Contractual Obligation

Chapter Eight

“Seriously, Dad, you realize I’m not an invalid, right?” Harper griped as her father refused to let her help unload the truck. They’d stopped for groceries in Englewood before heading across the toll bridge to Gasparilla Island. Once the truck was unloaded, they’d most likely only use the golf cart he kept for toddling around the small town of Boca Grande.

“I gave you a job to do, sweetie. Go turn the A/C down cooler in the house and mix me up one of your great virgin margaritas.”

She rolled her eyes as she grabbed her keys and purse and headed up the stairs. It wouldn’t do any good to argue with him. The Boca Grande house sat perched on twelve-foot concrete pilings due to local building codes against tidal surge flooding should a storm hit the island. She felt badly that her dad would make several trips back and forth up the stairs when she was perfectly capable of toting her fair share.

She unlocked the door, turned off the alarm, and headed immediately to the thermostat to turn the air down. By the time her dad made it upstairs with the second load of bags, she already had the blender full of ice and her own special margarita recipe. When he finished unloading, they sat out on the screened lanai with the ceiling fans lazily stirring the cool evening sea breeze. The sun slowly sank into the Gulf of Mexico, painting the sky in vivid oranges, reds, and purples as it dipped below the horizon.

“Red sky at night,” he said as he sipped his drink. “That’s a good sign, sweetie.”

She smiled. “Sure, Daddy. It’s a good sign.”

“No, really, it is. You know the old saying. ‘Red sky at night, sailors’ delight.’” He pointed down, toward the canal, where his twenty-four-foot Carolina Skiff hung from davits under a covered dock. “I had George come over this afternoon and crank the boat, make sure everything was okay. He said we’re ready for tomorrow. Just need gas, ice, and bait.”

“And sunscreen.” She smiled. And patience.

“So, what do you think of your new guy?”

“He’s nice. I think he’ll work out well.”

“He’s young.”

“I prefer someone young. I’m hoping he’ll want to stay with the company for his entire career so I don’t have to replace him.”

“Nice-looking young man.”

Aaand there it is. She gave him credit, it took him several hours, a long drive, and dinner together before he broached the subject. “He’s my employee, Daddy. Don’t even go there with the matchmaking.”

He held up a hand in surrender. “Of course. My apologies.” He took a sip of his drink. “Besides, knowing how stubborn you are, if I like him you’d refuse to date him just to spite me.”

“Would you like me to pay him to sleep with me?”

“Whoa!” As she’d hoped, that kicked him back into reality. He might want her to settle down, but she knew in the back of his mind he hoped she’d do it immaculately, like the Virgin Mary. “Okay, I surrender. You win.” He shook his head. “You play hardball, honey.”

She smiled. “I learned from the best.”

The next morning, Harper arose at daybreak. She had the coffee brewing and was in the process of making them omelets when her dad emerged from his bedroom.

“Morning, sweetheart.” He kissed her on the cheek on his way to the coffee maker.

“Morning, Daddy. Did you sleep well?”

“Of course.” He grinned. “Dreamed about tarpon all night long.”

“We’re really not going to fish the pass, are we?”

He gave her a you’ve-got-to-be-kidding-me look. “What do you think?”

“Well, you mentioned tarpon yesterday.” Fishing Boca Grande pass this time of year was like trying to score a fifty-dollar laptop at a Black Friday sale. Crowded, obnoxious, and probably unsuccessful due to the large number of boats.

“George told me about some reports around Useppa Island, where the fishing’s hot. Don’t worry, sweetheart. I know what I’m doing.”

She couldn’t argue with that. He definitely knew what he was doing. They had scrapbooks full of pictures of successful fishing trips.

While she ate breakfast and made them sandwiches to take with them, she thought about Doug. Actually, she wouldn’t be averse to something developing between them. Then again, that wouldn’t be very professional of her. It definitely would keep her father off her case, though.

Her father behaved himself until later in the afternoon, while they were sitting on the boat and eating their lunch after a morning of hot fishing in the harbor.

“Gorden and Olivia are driving down tonight. They’ll spend the night and go out with us tomorrow. Maybe I should have him extend an invitation to Doug.” He cast her a sideways glance.

“Okay, Daddy, seriously, will you please stop?”

He grinned. “I love yanking your chain like that. But no, seriously, I wouldn’t mind seeing you indulge in a little after-hours association with him. Gorden seems to like him.”

“Daddy!”

“Hey, I’m just saying.” He laughed. She didn’t protest too hard, because her father might find it suspicious later if she appeared to retract these protestations about seeing Doug on a social level instead of a strictly professional one.

“You’ve said more than enough.”

“Can’t blame a man for trying. Hey, I’ve been pretty good about not harassing you about it today.”

When Gorden and Olivia arrived later that evening, Harper managed to get Gorden alone for a few brief moments. “Did Daddy pump you for info on Doug?”

“Yes, and don’t worry, I stuck to the story. I can’t help it if your father is determined to marry you off so you can live happily ever after. Your plan seems to be working too well.”

“As long as it works, that’s all I care about.”

“Be careful what you wish for,” he cautioned. “Trite but sage advice.”

“I just want my dad off my back.” She quickly scanned her e-mail on her phone. If she did it around her dad, he tried to take her phone away from her, scolding her to relax. “I have a business to run, you know. And it’s a pain in the ass to try to do it with him riding me to take time off for a personal life when I’m perfectly happy with the business being my personal life.”

She heard her father approaching the kitchen from the living room, and she dropped her voice. “And just because he’s feeling guilty for not taking more time off doesn’t mean I am or will!” She finished her hurried diatribe as her father emerged through the kitchen door.

“What’s going on, sweetheart? You’d better not be working.”

She held up her phone. “Gorden was just giving me grief for checking my e-mail, Daddy. Don’t worry.”

Her father laughed. “Good for him. You’re not supposed to be working.”

Gorden shot her a knowing look. “She’s her father’s daughter, Harrison. In more ways than one.”

She stuck her tongue out at Gorden. She knew he wouldn’t spill the beans, but that didn’t mean he wouldn’t give her hell about it in other ways, either.

On Sunday, they had another great day out on the water following breakfast. By late afternoon, Harper was ready to go home.

Her father, on the other hand, had other ideas.

“Let’s have a long, three-day weekend, honey,” he said. “You and I both need it.”

“I have meetings tomorrow, Daddy. And don’t forget, it’s Doug’s first day.” She looked to Gorden for help. “Right?”

“I’m sure Gorden doesn’t need his hand held,” her father countered before Gorden could answer. “If he can keep you in hand, he can certainly take Doug through his first day unassisted. And you’re the boss. You can reschedule your meetings.”

She didn’t fail to spot Gorden’s amused smile and shot him a glare. “Daddy, who’s running this company now? You or me?”

“Oh, fine. Can’t blame a father for trying.”

“She is right, though, Harrison,” Gorden finally said. “Her morning meeting is with a DoD client. She can’t blow that one off.”

“Department of Defense, huh? Maybe I should sit in on that one, too.” He grinned.

She glared at him. “Oh, no you don’t. My company to run. Remember our deal?”

He let out an exaggerated sigh. “I think you learned too well from me, sweetheart. All right, fine, we’ll go home.” He waggled a finger at her. “But next Friday, be prepared. You’re coming back down here with me for the weekend.”

“Fine. No problem.” It was easier to give in than it was to argue with him on the subject. The truth was, of course, she didn’t mind coming with him to the Boca Grande house. And she loved their fishing trips together. What she didn’t want to do was deal with him pressuring her to relax. That took all the relaxation out of their time together.

Hopefully, in a few weeks, that wouldn’t be an issue any longer.