Page 40 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

Thea’s was better.

She’d almost had me fooled.

Almost.

“If you don’t think buying a house is a good idea, then just say it. Don’t feed me compliments just because you think that’s what I want to hear. I’m not a customer at the bar. Don’t bullshit me.”

Her smile vanished. “What do you want me to say? I’m glad you’re going to come here to visit. If owning a house makes that easier, great. I’m sure Charlie will enjoy that once you guys get to know each other.”

“But . . .”

“But I’m worried. What happens when one visit gets canceled? Then the next? I’m terrified that you’ll go back to your life in New York and forget a piece of it is still here.”

Forget? I would never forget about Charlie. “I’ll do my best to commit to each trip, but we both know that things come up. I can’t promise plans won’t change. I’m doing the only thing I can think of if you’re so set against moving back to New York.”

“Back to that again?” she asked. “I don’t want to move.”

“Then I’ll visit.” I stepped off the cabinet, standing closer to Thea to make my point. “I want to get to know Charlie, but I live in New York. That doesn’t mean I can’t be a part of her life.”

In twenty-four hours, Charlotte Faye Landry had become one of the most important people in my life. Maybe the most important. I’d already missed five years. I’d missed seeing her as a baby and toddler. Earlier tonight, as I’d stood in Thea’s living room, staring at the portrait she’d painted of Charlie as a baby, I’d made a vow not

to miss any more.

“Please, Thea. Give me a chance to prove that she’s important before you cut me out completely.”

“I’m sorry.” Thea put her hands to her temples. “I’d never cut you out. I just don’t want Charlie to get hurt. I don’t want her to ever feel rejected.”

Rejected? Why would she think I’d reject Charlie? “I’d never reject her. I promise.”

Her gaze narrowed as she assessed my sincerity. My chest tightened, much like it had when Charlie had looked me up and down earlier tonight. I didn’t remember a time when I’d gone through such intense scrutiny. Not in college. Not in law school. My father, who was known for his ruthless critique, hadn’t inspected me this closely when I’d practiced my high school valedictorian speech for him.

These Landry women were stripping me bare.

“I want to believe you,” she said quietly. “I really do. But I don’t even know if you believe in yourself right now.”

I staggered back as if she’d slapped me. She saw right through me, didn’t she? She saw every flaw and insecurity. “You’re right. I don’t have the first clue what to do with Charlie. But I’ll figure it out over time.”

“Time? I thought you only had a week.”

“I’m coming back.”

“You’d better. If you make my daughter fall in love with you and then you leave her behind, I will find you and smother you in your sleep.”

I chuckled. Not many people challenged me. I liked that Thea didn’t back down. She met me with full force when we were fighting and when we’d had sex. I loved that she was especially scrappy when it came to our daughter. “I think you’d better hand over that vodka. You’re getting violent.”

She answered by grabbing the bottle and gulping down another shot. “You should see me when I drink bourbon. The last time I had Jim Beam, I decided to trim the shrubs along the sidewalk out front.”

“What shrubs?”

“Exactly.”

I laughed, picturing a drunken Thea going to town on some harmless greenery. “I met Hazel today.”

“She told me.” Thea handed over the bottle, our fingers brushing as I took it from her grip, and my pulse quickened.

This was dangerous, the two of us together in a cramped shed, drinking and letting the awkwardness melt away. I should say good night. I should go back to the motel and spend a couple of hours working. I should leave her here before I did something rash.

Instead, I took a drink.