Emmitt shook his head. “You weren’t a handful, Camden. It was me. I was the handful. Your mom and I split, and she was adamant that I leave her alone to handle herself. I had Rowan, and I wasn’t all that great at just being me, much less trying to raise a baby, but those are excuses, and I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

Cam tipped his head back and stared at the sky for a long beat before meeting his dad’s gaze. “Forget it, okay? It doesn’t matter. What matters now is your health. Let’s move on.”

“This first.” Emmitt took a step closer to him. “I wish I could go back in time.”

“It’s done. Why would you want to relive it?”

“So that I could try harder. I’d try to make it work with your mom so that we could’ve stayed a family. I’d do better by you, Cam. I would.”

“Dad . . .” There was no anger in Cam’s voice. No censure. “Our history is water under the bridge. It’s gone, and I’m not into regrets. I’m here now, and so are you.”

Emmitt slowly nodded his head. “And I’m glad for that.”

“Me too. So get your ass inside and let Piper do her thing.”

Emmitt turned to her and smiled. “He’s been here only a week and already found the best woman in town.” He paused and looked at Cam. “She’s a keeper, son. Remember that.”

“Uh, no, I’m not.” Piper shifted her weight uneasily. “A keeper.”

Both men looked at her. “Dad, could you give us a minute?”

“Sure,” Emmitt said. “Take your time.” He gave Cam a meaningful look. “And I mean that. Women like when you take your time.”

Cam’s grimace said he’d maybe finally found the end of his patience.

Emmitt held up a hand. “I know, who wants to take advice from your dad, right? But, son, I’ve been on Tinder for two years now, and trust me. I know these things.” He turned and headed up to the house, and Piper nearly laughed at Cam’s expression. The perpetually-in-control man had zero idea how to react to this.

“You think this is funny?” he asked. “Me coming face-to-face with my dad’s sex life?”

“I think it’s hysterical.”

He shook his head, but he smiled too. Reaching out, he took her heavy duffel bag from her shoulder and slung it over his. “So you really do come over once a day to check on him.”

“I try,” she said, prepared to feel a little defensive about that. “I missed yesterday because my shift went late.”

He squeezed her hand. “It means a lot, so thank you.” Gently, he cradled her jaw, his thumb skimming along the bruise she could feel forming.

“Don’t ask,” she said. “Rough transport earlier.”