Free Dating a Single Dad by Kris Fletcher - Comeback Cove 01 - Dating a Single Dad

Hank. “I propose that the festival be held at the Northwoods Cabins.”
    The color drained from his face. So did any traces of warmth.
    “Are you out of your ever-loving mind?”
    “Quite probably,” she said with all the cheer she could carry off. “But it’s still on the table.”
    “What, uh, what brought you to this conclusion?” Janice glanced at Hank.
    Brynn ticked off the points on her fingers. “A stronger family connection. A gorgeous location, filled with trees and the river and plenty of places to park. The cabins would make perfect staging areas for the activities—there can be a kids’ cabin with face-painting and games, a craft cabin for the milk-bag crocheting, a history cabin, et cetera. If it rains we won’t need a tent because the activities are already inside. We can do the closing fireworks over the river and use the central area for the stage and picnic tables.” She smiled again. “Plus, it would be a fabulous grand opening for the cabin business.”
    “I don’t need—” Hank stopped, seeming to struggle to collect himself before continuing. “Look. It sounds really great, I know, but I— No. Just no.”
    “It sounds pretty good to me, Hank.” Moxie sent him the evil eye. “What’s your problem?”
    “Other than the fact that Millie and I have to live there while all these strangers traipse through our front yard?”
    “You mean the way they’ll be doing once you are officially in business?” Robert’s quiet comment brought a halt to the whispers and mutters that had begun.
    Hank looked slightly taken aback, but only for a moment.
    “That will be different.”
    “How?” Janice spoke with the authority that only a mother could muster. “I think this would be an excellent way to get you accustomed to the comings and goings.”
    “I don’t—” He stopped again. Brynn waited. She could convince him to do this, but it had to come from him.
    Moxie spoke up. “Henry, when your great-uncle built that house and those cabins, he was as proud of them as he could be. He used to have the whole family out there every year for Halloween. He’d fill the woods with ghosts and pumpkins, have a bonfire, make it a party place. We loved going there.” She shook her head. “Then your uncle Lou took over and it all went to hell. Used to break my heart to see how he let it go to pot. Me, I’m mighty proud to see you bringing it back to life. Lou would have been too dumb and lazy to grab this chance. You’re not either of those. So for the love of Pete, boy, don’t pretend you are.”
    Hank closed his eyes. Brynn saw the lines in his face, saw the way his fingers tightened on his pen, and felt a flash of guilt. Was she asking too much?
    “Fine.” He pointed the pen at Moxie. “I’ll do it. But you have to swear you’ll have everything and everyone out of there within two days of it being over. I have folks checking in Thursday night and I’ll need time to get ready.”
    “I’ll help with that.” Brynn spoke quickly. “I’d be happy to do it. And anything else you might need.”
    He arched an eyebrow in her direction. “Gee, thanks, Brynn. But I think you’ve done plenty already.”
    * * *
    S ATURDAY MORNING FOUND Hank exactly where he’d been for days: in the Carleton cottage, pounding the hell out of floorboards that needed replacing and sending dark thoughts in the direction of the Wolfe cabin, home of the woman who had made it necessary for him to speed up his timetable by a full week. More, really, since folks would need to get into the cabins ahead of time to set up.
    His schedule was a mess. His mood had been launched into permanently foul. He was juggling catch-up and Millie care. And, because life wasn’t exciting enough, his daughter seemed determined to do everything in her power to make his job even more time-consuming.
    Like taking off when his back was turned.
    “Millie?” He poked his head into every room of the cottage, even though he’d checked each