“No.”
“And yet you stayed?”
“Yeah.”
“What did he say? This friend of yours.”
Gus shrugged, hands in his pockets. “He told me it was the kind of place America left behind a long time ago. Small. Pretty. Family-oriented. Said a man could come to Fire Lake and let go of the weight he carries.”
“And you’re carrying some weight?”
Gus held his father’s gaze. “I think we all carry something.”
Porter nodded. “There’s truth in that. I’d advise you to get rid of yours while you still can because if you don’t, you’ll end up old and sick with it. Bent over from the pain it causes with no time to make things right.”
Gus stayed silent, not sure how to respond to something so personal. Surprisingly so.
“Will you stay after this job is done?”
“No. My home isn’t here and eventually I have a life I need to get back to.”
“You have family then? A wife? Girlfriend?” His eyes darkened, the blue more navy in color. “Children?”
Before Gus could answer, Porter held up his gnarled hand. “Never mind me. I’m an old man asking questions I have no right asking.”
Gus was saved from the strange turn in conversation when the nurse appeared, flustered and huffing as she ran down from the top deck.
“Mr. Boone. Are you trying to get me fired?”
“Every day,” he replied with a sly smile and a wink.
“You just about gave me a heart attack. I thought you were having a nap in the solarium.” She frowned at Gus as if her losing her patient was his fault and then helped Porter to his walker.
Gus waited until the two of them disappeared inside the house and then walked to his truck and hopped in. He pointed it toward town. His plan was to shower and change, then meet Walker at The Dock in an hour for cold beer and chicken wings and . . .
Faith.
What was he going to do about her? He could cut things off pronto. Have a beer with Walker and give Jackie Davenport a call. Get the kind of relief he needed. And yet, Jackie was more of an appetizer kind of girl, and he was hungry.
Gus wanted the main course. Maybe a little taste was all he needed. Maybe it was all he wanted.
One taste, he thought. Suddenly in a better mood, he headed down the road and disappeared around the bend, leaving behind a cloud of dust that floated for a few moments, then disappeared as if he’d never been there.
Chapter Ten
It was early afternoon, and The Dock was busy.
It had been since Faith arrived at eleven a.m. Every table was full, and every stool at the bar had a body in it save for one. There were families, mostly tourists, who’d come to Fire Lake to vacation. There were some locals as well, including several groups of guys wearing Mets T-shirts, waiting for the game to start later in the afternoon. Among them was Walker, who’d claimed a stool at the end of the bar an hour ago. The one beside him was the lone empty seat, and he’d successfully managed to keep it that way, despite several attempts by various ladies trying to claim it.
Faith shook her head as a young woman wearing denim Daisy Dukes over a bright pink bikini headed his way, her long blonde hair a tangle of waves that fell halfway down her back.
“Seriously, what is it about that man?” Cassidy appeared and watched alongside Faith as Daisy Duke girl tried her best to snag the coveted seat. She leaned closer to Faith and giggled. “They’re going to lose their shit when Gus shows up.” She bumped shoulders with Faith and lowered her voice. “But then, he’s taken, right?”
“What do you mean?” Faith kept her voice neutral and grabbed a couple of menus.
“I saw you two last night.” Cassidy shrugged. “You look like you’re together.” She winked. “And here I thought you had a thing for Ford Boone.”
“I don’t have a thing for anyone,” she replied.
