He glances down at his phone on the desk, the cabin number coming up on his screen and the edges of his lips curl up wide as he reaches for it rather quickly and presses accept. "Missing me already, Kate? What happened to making dinner for you and your dad?" He laughs slightly as he leans back.

"Hello, Rick. This is Jim, Kate's father."

Rick sits up a little straighter, his pulse beginning to pound as a small lump starts to form in the middle of his throat, which he quickly swallows before clearing his throat.

"Oh, hi-hi. Is everything okay? Is Kate okay?" His brows pull together, confusion starting to course through his body. Kate had hung up no more than five minutes ago, then again – things could happen so quickly; in the blink of an eye, really. Maybe she fell of the wharf, or injured herself going inside? The possibilities were endless and swirling through Rick's mind.

The mind of a writer, he thinks to himself.

"Oh, yes. Everything is fine, Kate's okay."

Rick's head tilts, confusion beginning to course through his body as his brows pull together tighter.

"I actually wanted to talk you – she, doesn't know I'm calling."

"What – what did you want to talk about, Sir?"

"Please, call me Jim. It's far less formal." The older man chuckles slightly, and Rick's lips twitch, his head nodding.

"Alright, Jim. How can I help?"

"Well, first of all I just wanted to thank you for all your help, the facility you recommended looks – well, it looks wonderful. And, of coruse, thank you for being there for my daughter. I haven't seen her this happy in – well, a long time actually."

Rick feels his heart skip a beat at hearing her father talk about her and how thankful he is for his help.

"There's no need to thank me, Si-Jim. I'm happy to help. I care about Kate a lot, and she cares about you. I didn't want her to feel like she had to do it all on her own in – in helping you." He stutters, the nerves of talking to her father still inside of him that he tears the phone away for a moment and sucks in a breath, holding it momentarily before letting it out and bringing the phone back to his ear.

"No, it's okay, I understand. I haven't… I haven't been there for her; haven't been the dad she needs me to be. Not since her mother died. I've been very selfish, put my own needs before hers when it wasn't the time to do so. She's been wonderful helping me – taking time off work to come up here. But, she deserves happiness, doesn't deserve to miss out."

"What is she… missing out on?"

"You." A beat passes before Jim continues. "It's evident my daughter is missing you. I don't think I've ever seen her… care about someone this much, and it's refreshing to see her enjoying her life and allowing people to be by her side. She pushed everyone away after her mother died. She didn't want anyone close enough to hurt her."

"I don't want to hurt her, I could never do that."

"I know, I understand that now. When Katie first told me about you and her, I was a bit sceptical about your intentions considering your situation."

Rick chews on the inside of his gums, his pulse continuing to pound beneath his chest. He can still remember the doubts Kate had when he'd first shared his feelings with her; how she felt like she was a rebound.

He could understand where Jim was coming from – he was in the midst of a divorce, and had a five year old daughter. Rick's positive that if in the future Alexis came to him telling him she was dating somebody newly separated with a child he'd be concerned as well.

"But you seem like a good man, Rick. Not a lot of people would be able to handle what she's been through – is going through. For you to want to be by her side – I think it's very noble. She needs somebody in her life just as stubborn as she is – somebody who refuses to give up on her or let her go, and from what I've been told; that somebody is you."

Rick feels the smile tugging at his lips as he leans further back in his chair, the nerves inside of him starting to subside.

"She's a remarkable woman your daughter."

"Thank you. I think she's done pretty well for herself, and I couldn't be prouder of her. I won't deny that I'm terrified of the job she has and the risks that come with it. But she does so much good, and I know her mother would be so proud of her."

There's a moment of silence, both men smiling to themselves before Jim is speaking once more.

"Which is why I want the best for my daughter, I've always wanted her to have the best. I love that she gives up everything just to be here for me, but I don't want her to drop everything. She left the city so suddenly when I know she had commitments. Work commitments – a date I hear I ruined."

Rick's face scrunches slightly as he chews on the bottom of his inner lip, his eyes landing on his computer screen.

"Jim–"

"Let me finish," Jim cuts in, his tone still soft as Rick holds back. "I know her being here for another week is probably killing you both, so, I'd like to invite you up tomorrow night for dinner. I will make myself scarce so you two can redo the night I ruined."

Rick's surprised by the invitation, his brows raising as his eyes widen slightly.

"I – you want me to come up to the cabin tomorrow night?"

"That's correct, yes."

"Are you – are you sure? I don't want to kick you out of your own home, especially in the condition you're in."

"My condition is getting better. I'm more than capable of moving on my own and being on my own for a few hours. My daughter has sacrificed enough at my own benefit, I can sacrifice one night. My daughter shouldn't have to put her life on hold or miss out on opportunities because she's too busy taking care of her father."

Rick swallows his brows slowly coming to pull together.

"I'd also like to keep this between us. I think the surprise would make it all the more special for her. So, what do you say, Rick?"


The morning was slow and quiet; it'd been raining hard on and off all day – which was a pity considering the day before had been filled with so much glorious sunshine that it'd felt like Summer.

But Kate and her father still sat on the porch and had their morning coffee's. The rain coming down on the roof was nice, and seeing it hit the lake made it look even more magical.

Through breakfast to lunch her father had been acting weird, especially after she'd tried calling Rick a few times and had gotten no answer from him. She'd been disappointed, but thought he must've been writing or had arrangements with Alexis.

After lunch, her father suggested they go to the store and get something special for dinner that night. She didn't miss the smug grin on her father's face after she slipped into the driver's side, but merely shrugged it off.

It wasn't till it got to about five o'clock when her father chose to sit by the window – as if he was looking or waiting for someone that Kate had, had enough of how weird he'd been acting all day, and finally decided to ask him about it.

"Okay, what's going on with you?" Kate's brows pull together, hands slipping into the back pockets of her jeans as she comes to stand beside her father.

"Hmm, what do you mean?" He tears his gaze away from the window to glance up at her, one brow arching and Kate only frowns harder at him.

"You've been acting weird all day, dad. So, come on – spill it," Her own brow arches, arms now coming to fold across her chest.

A car coming up the gravel driveway pulls them both to look towards the window and Jim's smile widens.

"Uh, here we go." He murmurs, shifting to get up as he grabs his crutches that he'd changed in exchange for his walking stick – said it made him feel way too old.

Kate's brows pull together even more, her gaze tearing away from the familiar black car; one she can't quite pin her mind to who it belongs to, to glance towards her father heading towards the front door of the cabin.

"Dad?"

"We've got company, Katie. Well, you do." He flashes her a smile as he disappears out the door and confusion sweeps across Kate's face, her lips parting as her pulse begins to pound beneath the cage of her chest as she quickly follows her father out to the porch.

The rain's falling down rather hard, and although the windscreen wipers on the car are vigorously going back and forth – Kate doesn't miss the face behind the wheel.

The pounding in her chest stops for a moment, her lips twitching before a grin cracks across her face as she looks over to her dad, her brows pulled together and head shaking.

"How?"

"I called Rick last night when you were making dinner. Him and I had a very nice talk." He grins at her, placing a hand on her arm.

"But you said you were…" She pauses, making the connection as she shakes her head once again at her dad, a breath of air leaving her lungs. "What did you two talk about?"

"About how I don't want my daughter putting her life on hold for me anymore."

"Dad." Kate sighs, her tongue coming out to run along her bottom lip. "I'm not putting my life on hold." Her head shakes, but Jim squeezes her arm to hush her.

"Yes, you are, Katie. And it's not fair on you to make so many sacrifices for me. It should be me making all the sacrifices for you, not the other way around. You've held yourself back so much since your mom died, and I've noticed a change with Rick in your life."

Tears prick around the edges of Kate's lids as she sucks in a breath, her gaze tearing away from her father to see Rick sitting in the car, raising a hand to wave at her and her lips twitch even more as she lifts her hand slightly to wave back at him.

"I know I had my doubts, but I think he's good for you. And I don't want you having to ruin your life because I've done something stupid."

Her eyes close briefly as she sucks in another breath, her gaze turning back to land on her father. "Dad, I'm not going to stop being there for you – or dropping things when you need me."

"I know you won't stop being there for me, but – you don't have to always drop everything for me, Katie. You're all grown up, and I have to accept that you'll have your own family one day."

"You'll still be a part of that dad. Don't talk like you're gone or going somewhere." Her jaw can't help but tighten, her brows frowning as she refrains from letting tears slip down her eyes.

Jim pats her arm, pulls her towards him and carefully takes her in his arms as he uses his good hand to rub her back up and down. "I'm not going anywhere, promise. But, you have your own life; and you can't put that on hold because of me. I know I ruined your date with Rick the other night, and I don't want you to have to wait another week to make it up." Jim leans back, a smile on his face as Kate can't help but match it.

"I love you, dad."

"I love you too, sweetie." He lifts his good hand to wipe away the few tears that had slipped down as they both turn upon hearing another car coming up the driveway.

"Uh, my rides here."

"Ride?" Kate questions as she turns back to her father.

"Well, you can't exactly have a date if I'm there, now can you?"

She feels a light shade of roseate wash across her cheeks, warmth circulating up the sides of her neck as she turns her gaze away to see Rick now getting out of the car and slipping his phone into his pocket.

"I can't drive myself, and Nancy and Ryland invited me for dinner."

She shakes her head while looking back at her dad.

"It's not exactly inviting you to dinner dad when they own the diner." Kate smirks, shaking her head. The diner out in the nearest town was one both Kate and Jim were very fond of and regulars at. They'd known the couple that owned it since her father first brought the cabin, and they'd become close family friends.

She turns to see Rick coming up the steps and she can't help but feel the breath being taken out of her upon seeing the grin on his face as he comes up to meet them. The rain has only slightly dampened his hair and jacket and if her father weren't here, she'd probably run her fingers through the brown locks that are just asking for her to be touched.

"Hi." Rick breathes out looking at Kate and she can't help but grin wider; if possible.

"Hey." Her teeth sink into her bottom lip, and Rick turns to face her father.

"Sir – I mean, Jim." He blinks a few times, shaking his head as he chuckles and extends his hand out, which Jim happily takes and shakes.

"It's good to finally meet you, Rick." He smiles at the man before looking back to Kate. "I think I'll leave you two to it. I'll be back later on tonight, okay?" Jim leans across to kiss Kate's cheek before he's adjusting his crutches and moving towards the steps.

"Oh, dad–" Kate speaks up, reaching towards her father but Rick intervenes and takes a hold of her father.

"Here, I've got it – let me help you." Rick smiles at the man, helping him down the wet steps and towards the awaiting car.

Kate watches from the porch, her pulse pounding and a smile on her face as she takes in the sight; awe coming to sweep over her as she watches the two most important men in her lives; the men she loves.

And it hits her then that the feelings she has for Rick, are so much more than she thought. It's love she feels for the man she's barely even known for a year; barely even been dating for a week. But he's everything and more. Somebody she never wants to have to live a day without.

She sucks in a breath, her pulse pounding hard at the revelation as she watches Rick help her father into the car before he's rushing back towards her.

"Sorry about not accepting your call at lunch. Your dad made me promise to keep me coming up here a secret, which is why I didn't accept your call. I knew I wouldn't be able to keep it a secret the second I talked to you."

She chuckles slightly, grinning at the man before her.

"I can't believe my dad pretty much set me up." She laughs slightly, her pulse pounding as the warmth in her cheeks stay, the red starting to subside.

Kate glances over Rick's shoulder to see that the other car is gone and she looks back to Rick before taking a step towards him, lifting her hand up to his cheek before sliding her fingers up into the slightly wet hair. "Kinda wanted to do that when I first saw you, but my dad was standing right next to me." She breathes out shakily, Rick's arm coming to wrap around her face as the other comes to tuck a few of her curls behind her ear as he leans forwards to press his forehead against hers.

"You know what I've been wanting to do?"

Her gaze drops to his lips momentarily before back up to the deep blue eyes as her pulse pounds all the way up to her ears. Her fingertips slide down to the back of his neck, the other coming to rest against his chest as her head shakes slightly.

"What?"

She breathes out against his lips before he's closing the distance between them and capturing her lips in a soft, and sweet kiss.

"That." He mumbles against her lips before he's pulling her body closer against his, and continuing to move his lips against hers.