Total pages in book: 157
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 155900 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 780(@200wpm)___ 624(@250wpm)___ 520(@300wpm)
“She’s just a child, Kane. Little more than a baby. She just lost her mother, and now you want her to lose the two people she knows best? The ones who love her most? Do you understand how terrified and confused she would be?”
I begged it, praying he would see reason.
Emotion pulled through his expression, and my spirit leaped, clinging to the hope that the sincerity I’d felt in him Friday had been real. There was goodness under the clear hazard he emitted.
“That’s not my intention, Emery. Not for a second.”
What?
Relief pounded through me, and I rushed, “Then why would you suggest—?”
“I want you to stay here.”
Surprise blasted me back, my body slammed by a rogue wave.
Had he lost his mind?
“What are you talking about?”
He reached out and snagged my wrist, pulling me closer as he urged the words up close to my lips. “I want you to stay here. Both you and your mom if you’d like. I have plenty of room. Want you here while she gets settled. While she gets used to me. For as long as you want.”
Shock dropped my jaw.
No.
That wasn’t my intention.
I wanted to take her home.
With us.
And besides, I was supposed to go back and take over Ivy Threads, Emmalee’s clothing boutique. The one she’d begged me to open with her three years ago, but I’d been too afraid to step out my door most days to even consider it.
I’d let her down, and I wouldn’t let her down this time.
In my stupor, he managed to tug me even closer. “Give us four weeks. It will give Maci the time to get to know me and the rest of my family, and it’ll give you time to see this is where she belongs. Time for you to be sure you can trust me. Then we can go from there.”
“Are you insane?” I tried to fumble back, but he held me close.
His proximity sent a rush of lightheadedness through my brain.
Or maybe it was just his outrageous demand that had me feeling like I was tumbling through space.
Sucked into a black hole with no way out.
Severity erupted in his features. “Alternate is for me to take you to court. Is that what you want?”
It was a plea all mixed with a threat.
Dread nearly choked me out.
I was pretty sure there wasn’t a chance I’d win. The man had money, and well…he had the right.
There was no question she was his. Maci had borne little resemblance to Emmalee other than the color of her hair.
But to this man? I knew exactly what a paternity test would show.
It didn’t mean it didn’t stoke a flame of hate so hot in the middle of me that I couldn’t see.
Would he really wield that kind of power against us?
Wield the power to rip her from our arms?
It was so unfair.
Why, Emmalee? Why did you bring us here? Why would you want this terrifying man to raise your daughter? One who barely even remembers you? One who I am certain is keeping secrets?
Why didn’t you trust me?
Maybe the last was what hurt the most. She knew I would have done anything for that little girl.
Moisture burned and blurred, and I only grew angrier when Kane reached out a tattooed hand and swiped a tear that had gotten free with the pad of his thumb.
Softly.
Tenderly.
Like he actually had a conscience.
“You asshole.” I croaked it.
“Maybe,” he rumbled.
Tension pulled and bound as he stared down at me for the longest time before he spoke again, “But I’m of the mindset that what would really make me an asshole is turning my back on my own kid. I won’t do that. Won’t have her growing up without a father when there is one right here. One who is going to love her with everything he has. I won’t hurt her that way. You take care of the ones you love most.”
He choked over the last words, as if they caused him physical pain to release them.
I couldn’t contemplate what that meant before he edged in even closer, inhaling my shattered breaths. “Stay and let me prove it to you.”
“Am I just supposed to uproot my life to accommodate you? I’m supposed to be taking over my sister’s store when I get back. One of her friends has been running it and can’t do it any longer.”
I was going to do it this time. I was going to keep Emmalee’s dream alive, our dream that I’d let die.
“Four weeks, Emery. I’ll pay your sister’s friend whatever they need to cover it for you. I would come to you, but you know she needs to get used to my house, to this town, and she’s going to be a whole lot more comfortable doing it if you’re there with her while she adjusts. You know this is the right thing to do.”