Good with His Hands by Tanya Michaels

sandwiched between semitrailers and frustrated moms in SUVs. Unfortunately, that also gave them a lot of time alone without the distraction of deciding what to order or enjoying their dinner. His chatter about a recent bowling tournament and a summer fishing trip he was planning with other retired Army buddies only took them so far. He kept turning the conversation back to her life, unappeased by her declarations of how much she loved her job.
    â€œThat’s work, Danica Leigh. I want to know about
you
. Your personal life.”
    No, you really don’t.
    He switched lanes to get them closer to their approaching exit. “You don’t look like you’ve been sleeping well.” Trust the eagle-eyed Major to notice—and be blunt enough to comment on it. “The thought of you pining for that no-good... I know a West Point guy who went on to be CIA. I bet if I call in a few favors, we could have Malcom disappear.”
    She laughed. “Don’t say things like that at the restaurant. If someone overhears, they may not realize you’re joking.”
    Her father shot her a pointed look.
    â€œDad, I am not heartbroken over Tate Malcom. I wish him and the new missus health and happiness.” Well, happiness might be a stretch. But she didn’t wish that an anvil would fall on either of them anymore or that Tate would suddenly contract a rare wasting disease. “He wasn’t right for me. Honestly, looking back, I’m a little surprised you liked him.” Looking back, she was surprised
she’d
liked him.
    But Tate was attractive and deceptively charming. They had similar backgrounds and compatible long-term goals, so in sync on the big issues that she’d overlooked seemingly trivial irritations. When you found a guy who whole-heartedly supported your career, shared your philosophies on life and knew what it was like to grow up with only one parent, how much should it matter that he got cranky when you wore high heels?
    Her father was mulling over her statement about liking Tate. “He may not have been specifically who I would have chosen for you, but I trusted your judgment. You’ve always had a good head on your shoulders.”
    Heat rose in her cheeks as she recalled her wild weekend. Yeah, she was the epitome of careful judgment. She squirmed in the passenger seat, feeling as though she was sixteen again, on the verge of being busted.
    â€œBut if he wasn’t the One, well, there are other fish in the sea,” he added.
    Dani rolled her eyes. “We’ve got ‘good head on my shoulders’ and ‘other fish.’ We just need ‘where one door closes, another opens’ for the cliché hat trick.”
    Her father grinned. “Smart-ass.”
    â€œI know there are other fish, but I don’t think I’m interested in recasting anytime soon.” She should take the advice she frequently gave Meg about not rushing headlong into anything. Her rash impulse to take Sean home with her had been a total mistake.
    Really? Because it was the best night you’ve had in...
All right, an enjoyable error in judgment, but an error all the same.
    â€œYou do still want to get married?” her dad pressed. “I’d hate to see you live your life alone just because Malcom’s too dumb to know what he had.”
    â€œI haven’t technically sworn off men for all time, but I’m in no hurry to race down the aisle.”
    He didn’t respond, but he was scowling, which surprised her.
    â€œIs this you being anxious to have grandchildren?” she asked. “Because you didn’t bring me up to believe I needed a man.”
    â€œOf course you don’t ‘need’ one. I just want you to be happy. Being alone is...” His eyes were fixed straight ahead, but she didn’t get the impression he was looking at the cars in front of them.
    â€œDad, did you ever think about remarrying?” There had been a few