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Kiara took a deep breath and sighed. “I’m sorry about being stingy and weird. I really have no right to tell either of you how to do the whole mate thing.”
“I’m sorry I blew up at you,” I whispered. “I was just hurt.”
“I was hurt, too.”
Eric took our hands and placed them together between his hands. “We don’t have to be perfect to be a family.”
“I know, Dad,” Kiara whispered through a lopsided grin. “It’s just…GG…as a stepmom…” She gave me a bashful grin. “I mean, no offense. I just think of evil when I think of stepmom.”
I laughed. “Then I don’t have to be your stepmom. I can just be your bestie.”
“But if you marry my dad…”
I released Eric’s hand so I could squeeze hers. “If I mate with your dad, the only thing that will change is my location. Okay?”
She gave a relieved sigh. “Okay.”
It was then, as we all traded smiles, that I realized I had completely fallen in love with Eric Barrett—and the idea of us being a family together. Kiara had always been like a sibling to me. Yeah, it was strange to hook up with her father and then consider mating with him, but at least I wasn’t a stranger. I wasn’t evil.
We already knew each other. That was the best part.
When I gazed at Eric; my heart sang his name, making me understand the beauty of being matched with my perfect partner—with my perfect mate.
Kiara gave us both a squeeze. “I know that look. It means you two need to talk. I’ll get out of your hair.”
I leaned over to kiss her cheek. “Thank you for giving me a chance.”
“Thank you for being good to my father.”
It wasn’t until she left that I crumbled under the stress of the past few days. Hell, it was the past few weeks that had me curling up in a sobbing ball under Eric’s right arm, the good side. He didn’t shush me. He didn’t tell me to stop crying. He just rubbed my back and sat with me.
Just how I imagined a good partner would do.
When I was done, I lifted my head and kissed his cheek sloppily. “I thought I lost you that day.”
“I thought I never would see you again, darling.”
“I’m glad you’re back. I’m glad things are better.”
He smiled sleepily. “Me too.”
“Will you ever forgive me?”
“For what?”
I shivered. “For running off.”
“Hey, you needed space. You told me you were going to take space. Things were heated. I don’t hold it against you, little one.”
“You mean that?”
He squinted down at me while holding my chin. “I’d be a bad daddy if I didn’t.”
Desire exploded in my center. I wanted him so badly. But he was injured, we were in the medical center, and Kiara was probably hanging out in the lobby.
I didn’t want anyone to walk in on us.
He chuckled as he bent to kiss my lips. “I’m thinking about it too. Don’t worry.”
