Trace your footsteps in the sand.

“Hey, Lee what’s this?”

Lina glanced over at the young woman in the passenger seat; she was a curvy brunette, with an oval face and bright green eyes. The two had met in college, and had been roommates there. Sarah, the girl was called, was a musician and played in one of New York’s premiere symphonies. She was lively and spunky, and the opposite of Lina in nearly every regard- including her opinion of men. Lina preferred the hands off approach; she welcomed friends, but wasn’t entirely certain she wanted a romance. Sarah always spent her holidays with Lina (and they enjoyed Lina’s new apartment). The pair of them generally swapped music, as they shared tastes. Lina’s was more broad- as a suddenly-prominent music critic, Lina seemed to acquire all sorts of varying types.

“It’s a celtic band. They’ve been pretty popular lately.”

“Are they any good?”

“I enjoy listening to them.”

Sarah seemed to consider this, opening the case and popping the cd into Lina’s stereo. As the first song started, a husky and slightly accented voice filled the car. Lina’s lips twitched as she suppressed smiling at the familiar voice. It was at just that moment she remembered why she’d not really wanted Sarah to open the case.

“OHMYSWEETJESUS.” The southerner’s roots were revealed as her drawled voice squeaked out the expletive. “You got an autograph with a phone number. From the hot blonde!” Sarah flipped through the pages, trying to figure out which songs he seemed to sing. When she realized he sang the first one, she lifted one hand to find herself. “Jesus, Lee. Tell me you’ve called him.”

“On occasion.” Lina didn’t want to tell her friend that Keith had a habit of calling her first thing every morning- his time. That meant he was generally the last person she spoke to. It was a testament of how deep their new friendship ran- her speech impediment was much more pronounced late at night, and she tended not to speak with anyone when she found the words difficult to get out. The Irishman would simply wait in adoring silence while she struggled to speak. He never judged or grew impatient. Lina couldn’t tell her friend that either. If Sarah knew that Keith was pursuing her quiet friend, word would get out. Lina had a very, very, very good reason for not wanting anyone to know she was being pursued. Her father. She really needed to call her Uncle Christian. He was good for chatting about things, and she knew he’d understand her emotional confusion over the rather persistent musician.

“Seriously, Lee. He’s hot- I’d do him! Ohmylord. You’d have gorgeous children.” Sarah laughed as Lina looked quite panicked. She knew how her friend felt on the subject. Lina was too scared to get involved with a relationship. The girl really had her insecurities. “C’mon. Dating him isn’t like you’d have to make a lifetime commitment! Just enjoy his affection.”

Lina had been thinking that herself, honestly. Still, she wasn’t entirely certain.

------------

Reuben Hughes wasn’t entirely comfortable with Lina living away from home. He was well-aware that his darling was now twenty-five. Entirely aware. It occasionally made him feel old, when he ran his fingers through that spun-gold hair, and thought about how it used to be short and curled in adorable ways around his fingers. Instead of smothering her with his affection, Reuben spent every Sunday evening with his daughter, and they made dinner together. Just the two of them. He really did adore the girl- she was his little angel. Naturally, fatherhood had changed his life; Lina’s birth had done more than that. He’d been changed even more, had fallen in love with his little girl. His princess.

He might have spoiled her more than necessary, but somehow she’d turned out alright. Sweet and darling, with a smile that could brighten a room. It was also a smile that could keep him up at night. He knew how men thought. He didn’t want any of those thoughts surrounding his daughter. In any way. Reuben shook his head to clear such thoughts, as he took the elevator up to the fourth floor, where Lina lived. It was a lovely building, and a gorgeous two-bedroom apartment. Roo had seen to that- a beautiful view, and lots of light. Most importantly, it wasn’t very far from home, and on a lovely day he could walk over to see her, or vice versa. Reuben paused by her door, and knocked lightly. He was early, so he’d not be surprised if she wasn’t quite home yet. Sarah had been for a visit, and that was always interesting; poor Dawson was always glad to see the flirt go back home, he was certain. Reuben crossed his arms, and leaned against the wall to wait. He had a spare key and could go in, but that would inevitably startle Lina. He’d be patient.

Or at least, he was until someone else knocked on the door. With his eyes closed still, he shook his head.

“She’s not home.”

“Oh, I can wait.” The masculine voice had Reuben’s eyes flashing open, and the image of a young (and attractive, he grudgingly admitted) man holding flowers outside of his daughter’s apartment had him instantly in a black mood. He stared blankly at the lad, mistrusting everything from the mop of blond hair, the accent, the grin and the lean body. Of course, he mistrusted any male interested in his little Lina.

“Those flowers had better be for me.” The blond looked confused for a few minutes, and then arched an eyebrow. Roo doubted that the boy had any idea how close he was coming to incurring bodily harm. Reuben’s hands ached to pitch the boy out the nearest window, and pretend to Lina that no one had ever been there. Fortunately, it seemed that the young man figured out a few things.

“You know Miss Hughes?”

“Quite well.”

There was a long pause.

“Are you her father?”

“Yes.”

“Well, damn.”

Suddenly there was an understanding of sorts. The blond knew that Reuben was a rather pissed-off father who was grateful to have been around when a strange man descended on his child’s doorstep.

“I’m Keith.”

“Keith?” There was a definite smirk on Roo’s face, as he eyed the blond from across no-man’s land.

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Lina had dropped Sarah off, but her words lingered in Lina’s head. Call him. Lina was tempted to, she’d admit, because the sound of his voice always had her unwinding. Making her decision, she dialed his number, and was disappointed when it rolled to voice mail. Rather than shut the phone, she dialed another number, and smiled at the greeting on the other end of the phone.

“Uncle Chris, do you have a few minutes to talk?”

As usual, Christian Hearst helped things to make sense for her. She was enjoying their conversation until the elevator doors opened.

“…..let me call you back later.”

Her father and Keith were standing in the hall. Together. It was like a nightmare. Lina closed her eyes and prayed that she hadn’t been noticed, that the doors could shut and she could get back in her car and drive to her Uncle Christian’s apartment. Sadly, a familiar hand stopped the doors, and the attached arm wrapped around her shoulders. Lina smiled up at her father weakly.

“Hello, Daddy. I see you’ve met Keith?” His face was unreadable.

“Why yes, I have.”