Restoration & Forgiveness (Renovate Book 2) Read Online Free PDF

isn't enough, and the word's meaning is a mystery to me right now. He may love me, and he may believe he can fix what's between us, but it will never be enough.
    "I know, Dad."
    "That still doesn't mean hanky-panky is allowed, though," my dad says, winking at me. What is with all these winks?
    "On one condition: Please stop saying hanky-panky." We both laugh and it's a real laugh that leaves smiles on both our faces.
    "You know, Keegan runs a company and can't be away too long. So don't be disappointed if he has to leave suddenly," I tell him.
    "That boy has stars in his eyes, Aimee. I saw it when he was a little boy and he's grown into a fine man. He'll do what needs to be done. As long as he takes care of you, then I'll be all right; you will be too. Your mother would be so proud of you. You know that, right? The only wish we ever had for you was for you to be happy."
    I wipe away a tear and bend down to give my dad a hug, because I really need one right now. It's so easy to imagine a perfect, happy life with Keegan. Like everything else, it's just a fairy tale, and I don't believe in those any longer.
     
 
     

Chapter Five
    My dad and I pass the time watching numerous episodes of The Lone Ranger and The Three Stooges, which apparently they have marathons of every day. My dad's retirement has been good to him—well, up until a couple days ago.
    Keegan's been gone for a while but I doubt he's given up. My dad drifts to sleep, so I decide to take a walk. I step out of the room and Keegan is standing outside the door, typing on his phone.
    "There you are. We need to talk," I tell him.
    He looks up with hooded eyes and in a low voice says, "Your wish is my command."
    Normally that would make me weak in the knees, and it does affect me a little. Flirty Keegan is hard to resist, but I need to beat him at his own game, and I haven't figured out how I'm going to do that just yet. All I know is that we need some ground rules.
    He follows me as I make my way to the waiting area. We both sit down on a couch. Keegan is too close, so I move down, which is a mistake because he takes that as a challenge and inches even closer. There's nowhere to move to and he is making me nervous.
    "Keegan, please stop. Your cute and flirty act isn't going to work."
    "No?" He winks.
    "No, and stop with the winks; they're making me dizzy."
    He smiles at my comment, and now he definitely knows he's affected me. I'm going about this all wrong.
    "What do you want to talk about?" he asks.
    I had this picture in my head where I would be stern with him and he would nod in understanding, but looking at him now I can't find the words. I get up and move to a chair diagonal from the couch. I need at least a few feet of space between us.
    "I don't want you staying at the house, I know my dad wants you to, and I don't want to upset him. I'm going to tell him that you had to leave, that something came up with work."
    I hold my breath, waiting for him to respond.
    "Or what?" he says coolly.
    "What do you mean, or what? There is no or, there's just you doing what I ask."
    "Aimee?" He leans in closer and I straighten my back and cross my arms. This is our standoff.
    "You're not telling your dad anything, and I'm not leaving. I told you I'm not going anywhere. Your dad invited me to stay with you, and I accepted," he counterattacks.
    "Is that so?" I say through gritted teeth.
    "Like I said, the sooner you realize that I'm serious about staying, the better off we all will be."
    "Fine, but we are setting some rules. I don't want to upset my dad, and soon you'll realize you're wasting time with me."
    "I'll take that as a challenge, then." His eyes gleam with anticipation.
    Rules, I need some rules like yesterday. I have to think this through, but there's no time. He needs to know he can't just bully me into getting what he wants.
    "First, when my dad's not around, cut the act. We aren't together anymore. I don't want you doing any holding of hands, kissing, and no