem more relaxed lately. Happier. Despite the hiccups at work.”

“Yeah, well…” I let my words trail off. Until he asked a direct question, I was going to let him stew.

“Your mother likes her.”

That got my attention. “Mom's met Ruby?”

“Briefly. Last week at the grocery store. Roger introduced them.” Dad's eyes crinkled at the corners. “Your mother said she had lovely manners and seemed very genuine. Also said she was exactly your type.”

I nearly choked on my coffee. “My type?”

“Pretty, looks like she has a good heart, seems like she could use someone to take care of her.” Dad's grin was pure mischief. “Your mother's words, not mine.”

“Goodness, Dad.”

“Ford,” he warned again.

“Sorry.” I shook my head. “So is mom already planning our wedding?”

“No, she learned her lesson after Lydia.” Dad's expression turned more serious. “How does Ruby compare?”