“Uh, thanks.” Now if only his dad would stop the conversation right there. Harry Morgan, unfortunately, liked oversharing. Reggie still had nightmares about his dad trying to teach him about the birds and the bees so long ago.
“You know, if you decide you like her, I can help you in the romance department. I know all about how to charm a lady. I did manage to snag your mom, remember.”
Reggie cringed. “No thanks, Dad.” Discussing dating tips with his father was something he never, ever, wanted to do.
Nadia nodded. “Good point. Reggie, Dad knows how to treat a lady. You should listen to him.” She turned to her sister. “But next time, Lisa, let me find him a girl.”
Lisa glared. “What? So I made one mistake with Regina. She’s sweet, and they have similar names.” Lisa paused. “Hmm. That would have been a problem at some point, wouldn’t it? Reggie and Regina. Ugh. Like twins at a slumber party.”
Nadia nodded. “Wearing the same pigtails and pajamas.”
“I have no idea what they’re talking about, but you and I should skedaddle while they’re chatting.” His father nodded to the backyard.
Nadia put down Frank, who hobbled outside with the men.
“Bad date, eh?” his dad asked.
“Not until the end, really. It was okay before that,” Reggie admitted. “That’s part of the problem, I guess. I’m over Amy, Dad. I swear.” Most days, Reggie knew that. But he missed being a part of his own family. Not that he didn’t love his dad and sisters, but he wanted a woman and child to call his own. “If Amy couldn’t see me for what an amazing guy I am, she’s not worth it.” He kept telling himself that.
His dad smacked him on the back. Reggie winced.
“That’s right. So this Regina was boring.”
“Pretty much. And after dinner, well, I didn’t want to upset her, but if all I’d wanted was a hookup, I would have gone elsewhere.”And I wouldn’t have had to do dinner first,he thought but didn’t say, hearing how obnoxious that sounded in his head. “But I don’t want that.”
“Too bad. Can I have her number?”
“Dad.”
“Kidding. I have a girlfriend of my own now.” His dad chuckled and brought them to his tomatoes. “Gonna be a nice crop of Stupice and a new bunch of Matina. Look at that fruit.”
“Nice, Dad.” Reggie appreciated his father’s skill with vegetables. Guy had a green thumb that continued to get greener as he aged.
“Reggie, I’m not one to give advice.”
Reggie raise his brow. Seriously?
“But you’re a keeper. You have a job you love, own your own home, do charity work, and hell, boy, you’re almost as strong as your dad.” Harry made a muscle impressive in size. Still not as large as Reggie’s arm, but then, lately Reggie put in a lot of time at the gym, while his father had a life. “My point is, love will find you when it finds you. And with you, it’ll smack you upside the head. Hard. I know you thought Amy was it for you, but I have to say, I didn’t see it. She used you. Not on purpose. She was a nice girl. But so damn needy. And all you did was give.”
Reggie could see that now. And it still hurt.
“When you find the next woman who gives you hives and makes you think so hard, your head and heart hurt in equal measure, make sure she gives as much as she receives. You deserve that.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
“You’re just like your mother. That woman was always there for me and you kids. Stubborn as a mule, but she had the biggest heart.” Harry smiled warmly before his grin turned wicked. “And I know when I get up there next to her—”
“Up there, hmm? Been going to church a lot lately, have we?”
Harry ignored him. “—she’ll scold me for taking so long to fall in love again. She’d never begrudge an old man finding some happiness before he rejoined the love of his life.”
Reggie sighed. “No one wants you to be unhappy, Dad. Just maybe don’t share so much.”
“Ha! What’s life without conversation and laughter? And music.” He left Reggie behind to shout, “Lisa, turn on my jazz before Nadia turns on that crap music those schoolkids of hers listen to.”
“Jeez, Dad. Not this again.” Nadia groaned.
Reggie looked down at Frank, who sat at his feet and stared at the tomatoes and fresh dirt just begging for some digging.
