Hooked

again. He picked it up, turned it off and stuffed it back into his jacket pocket. Stephanie was a little troubled by his refusal to answer the call, and it must have shown on her face.
    “Unless there’s somebody who might object to you making waffles for an old flame,” he said, yanking her thoughts in a very different direction. It took her a minute to respond.
    “If that’s your way of asking if I’m seeing anybody, the answer is, I’m not. I haven’t had time for a social life.” Then she added, “Or the inclination.” Which made her sound a little pathetic to her own ears.
    “Well, I don’t know whether to feel sorry for you or happy for me.”
    The unguarded warmth in his gaze had to be a reflection of the melting in hers. He still had feelings for her, and it wasn’t exactly a shock to find that she still had them for him. But it was different, somehow. This time with him was so easy, so natural, so much fun. How long had it been since she’d truly enjoyed being with someone her age and not her sex?
    “Just for that, I’m taking a bite of that potato—it’s been driving me nuts.” As the piece of butter-drenched Idaho baker melted in her mouth, she moaned and then leveled a narrowed gaze on him. “Say something else outrageous so I can have another bite.”
    As they settled into the car on the way home, she was no longer hugging the door handle. She relaxed back into the seat and studied his profile in the meager light, allowing herself to appreciate his features a little too much.
    “So, tell me about your girls,” she said, wanting mostly to hear his voice. “From the pictures I saw, they’ve grown into beautiful young ladies.”
    “Beautiful, yes. Ladies, not so much. Katie graduates in June and got accepted to Vanderbilt. Chelsea is all over the place—drama, choir, debate, honors classes and softball.” He wagged his head. “They both have guys falling all over them and their mother doesn’t like setting boundaries. Which leaves all of the rule laying to me.”
    “So, not much has changed,” Steph said, remembering snippets of that situation from their time together in Phoenix.
    “Actually, some things have changed, and not for the better.” He ran a hand through his hair and she realized that this was a difficult topic for him. He was genuinely worried about them. “Like I said, I’m not exactly their favorite person these days. They used to love spending time with me. Now they hate fishing and camping and all the outdoorsy things we used to do together. They can’t wait to escape and get back to their social life after a weekend with me. You’d think I kept them chained to a wall in the cellar or something.”
    “They’re teenagers. Testing limits and spreading their wings,” she said, cringing even as it came out of her mouth. Talk about clichés. Who was she to tell him anything about raising teenagers? But as she recalled the way his two girls had been with him four years ago, Steph had a hard time believing all that love and warmth could get lost in a few curfews. “They love you, Finn, and even if they resent the rules, they understand that you impose them because you love them and care what happens to them.”
    “I think you’re underestimating the wrath of an eighteen-year-old girl who has been denied the right to pretend she’s grown up.” He gave a shudder. “Hell hath no fury like a daughter embarrassed before her friends.”
    Steph was looking dubious when he glanced over at her.
    “Prom. That great American coming-of-age ritual. See this gray hair?” He pointed emphatically to his temple.
    “I think it looks—”
    “Prom gave it to me. Do you have any idea what they do for prom these days? Rent hotel rooms for shacking up, and have champagne in limousines and wear dresses that could get them arrested for soliciting. I’m mean and oppressive for wanting my daughter to survive prom night intact.”
    \After a moment Stephanie chuckled. “Okay. I’m beginning to see your dilemma.” He was a protective father who was having a tough time protecting. It was hard to keep love-and-protection from sounding like moralizing-and-restriction. “I’m sure they love you, Finn. You’ll find a way to work it out. You’re a good dad.”
    “Hey—” he fished the cell phone from his coat pocket “—how about you call them and tell them that. They might listen to it, coming from you.”
    When she laughed, he sighed and tucked the phone away.
    “It