8

The second the door shut behind the nurse, Rip’s mother lost her perfectly refined, red-lipped smile. Rip braced himself for the lecture he knew was coming the second she’d set eyes on Otto.

“It’s not bad enough that you spend all your time playing video games like a teenage boy.” She shook her head, striding away from the bed to stare out the window. She didn’t speak for what seemed like a long time, but both he and his dad remained silent. She wasn’t done. “Do you really believe a man like that saved you out of the goodness of his heart?”

Rip pressed his eyes shut and counted to five in his head. Any longer and his mother would repeat the question. “Of course not. I’m sure he googled my name—which he didn’t know—before jumping in the river.”

“Don’t be obtuse.” She frowned, which deepened the fine lines on her face she tried so hard to erase. “Very well, if he was just being heroic, what’s his angle now? I made him a generous offer. Why turn it down unless he wants more?”

I hope he wants more. Rip didn’t voice that thought. His mother would twist it in the worse way. Instead, he shrugged. “Maybe he just likes hanging out with me.”

“I’m sorry, Rupert, but you and that man have absolutely nothing in common. If he didn’t know who you are, he will now.” She turned, folding her arms over her chest. “It was polite of you to say you’d call, but please don’t.”

All right, this was where his therapy came in handy. Ten years ago he would have cut ties with anyone she didn’t like, no matter the reason. Now? He shook his head, keeping his tone level. “I don’t need your approval when it comes to my friends, Mother. Besides, he has my dog.”

His father’s head lifted at that. He grinned. “I didn’t know you got a dog. Please tell me it’s not one of those yappy little things? Actually, a nice German Shepard would be smart to have in that secluded house of yours.”

“He has a perfectly good security system.” His mother’s nostrils flared, as though he’d implied her efforts to keep Rip safe weren’t good enough. “Rupert, you don’t have time for a dog.”

They’d had this conversation ever since he was five. It got more and more fun every time. Especially since he’d started living on his own over three years ago.

He couldn’t blame his mother for thinking she had a say. She’d been micromanaging his and his father’s lives almost as closely as she managed her business. There was no doubt that she loved them, but she had her own way of showing it. Such as deciding what insurance he needed, what car he could drive, and arguing with him for months about where he could buy a house.

The house had been his first, big, win at total independence.

Buster was about to be the second.

“You didn’t have time for kids and you had two.” Rip bit back a smile when his mother threw her hands up in the air. “I promise, I won’t leave it up to you to clean up after him or bring him for walks. Part of being an adult. I’m capable of being responsible.”

“That remains to be seen. You were just pulled out of the river by a stranger!” His mother glared at his father when he continued to stand there, not saying a word. “Talk to him, Henry. You can’t approve of this?”

“The dog or the man?” His father’s brow furrowed. “I’m not sure what we’re upset about. I’m not happy he almost drowned. Did your therapist tell you how to get over your fear of water?”

Chewing on his bottom lip, Rip shook his head. He didn’t think about that ‘fear’ very often. Hadn’t thought of it when he’d seen the dog running across the peer. Working in the city, swimming didn’t come up often.

Simply avoiding water from now until forever seemed like a much better option than whatever his therapist would come up with.

“You’ll have to tell her.” His mother came to sit on the edge of the bed, suddenly looking like the woman he hadn’t seen much of as a child, but who he needed the most when things got rough. Her features softened and she was the woman who’d tucked him in the few nights she was home. The one who didn’t take life on like a cold investment. “And if you must call that man, mention him to her. Maybe you’re going through a reckless phase. God know Hannah had hers.”

Rip smiled at the mention of his older sister. She’d earned her law degree, which thrilled their mother, but then she’d met an architect on vacation in Rome and eloped days later. The two were still happily married, living in London, with three cute little kids. Her ‘reckless phase’ had made her a very happy woman.

Maybe it was time he followed in her footsteps.

“I’ll tell her, Mom. But I’m warning you, she’ll probably be thrilled I’m socializing at all. And she happens to love dogs.” He grinned at his dad’s chuckle. “Don’t worry, I swear, I won’t go swimming again until I know how. Which might be never, but that’s a completely different issue.”