Down on Me (Man of the Month 1)

"Don't be impertinent, boy. You think I don't know what a good thing I have with that woman?"

"I think you go through women like some men go through handkerchiefs."

His dad made a rough noise in the back of his throat. "If you need a place, the apartment's yours. Anything else you want to talk about?"

"Not a thing."

His father stubbed out his cigarette, then gave him a long, thoughtful look.

"Something else on your mind?" Reece asked.

"You're a good man."

A frown tugged at Reece's mouth as he glanced toward the cabinets. "What? These? I should have been finished by now."

"The cabinets. Fixing up that apartment even though it's not going to be yours forever. The truck."

"Truck?"

"Your granddad's old El Camino. I heard you gave it to Jenna."

"She's tight right now," Reece said, his senses sharpening at the mention of her.

"Not criticizing. That girl's like family."

"Right." Reece shoved his hands into his pockets. "Anything else?"

"Talked to Tyree last night."

"Oh?"

"He told me about the partnership." His dad's voice had softened, and although it might have been Reece's imagination, he thought he heard a hint of pride. "The apartment's yours for as long as you need it."

A lump formed in Reece's throat, and he swallowed it down. "What about Edie's grandson?" he asked, reaching for a fresh tack cloth.

"Phfft. Dorms are good for a kid. And don't worry about getting your house."

Reece looked up sharply, surprised. The straight-forward acknowledgment of what Reece had done for Tyree--and what he'd given up in the process--was uncharacteristic for Charlie.

"If it's your dream, you'll make it. Sometimes dreams take a while," Charlie added. "Hell, sometimes you don't even know what your dream is until it's staring you in the face."

An unfamiliar twinkle danced in his father's eyes. "Dad?"

But Charlie just waved the words away. "Don't mind me. I'm just an old man rambling. Bottom line is that I'm proud of you, son." He pushed away from the post, standing up straight. "Now Edie and I are off to breakfast, then we've got an appointment with a travel agent."

"A travel agent? Dad, I keep telling you that it's simple to book flights on the Internet. You don't have to go through an agent."

"We're thinking about taking a cruise. Figure we should do it right."

The back door opened, and Edie stepped out, her gray hair teased high. Born and bred in the Panhandle, Edie stil

l embraced the stereotypical big Texas hair.

"Look at you," she said, coming over to give Reece a hug, which he easily returned, breathing in the scent of Shalimar perfume and Pond's face cream. "I'm going to fix you the biggest breakfast ever once all those cabinets are back in. You're just the sweetest boy."

"I'll take it," Reece said. Of all the women who'd come in and out of his father's life, Edie was the one he'd miss the most when it ended.

Because with his dad, it always ended.