Page 39 of Hard Deal
“Oh, I’m not going to wait until the wedding day,” Daniel said, pausing to take a sip of his beer. “I’m going to surprise her with the ring this weekend. We’ll try it on and make sure it fits.”
Caleb leaned back against the wooden railing that rimmed the bar’s balcony. “How have you kept it a secret from her?”
“It hasn’t been easy. We’ve been meeting in secret to discuss tweaks to the design and so I can pay her in cash. Penny is like a hawk with the credit card statements.” He laughed. “It helps that Emily and I have known each other for years. We went to the same high school and our families have been friendly since before we were born.”
“Penny is a lucky woman,” Emily said.
Was it Caleb’s imagination or was there a hint of sadness in Emily’s voice? Daniel appeared none the wiser and he happily prattled on about the inspiration for Penny’s ring. Caleb had no idea why Imogen had been so convinced that her future brother-in-law was a cheating scumbag.
“I should be going,” Jason said, checking his phone. His brother had seemed preoccupied all evening, constantly looking at his watch and glancing around the bar like he was waiting for someone. It was probably the weight of their father’s news and his impending promotion.
“Me, too,” Emily said. “I’ll walk out with you.”
Caleb knew his brother was taking it all hard, even though he put on a brave face.
The two of them said their goodbyes and then wove through the crowded outdoor bar, leaving Caleb and Daniel alone.
“I’ve been trying to set them up,” Daniel said with a smile. “But he’s not interested. Seems he’s got some mystery woman in his sights.”
“Really?” Caleb rolled his beer glass between his hands, watching the foamy liquid swish and dip, leaving residue around the inside. “I’ve been telling Jase for ages that he needs to get out more. Any idea who it is?”
“None at all. He’s an enigma like that.”
Caleb chuckled. “He does play his cards close to his chest.”
“And he’s fussy.” Daniel grinned. “Not a bad thing, mind you. I’m the same, so when Penny came along I knew it was right.”
Caleb didn’t want to push the issue, but he’d promised Imogen he’d dig around and now was the perfect time. “And you never get tempted to go elsewhere?”
“One of the reasons I have nothing to do with my father is because he screwed someone at work and broke my mother’s heart. I’m not inviting him to the wedding, either. Does that answer your question?” Daniel snorted. “It’s not the only reason we don’t talk, but it’s certainly part of it.”
“Yeah, I guess it does.” Caleb bobbed his head.
“It’s not saying that I don’t notice a beautiful woman if she walks past. But seeing what it did to my mother... I could never do that to Pen. Or anyone.”
“Families are kind of fucked up, aren’t they?”
“Not all of them. Pen’s lucky like that. Her parents are still married, and she’s close with them and with her sister. Zero drama. It’s refreshing.”
It sounded as though Daniel was oblivious to Imogen’s distrust of him, but Caleb wasn’t about to enlighten him. And being the sort of person who prided himself on accurately reading people, Caleb was certain there was no cheating going on. He’d even probed Jason on the way to the bar and had come up with nothing. Either Daniel was good at keeping a lid on it—which meant that no amount of questioning would turn up anything—or, as was more likely the case, Imogen had let her past fuel her paranoia.
“I’d be happy with a little less drama on the family front,” Caleb said. He tossed back the rest of his beer and set the glass down with a loud thunk. “They could make a shitty soap opera out of my family.”
“Mine, too.” Daniel nodded. “As they say, you can choose your friends but you can’t choose your family.”
“Wise words.” He contemplated ordering another drink, but this whole conversation had left him itching to get home so he could see Imogen. And that had nothing to do with the current company. “We should do this again. Drinks, I mean.”
“Absolutely.” Daniel beamed and stuck out his hand in an awkward, overly formal way that made Caleb smile. “Name the date.”
Caleb bid him farewell and headed out of the bar. Jogging down a short flight of stairs, he came to the path that flanked the Yarra River. It was still light and bright, the sky tinged with orange and gold on the horizon. Two men ran past him, and a group of teenage girls walked in the other direction, laughing and playing with their phones.
Despite all the issues with his family, Caleb was strangely at peace. Daniel’s words had struck him deeply.
You can pick your friends but you can’t pick your family.
It was time to let go of his anger over his father’s actions. Nothing would ever change the old man’s views; nothing would ever elevate Caleb’s status from the lowly rung of unwanted second son. But what he could control was the people he surrounded himself with. And right now, he wanted to surround himself with Imogen. Wholly and completely.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN