Page 35 of For One Night

He inclines his head. “If you want to be my best man, I think maybe we should.”

“I’ll be there.” I hesitate. “Will you ask Maisyn to leave her taser at home? You know, just in case.”

“Lenny, if there’s one thing I’ve learned”—he grins—“it’s that I will never tell her what to do.”

“She scares you too?”

“Damn straight she does. That’s how you know you got a good one.” He winks at me.

“The hell you say?”

“I swear,” he holds his hand up, “the scarier they are, the better the woman. Fierce.” A sharp pain in my chest takes my breath away, and I try to play it off with a cough. “You alright?”

“I’m good, just a tickle in my throat.”

He sets his beer down, taking a seat at the bar. “I’ve been thinking.”

“Oh, shit. Do I need to sit too?” I look at him with my eyes wide.

“No.” He rubs the back of his neck. “Come back to the company, let’s work together to get you caught up and in no time, you can take it over again.”

I pull a stool out and sit slowly. “Are you sure?”

“It’s O’Daly’s.” He grins. “We are Dalys. Lennox, I want to spend time with Maisyn and the girls. I’ve spent far too many years not having a life because I was so busy building one. I want out.”

I stand and wander around the room. When I turn back to face him, his brow is furrowed. How do I say it? I’m at a loss for words. I can’t explain this feeling, and even if I could, would he understand?

“Lachlan, I’m not sure.”

“You’ll be fine. As a matter of fact, you’re going to be great. We’re going to work on it together, and I won’t leave until you’re ready.” He eases from his chair, walks over to me and pulls me into a hug.

“Are you alright?” I grumble, as I’m not a fan of affection.

He pats my back with a chuckle. “Yeah, you are too. It’s a hug. You’re going to be fine.”

“Always the smartass.” He turns to walk away, and I’m still thinking that I should tell him how I really feel, but I can’t.

Lachlan stays a little longer, and we talk about the wedding and Maisyn. If I ever had a doubt how much he loves her, I don’t now. She’s everything to him, and I understand why he’s ready to semi-retire.

The change in him is remarkable. He talks little of work anymore. His world revolves around Maisyn, Faith, and Hope. “Holy shit! I’m an uncle.”

I close my eyes, letting it all sink in. “I can’t have my mother and my nieces thinking I’m the worst human being to walk the earth. I have to get my life straight. Those girls are the best, and I even used them.”

I down my drink. “I am the worst person in the world. I tried to take Lachlan from them, and he’s the only father they’ve ever known. And my mom… Mom believes in me, she always has, and all I’ve ever done is let her down.”

After he leaves, I sit back and consider all we talked about. It’s been years since we took the time to listen to one another. I have to say I’m surprised. I’d kick my ass every time I ran into me, if I were him.

“Lennox, you have to do this, your family is counting on you, and for once, you’re going to think about them.” Now, how do I make myself believe it?