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“That I wanted that too. More than anything.”
His words overwhelmed me with joy. I couldn’t help but grin like a silly fool. “I want that too. I love her also, Steed, as if she was my own daughter.”
Steed wiped my tears away with his thumb. “Thank you for loving her, Pax. You’re an incredible woman, and I’m so thankful to know that you’re in Chloe’s life.”
Oh dear.
My heart was hammering in my chest. A mixture of excitement, happiness, and fear swirled together. I longed for the day when Chloe called me something other than Paxton. Or when she came to me for advice. It also scared the crap out of me.
Steed had made it very clear that Chloe’s mom was completely out of the picture. Would Chloe grow to resent me? Think I was the reason her mother gave her up?
“Stop overthinking whatever it is you’re overthinking, Pax.”
My head snapped up. “Huh?”
Steed poured a glass of champagne and handed it to me.
“You’re overthinking something. I can see it on your face.”
I gave him a weak grin. “You don’t think Chloe will ever resent me, do you?”
He pulled his head back in surprise. “What on earth for?”
With a half shrug, I replied, “I don’t know. Maybe she’ll think I’m the reason her mother gave her up?”
Steed reached for my hands. The way his thumb slid over the top of my hand made my skin feel on fire.
“Paxton, Kim never wanted Chloe, and it wasn’t hard for Chloe to figure out her mother didn’t love her as much as I did. First, she wanted me because she knew my heart belonged to someone else. Then she wanted money. Chloe was an accident she never wanted, but used as a pawn in her twisted game. She’s not going to resent you because she never truly knew what a loving mother was. We weren’t ever a family. We were a nightmare. I’m so …”
His voice cracked, and he had to clear it before going on. “I’m so glad Chloe is away from her.”
“Me too,” I murmured.
Steed shook his head and cleared his throat. “If I had only come back home sooner.”
“No more what ifs. We have to both stop doing that. It’s the past, and we need to focus on the future.”
He flashed me a brilliant grin that made me dizzy and had me forgetting what we were even talking about.
Steed and I were soon lost in conversation as we ate the fried chicken and fruit. He talked about the ranch, I talked about the kids at school. We laughed about Trevor and discussed Corina. It felt as if there wasn’t a ten-year void at all. We fit into each other’s worlds so perfectly. It was fate.
“Do you think I should invite Corina for Thanksgiving? I’m not sure if Tripp would mind or not,” I asked while I waited for Steed to take out what he said was the ultimate dessert.
“I’m not really sure what is going on between her and Tripp. He likes her, but I think he likes her because he knows Mitchell likes her.”
With a frown, I exhaled a frustrated breath. “I think Corina really likes Mitchell. I mean, she slept with him and Corina is not that kind of girl. At all.”
Steed opened the container lids off of two pieces of apple pie.
“Oh my goodness. Please tell me that’s your mom’s. Please.”
Laughing, he nodded. “She made it just for you.”
My mouth was watering as I stared down at the yummy pie. Steed handed me a fork, and we both dug in. I let out a moan as I took my first bite. “So good.”
“Yeah, it is.”
Stretching my legs out, I set my fork down. “But I’m stuffed and I want to save room for popcorn!”
“We’re going to go for a ride next.”
I lifted my brow. “Mr. Parker, please tell me you are talking about a ride in your truck.”
He chuckled and looked at his watch. “No, our ride should be arriving here any minute.”
Now I was intrigued.
“Back to Corina. I think you should invite her. I’d hate to think she was all alone on Thanksgiving and clearly Tripp isn’t going to invite her.”
“I don’t want to cause problems between your brothers.”
“Honestly, I have no idea what’s going on. I was surprised Tripp missed the fact that the girl he is dating wasn’t leaving town. Regardless if it is casual dating or not.”
“I don’t think they are serious,” I replied, feeling a heaviness in my heart. I really needed to sit and talk to my best friend.
“Then invite her. Who gives a shit what’s going on between Tripp and Mitchell? Why should Corina be alone?”
Hearing a whistle coming from behind us, I turned to see Trevor leading Lady and Allure. Focusing on Steed, I grinned as I chuckled. “That kind of riding!”
