He shrugs. “Pretty sure she and Char could’ve easily paid someone to do all this, but... yeah. It’s nice being able to help, especially as I get to spend more time with Joe. Once he goes off to uni, we won’t see much of him.” His gaze drifts to somewhere behind me, and when I glance over my shoulder, I see Joe and Hailey sat at a table in the corner, laughing at something on Joe’s phone.
“You can go join them if you want. I can always find someone in here to talk to.” I don’t want to keep him from his family.
Vic’s gaze snaps back to mine, pinning me in place with those hazel eyes that promise all sorts of things I shouldn’t want. “I’m happy where I am.”
I reach for my pint, my mouth suddenly dry, and Vic smirks like he knows exactly the effect he has on me. But he doesn’t push for more.
“Besides,” he says, leaning an elbow on the table. “They’ve both seen enough of me today. I’m headed back to the lodge soon.” He takes a drink of beer before carefully setting it back down. “I was just waiting to see you.” His voice is low, rough, like he’s sharing a secret. It sends a shiver down my spine.
It would be so easy to reach for his hand, tangle his fingers with mine, and ask him to come back to my house instead of the lodge he’s staying in.
So very fucking easy.
But instead, I sit back in my chair and pick up my glass to occupy my hands. “How are you finding the lodge?”
If he’s annoyed at my sidestep, he doesn’t show it. His expression remains warm and welcoming, but the heat in his eyes fades as he sits back to mirror me.
I miss it.
“It’s a bit fancier than I was expecting, if I’m honest.” He runs a hand through his hair. “The whole place is lovely, and I imagine it’s quite pricey this time of year.”
“Oh, for sure,” I agree because he’s not wrong. “My sister and her husband are coming to stay on the sixteenth. Not sure they’d have been so keen to come if Char’s mum hadn’t given them a hefty discount.”
He squirms in his chair. “I offered to pay for my lodge, but they wouldn’t hear of it.”
“That’s because you’re family.”
“Well, I’m not really, though. Am I?” When he looks up, there’s an uncertainty in his expression I wasn’t expecting.
I don’t like seeing it there, and that’s the only excuse I have for reaching out and wrapping my hand around his when I’ve spent the last few minutes consciously keeping my hands to myself.
Vic’s grip tightens around mine, and I give up any chance of letting go.
“You’re Joe’s dad. And clearly you, Hailey, and Char all get on well, so in their eyes, you’re as good as family.” He still looks unconvinced. “Char must’ve asked them to let you stay there, and she wouldn’t have done that if you weren’t important to her.”
He sighs, but his expression clears and that’s what I was hoping for. As much as I don’t want to, I slide my hand out of his and fold my arms. Maybe that will keep them from straying again.
His eyes track the movement and I can see he’s got a million questions on the tip of his tongue, but he asks something unrelated. “How many siblings have you got?”
“One sister. What about you?”
“Same.” He grimaces. “But that might change when I get my hands on her next.”
I raise an eyebrow and he laughs.
“She’s been filling Joe’s head with all sorts of nonsense.”
It can’t be that serious if he’s laughing, but whatever my expression, it makes him elaborate.
“According to Joe, my sister thinks I’m scared to let anyone get close. That’s why I’m currently on my own.”
“Are you?” I hadn’t meant to just blurt that out, but I can’t take it back now.
Instead of answering right away, Vic runs a finger around the rim of his pint glass, brow furrowed. When he does speak, I have to strain to hear him. “I don’t know... maybe.” A small shrug accompanies his words and we lapse into silence.
I glance at my phone, surprised to see how long we’ve been sat here. “Shit. I need to get home.”
“Hot date?” He’s smiling, but I can hear an edge to his voice.
