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“Looks aren’t everything, y’know. A wise woman told me that once.”
Had she offended him? “I know there’s more to you than this straight nose and perfect cheekbones and these lips.” She ran her thumb over the bottom, fuller one. “I just wanted to acknowledge the pretty.”
“Right back at ya, gorgeous.” He pushed a strand of hair behind her ear. “Speaking of superficial attention to a person’s appearance, I had an interesting chat with your daughter earlier. She thinks she’s not pretty.”
Alarm checked her heart. “She said that?”
“Yeah, we were talking about why she likes butterflies and she just said it. I’m not sure I handled it right.”
“How did you handle it?”
“Well, after I picked my jaw up off the floor, I got kind of grouchy saying stuff like, who said you’re not, etcetera, etcetera. And then we chatted about butterflies and the joy they bring people, and she said I do that with hockey, and I said she does that with being the Butterfly Queen. She’s the reason everyone is here tonight, all because of her love of the butterflies. We pretty much bigged each other up.”
“Oh.” Ashley could feel tears welling and she willed them away.
“Shit, did I say the wrong thing? I really don’t know how to deal with kids.”
Yes, you do. What you said was perfect. You are perfect.
She touched his lips, staying his protests. “No, you said exactly the right thing. She’s been down about her dad being so focused on his new family. She thinks she’s not as pretty as the new baby.”
“A baby? That’s what she’s comparing herself to?”
“Babies tend to be beautiful.”
He scoffed. “Have you seen some of the Rebel babies? Not these grown ones, but there are some ugly ones with hockey player genes. For example, Esme was no oil painting when she first arrived, all crinkled like a potato and scowly like her father. We need to tell Willa that this baby can’t hold a candle to her.”
She giggled, loving his over-the-top reaction. “She likes you. You treat her like she’s special.”
“She is. I can’t believe your ex is so hands off.”
“He’s never been one for multitasking. One family, one decision, is the most he can manage at any one time, and he’s made his choice.”
“Then we’ll make sure she doesn’t miss that attention. Shower her with everything she needs.”
Was there anything sexier than a man who loved your kid unconditionally? How could she not love this guy?
How could she not be in love with this guy?
She was supposed to have this under control! A hot fling with a hockey himbo with pipe-cleaning and cobweb-clearing and enough orgasms to boost her self-esteem and get her back on track.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. None of it.
Emotional as all fuck, she swiped at a tear. This was the kind of relationship she’d longed for with Greg, one with strong girders supporting her and her family. But to pin her hopes on a man like Dex …
“Hey, what’s going on? I haven’t even unveiled my dick yet.”
“I love hearing you say those things about my daughter. I don’t have any expectations about … this. But I do want good people in Willa’s life and you’re a good person.”
He rubbed away a tear, caught another, and leaned in to kiss any more strays away.
“I’m not good, but I’m touched that you’d think I’m worthy to be in your daughter’s life.”
“You underestimate yourself,” she said, eager to defend the man who wouldn’t defend himself. “You’re like Bandit. Your first instinct is to bite the hand that feeds you but once you know that someone cares, you get some confidence in yourself.”
His eyebrow scooted northward. “You think I lack confidence?”
“Oh, you know you’re hot and talented and charming, but you don’t believe in yourself. Not the way you need to.”
