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Her mother’s gaze judged her. “Emma deserves a father. Even one who’s not around much. He’s her blood kin. What did he say when you told him?”
“Not much. I only confirmed what Jake had already heard from his brother. But Jake is only here for the trial. Then he’ll be gone again.”
“Life is never easy, is it?” Her mother’s eyes were filled with resignation.
“It felt easy when I was a kid. You and Daddy gave me a perfect childhood.”
“Nothing is perfect, Nikki. I thought I had a perfect marriage, but look how that turned out. It’s hard to know what’s inside a person’s heart.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. You deserved better.”
“And so do you, my dearest girl. So do you.”
Jake was answering emails in his hotel room when his phone dinged. It had been twenty-four hours since he had seen Nikki. Now she was texting him.
If you don’t have plans, you’re welcome to come over for dinner. Maybe even read Emma a bedtime story. As a friend.
Jake shook his head wryly. He did have plans, but he would cancel them. Nikki had made an overture. He wouldn’t miss this chance.
When he showed up at her house at five o’clock, he saw neighborhood kids playing outside. The weather had shifted, and the late-afternoon temps were in the upper fifties. He reached into the back seat and grabbed a shopping bag. He had bought Emma a treat for just such an occasion.
Nikki opened the door before he could ring the bell. Her face was flushed, her fiery red hair pulled up in a ponytail. Wispy curls escaped around her forehead and cheeks. Those emerald eyes searched his soul.
“Hi,” she said, giving him a wary look.
Emotion gut-punched him. This woman. What was it about this woman? She was dangerous to him, to his emotions, his good sense, his need for self-preservation.
As Nikki stepped back to let him in, he saw Emma, half hiding behind her mother’s leg. He squatted, greeting her at eye level. “Hey, there,” he said. “I’m Jake.”
Her eyes were big, her gaze solemn. “I remember. Is my mommy gonna be mad at you again?”
Jake glanced up at Nikki. “I hope not.”
Nikki shook her head ruefully. “I have to finish dinner. Why don’t you two get acquainted?”
Jake rattled the shopping bag. “Would it be okay if we played outside? I hate to miss this weather. And I brought Emma a ring-toss game.”
Emma’s face lit up. “It is okay.” She took his hand. “We have to go to the backyard, ’cause there’s a fence.”
“Presents, Jake?” Nikki’s expression said she disapproved.
“Relax. It was less than fifteen bucks. I have a few friends with kids. They always tell me simple toys are the best.”
Nikki spied unashamedly out the window over the sink. Emma didn’t always warm up to strangers, but perhaps Jake’s thoughtful gift had lowered her defenses. Nikki wouldn’t be so easily convinced. Jake was a loner, a man who deliberately stayed away from any kind of home base, any kind of tie. She wouldn’t let him hurt her or her daughter.
Even so, Nikki had to admit he was good with the little girl. Patient. Kind. Time and again, he showed her how to position the ring horizontally and how to hold her hand sideways to fling it. Emma got closer and closer. When she finally landed the first one, father and daughter did a spontaneous victory dance.
Moments later the duo came inside, their body language relaxed. Nikki was bemused by the way her daughter had taken to Jake. Did Emma feel some mystical bond? Did she recognize her father on some visceral level?
Nikki tried to swallow her misgivings. “Wash up, please. This will be ready soon.”
Jake gave her an odd glance. “Emma wants to show me the butterflies in her room. We won’t take long.”
Nikki followed them, unable to squash her anxiety about seeing Jake inside her house. Emma loved butterflies. Always had, even as a toddler. On her fourth birthday, Nikki had let Emma redo her room. Bedspread, posters, mobiles hanging from the ceiling.
Jake whistled long and low. “This is amazing, Em.”
Nikki waited for Emma to correct him. No one shortened her daughter’s name. But Emma simply beamed. “I can name fifteen different species on flash cards,” she said, “and I’m working on the others. Some of the words are hard.”
