Total pages in book: 65
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 58952 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“Likewise,” he said, thinking Penny appeared to be a more mature version of Lauren and what she’d look like when she was in her early fifties. A natural, fresh-faced beauty, with chin-length dark brown hair and sparkling brown eyes.
Chase turned to Lauren’s father next, extending his hand toward the other man. Dale was stout, with broad shoulders, a solid build, and a firm handshake that conveyed mutual respect. During a conversation with Lauren, she’d mentioned that her father worked for a construction company as an electrician.
“It’s nice to meet you, Mr. Connelly,” Chase said, inclining his head.
The other man scoffed. “Please. No need to be formal around here. Call me Dale.”
Chase glanced at the oldest man in the group, with wisps of white hair on his head, a neatly trimmed and equally white beard, and the same brown eyes that ran in the family. Except his gaze was more critical than Penny’s and Dale’s, as if he was trying to sum up Chase and decide if he was good enough for his granddaughter.
Smiling, Chase shook Lee’s hand, his grip strong enough to convince Chase that there was nothing frail about this man who’d just suffered the equivalent of a stroke. “It’s a pleasure, sir,” Chase said amicably. “Lauren has told me so much about you.”
Hearing that his granddaughter had mentioned him softened the older man’s features. Gramps puffed his chest out, his upper body straining against the top portion of his faded, jean overalls. “All good things, I’m sure,” he said, then followed that up with a feisty wink. “I am her favorite, after all.”
Lauren laughed as she casually looped her arm through Chase’s, making them look very much like a couple. “Yes, you are, Gramps.”
“She mentioned you recently had a health scare,” Chase said. “I hope everything is well?”
“Bah!” Lee waved a hand in the air dismissively and scowled at the reminder. “As you can see, I’m as hale and hearty as can be.”
Penny rolled her eyes at Lee’s dramatics then motioned toward the front door. “Come on in, you two. Dinner is almost ready.”
Everyone walked inside the house and into the small, but cozy living room.
“Can I get you something to drink, Chase?” Penny asked.
He shook his head. “No, thank you. I’m fine.”
“Okay, then,” she said with a nod, then glanced at her daughter. “Lauren, would you mind helping me get everything on the table while the boys chat?”
“Sure, Mom.”
Lauren glanced up at Chase, meeting his gaze, her own eyes silently asking if he was okay on his own so soon after meeting everyone. He gave her a subtle, reassuring nod and smiled, then she followed her mother into the kitchen. Chase took a seat on the couch, while the other men sat in the two recliners in the room.
Lee didn’t waste any time interrogating him, his steely eyes slightly narrowed. “So, Scouty tells us you’re a fancy-pants finance man.”
Chase had to suppress a grin. He wasn’t sure what amused him more. The adorable nickname Lauren’s gramps had for her or the humorous job description the older man had come up with for his occupation.
“Yes, I’m a managing partner at my investment firm,” he said, downplaying his title.
As proud as he was of being a partner, he didn’t want to come across as a pretentious “fancy pants”, as Lee had put it. These were simple people who clearly lived a modest life, and Chase wasn’t above them in any way whatsoever. He also realized that he really wanted to make a good impression because shockingly, he wanted Lauren’s family to like him.
“What do you do there besides play with other people’s money?” Gramps asked, testing Chase once again while Dale looked on with an expression of both pity and amusement.
Chase relaxed against the sofa cushion, realizing that Lauren must have gotten her moxie from her gramps. “I do manage investment portfolios and play with other people’s money, so to speak, by selling and buying securities that are a good fit for my clients,” he said with a self-depreciating grin. “But I also spend a lot of time conducting research on financial markets and economic trends so I can offer my clients the best strategies for their money.”
Lee asked a few more questions, and each time Chase came back with a relatable response that seemed to gain Lee’s admiration and approval. When Chase felt that shift to acceptance between them, he decided to change the subject to something he knew would win the older man over for sure.
“Lauren mentioned that you served in the Vietnam War,” he said, then gave the other man a nod. “Thank you for your service, sir,” he added respectfully, which earned him a smile from the older man. “I’m a bit of a history buff and would love to hear about your experience.”
Lee’s eyes sparked with pride, and he stood up. “Come here,” he said, motioning for Chase to follow him as he walked toward a glass display case in the living room. “I want to show you a few things.”