Page 52 of You Know You Wanna

The sun had risen and the entire campground was glowing with soft, early morning orange light. Lulu took it in, exhaling and smiling peacefully. “This is the life. I can’t believe you get to come here whenever you want.”

Cassidy let out a dramatic sigh. “If only. Dad says once a month is enough camping for him.”

Lulu chuckled. “Once a month is better than never.”

My heart gave another little pang for her and I got up, determined to make this camping trip the best experience she’d ever had. Her father might not give a damn about bonding with her, but I wasn’t him. This girl deserved for someone to just fucking care.

Anger shot through me, but I hid it behind a bright smile. “Eat up, ladies. We’ve got about a mile to hike to the course and we’re burning daylight here.”

They practically inhaled the rest of their food, then went to brush their teeth while I checked the campsite was ready for our departure. The trail to the lake started just on the other side of the road, and it was a winding dirt path along the lake shore to get to the course.

The girls skipped ahead, their joyful chatter and laughter ringing out behind them as they went. I breathed in the cool, summer morning air, closing my eyes for a moment and trying again to find a sense of peace.

“Hey, wait up!” Remington’s voice suddenly hurtled through the air and I nearly jumped out of my skin when he appeared seemingly out of thin air beside me. “Good morning. How was the first night?”

I blinked hard, unable to process his presence for a long moment as the anger surged up from deep within me once more. Spinning on my heels to face him, I narrowed my eyes and pulled up short so that hopefully Lulu would never have to know he’d even been here.

“What the hell are you doing here?” I seethed quietly. “How did you even know where to find us?”

“I have my sources.” He smirked, looking fresh, well rested, and gorgeous in a crisp blue shirt, cargo shorts, and a pair of hiking boots I’d never seen him wear before. “I came to join the camping trip.”

Disbelieving laughter bubbled out of me as I shook my head. “Uh, no. No, you’re definitely not. It’s a trip for kids, not adults, and we didn’t bring enough supplies to sustain a fully grown man.”

“I guess it’s a good thing I brought my own, then.” Those eyes sparkled with excitement as he stared down at me, his hair still just slightly damp from a recent shower and the scent of masculine soap wafting from him in gentle waves. “Besides, my daughter is here and I’m obligated to make sure she’s safe. I have my own tent, food, and gear, and I figured you could use some company of the grownup variety.”

“I’m just fine with the company I have.” I crossed my arms and scowled at him, spinning around again so the kids didn’t get too far ahead. I took off without bothering to check if he was following. “We don’t need any help, Mr. Ford. Especially from you.”

“Oh, it’s Mr. Ford now, is it?” he joked, his footsteps falling heavy on the dirt behind me. “I could be into that. Look, I promise I won’t interfere, and this way, I get to spend these days with my kid instead of missing out on them.”

I rolled my eyes, my tone biting. “Like you care.”

“What?” he asked, sounding genuinely confused this time. “Of course, I care.”

I snorted. “Yeah, of course. Go back to the resort, Remington. This trip is no place for a father trying to soothe his own guilt. This is about the girls.”

“I agree, which is why I’m here. I bet Lulu will be happy to see me. Where is she, anyway?”

“Funny how you supposedly came out here for her, but that’s the first time you’ve noticed she’s not with me.”

“I noticed. I just had to deal with your hostility first.” Catching up to me, he jogged a few steps ahead and stood still, cocking his head as he tried to listen for them.

“They’re up ahead,” I said, blowing past without sparing him so much as a look. “We’re doing the high-ropes course this morning and they’re excited for it. They’re perfectly safe. This trail is almost flat and it only leads to one place. They know better than to venture off it and I’ve been able to hear them this whole time. Like I said, I don’t need your help. Please leave.”

“Nope.”

Growing increasingly irritated, I huffed out a sharp breath and stomped the rest of the way down to the lake, but he wasn’t deterred. Lulu realized that her father was here when we reached the course, and a wide grin broke out across her face as she jogged over to hug him.

“Daddy! What are you doing here?”

“I came to try out these high ropes I keep hearing about,” he said warmly as he hugged her back, holding her tight with the most serene smile on his lips where his head rested on top of hers. “I might have to show you how it’s done.”

Moments like this had made it such a shock to learn what he’d really come to our little corner of the world for. He did such a damn good job pretending that he actually cared that it was difficult to think he hadn’t simply come out here to keep an eye on her.

“You’re on, old man,” she said happily as she stepped out of his embrace. “I didn’t know you were planning on coming. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well, I am surprised,” she admitted, smiling shyly. She took him over to the others to introduce him.