“I just wanted to talk. I’m not going to hurt you. I promise.”
Glancing back at the house, she bit her lip, but decided it was fine to go with him. He was her father, and she had to trust that.
Stepping toward him, she folded her arms. “I work at the library. You okay to walk there with me.”
“Yeah, I am.”
Walking beside him was kind of weird seeing as for a long time, she had found him to be the ultimate ass.
“Your mom left me.”
“I know. She told me a couple of months ago.”
“I lost everything,” he said. “I thought I knew what I was doing, and instead of pulling back, and thinking, I just ran head first at every single deal thrown my way. I made a mess of everything.” She didn’t speak. There was no point. “The arranged marriage between you and Wayne, happened years ago. I didn’t think much of it other than securing the family’s money.”
“Mom said you had to declare bankruptcy?” she asked.
“I ran the company into the ground.”
“You were a horrible person,” she said.
“I know. I’ve been in therapy, dealing with the stress.”
“There’s a lot going on between you and Mom that I don’t know. I don’t know if I can have a normal relationship with you. You hurt her a lot, and you hurt me. I love Eli, and I’m going to marry him.”
Harvey nodded. “I just want some time. Maybe go for a cup of coffee every now and again, catch up, and I can get back to being my old self again.”
“I hope not?”
“My old self when you were first born. I wasn’t always like this, Aria. The company, the competition, it changed me.”
Outside of the library, she stared up at him. “I don’t know. Let’s just take it one day at a time. Is that okay?”
“Yes, that’s fine. It’s what my therapist says I should do.”
Aria forced a smile. “I’ve got to go.”
“Take care.”
She watched him walk away, and she wondered for a second if it was even possible to like the man she once adored. It had been so long ago that she did.
****
Eli lit the final candle, and stared around the dining room. His parents were out of town for the next three nights, and he had the entire weekend planned out for him and Aria. He had been putting off going all the way with her. Each time he’d been close, he’d held back for fear of ruining it for her.
He’d never been this nervous about anything, nor had he cared so much.
You can do this.
Chris was dropping Aria back at home, and he’d asked all of their friends to amuse themselves as he had the weekend to love his woman.
“Bye, Chris,” Aria said, closing the door. “Eli, it was a beautiful night out.”
He stood by the dining room table, and waited. Rose petals were on the floor, creating a path for her to come toward him.
Seconds passed, maybe even minutes before she rounded the doorway, and smiled at him. “Hello,” she said.
“Afternoon, darling,” he said.