Page 28 of Master Daddy

As Luke drives off a little while later, waving from his car, that familiar pang hits me square in the chest.

The clock is ticking.

Three and a half weeks until I’m back on that goddamn helicopter heading out to the rig for another four months. The thought of leaving Luke—of not waking up next to him, not spotting him on the bench, not hearing him call me Daddy—sits like lead in my gut.

I want this life.

I want Luke in my cabin.

I need mornings like this every day. Not stolen weeks between brutal rotations.

I head back inside, clean up the kitchen, and stare out the window at the lake. I’ve got to figure something out.

For Luke.

For me.

And for us.

Chapter 9

Luke

I slide the last box of pasta onto the shelf and wipe my hands on my apron, letting out a satisfied little sigh. The grocery store is quiet now, the afternoon lull settling in after the lunch rush.

Mrs. Peplinska is behind the counter sorting through some receipts, her silver curls bouncing as he hums an old tune. She’s been like a second grandma to me ever since I came back to Hardrock Park, and I love these quiet moments chatting with her.

“You did a great job on the stockroom today, honey,” Mrs. Peplinska says, looking up with that warm, knowing smile. “Especially after that little distraction the other morning.”

Mrs. Peplinska then winks that magical wink of hers.

My cheeks heat instantly. “Mrs. Peplinska!”

“Oh, don’t you Mrs. Peplinska me. I remember what it’s like to have a handsome man turn your head. Is it that big strapping fellow who dropped you off the other day? Mason, wasn’t it?”

I bite my lip and nod, unable to hide my grin. “Yeah. He’s… really something.”

Just then my phone pings loudly from my back pocket. My heart does a happy little flip. Mason. He said he might text me after his errands today.

I pull my phone out fast, already giggling in anticipation as I unlock the screen.

But the name on the message isn’t Mason.

It’s Patrick.

My stomach drops like I’ve just missed a step on the stairs…

PATRICK: Hey Luke. I’ve been thinking about you a lot lately. I know I was out of line back in the city. I said and did a lot of shitty things. I’d really like to make it up to you. Maybe grab coffee sometime? I want to finally end things on good terms. You deserve that. I want to show you I’m not a total scumbag. Come on, you know I’m not. But I need to see you to show that. Let me know.

I stare at the screen, rereading the words twice, three times. My thumb hovers over the keyboard but nothing comes out. Mrs. Peplinska must notice the sudden change in my face because she sets down her papers and comes around the counter.

“Everything alright, dear? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“It’s… Patrick,” I whisper, showing her the screen. “My ex from the city. The toxic one I told you about once.”

Mrs. Peplinska reads it quickly, her expression turning thoughtful. “Well. That’s quite the message. What are you feeling right now?”

“Confused,” I admit, shoving the phone back into my pocket like it might burn me. “He was charming at first. Flowers, fancy dinners, all that. But then it was constant criticism, controlling me, making me feel small for wanting a quieter life. He called me weak for leaving finance. And now, out of nowhere, he wants to ‘make things right’? It doesn’t feel real.”