Chapter Ten

She heard a knock at the door and she went to go answer it. “I’ll get it,” she called out to her father. She opened the front door to Luke. She smiled and opened the door wider. “Hey you, come on in.”

Luke flashed a crooked grin. “You look nice. Are you ready to go to dinner?”

Her eyes sparkled. “You still have to meet my dad first.”

He blew out a breath and then laughed. “Okay babe, do your worst.”

She laughed. “He’s really not that bad. Come on. He’s in his study.” Luke followed her down the hall to her father’s study. She knocked on the door as she opened it. “Dad?” she said to get his attention. He looked up from his paperwork. “Dad, this is Luke.”

“Hello, sir,” Luke said, “I’m Luke Wolfburn.”

Ryan sat back in his chair to assess the young man that had arrived to take out his daughter.

He could see how happy Vicky was and decided to take it easy on her date. “Luke, does your father own the diner?”

Luke smiled. “Yes sir. The diner’s ours,” he said and glanced at Vicky and shrugged.

Ryan nodded. “What time are you going to have Vicky home?”

“I thought we’d eat first, and then I’m going to take her to the department store for a school uniform. It closes at nine. I should have her home before ten.”

Ryan gave them both a stern look. “You be sure that you do.” He looked into Vicky’s eyes.

“Behave yourself, young lady.”

She flushed. “Dad . . . I always behave myself.”

“Just see that you do.” Ryan went back to his paperwork. “Not a minute after ten.”

They turned to leave the room. “Bye, Dad.”

“Bye, Pumpkin.”

“Dad . . .”

“Sorry.”

Luke laughed. “Your dad calls you ‘Pumpkin’?”

She punched him playfully in the arm. “Yeah, don’t rub it in.”

“I think it’s cute.”

She rolled her eyes. “Let’s go before I change my mind.”