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Natalie shook her head. “I don’t know what’s going on. I’m just concerned about Delaney. I don’t want him showing up and showering her with attention and then disappearing again.”
This was about Delaney, not about my hurt feelings or concerns about our relationship. Carter was Delaney’s father. If I was going to be involved with Natalie, I’d need to get used to him being around. “I’m sorry. You’re right.”
It wasn’t about where I stood in this relationship. Or how insecure I felt in these situations. I couldn’t forget that my status was precarious. Anything could change, and I needed to be prepared for it.
Natalie started walking toward the B&B.
“Are you okay?” I asked her, the ache in my skull now radiating pain through the back of my head.
“I will be. It was a shock that he showed up, but I knew it would happen eventually.”
My throat tightened. “Does he want to see Delaney while he’s here?”
Natalie nodded. “He said he does.”
“Are you going to let him?” I asked, my heart stuttering.
“I think I have to. We don’t have any sort of visitation agreement. He wasn’t interested in talking about it when we discussed the divorce. He gave me primary physical and legal custody. My attorney said that means I make all the decisions.”
“So you could tell him no.”
“I could, but where does that leave Delaney? I think it would be good for her to see him. Sometimes I worry that she’ll forget him.”
I wanted to ask if she really wanted Delaney to have a relationship with Carter, but I withheld my opinion. I didn’t like Carter because he’d left them. Why let him return now and get whatever he wanted? But it was more complicated than that. He would always be Delaney’s father, and some part of her would always long for his approval and attention. I didn’t have to like it.
“He doesn’t want you back?” I finally bit out as we approached the inn.
Natalie frowned. “He didn’t say that. Besides, I’m not interested in reconciliation.”
“He wants you back,” I said, more to myself than to her.
“Why would you say that?” Natalie paused at the porch of the B&B and faced me.
“Because you’re beautiful and amazing, and I can’t believe he walked away from you. He has to regret his decision.” I would if I did the same thing. Not that I would ever cheat on her, but I was worried enough about repeating my past that I might do something stupid when it came to her.
Should I walk away from Natalie and let her deal with Carter? Maybe it would be better to give her space.
She tipped her face up to mine, and I couldn’t put words to what I was thinking. “He’s obviously an idiot.”
I squeezed the back of my neck. “I can’t disagree with that.”
Natalie touched my cheek, lowering my chin to look at her. “I like what we have. You have to trust me. I’d never go back to him.”
“I trust you.” I wanted to, but it was hard to erase the past. I learned valuable lessons from past relationships, and I couldn’t just ignore them. Women didn’t usually settle for me. I wasn’t the right guy for anyone. The old insecurities flared to life, forming a pit in my stomach.
She went up on tiptoe and kissed me softly. “I’m going to get back to work.”
She turned on her heel and went inside. My head was a mess. My nerves were shot. I couldn’t stand her even talking to her ex; how would I be able to stomach the next eight or nine years that he was in Delaney’s life? Even when she turned eighteen, he’d still be there, hovering at the edges, causing doubt and stress. Was it worth it?
There was a reason I vowed never to get involved with a single mother or divorcée again. There was always the possibility she’d go back to her ex. I couldn’t compete with years of history and a shared child. I didn’t know why I thought I could.
Luis opened the front door. “Boss? We’ve got a problem.”
I followed him inside, putting everything out of my mind. I needed to focus on my job. I needed to finish this project.
In the kitchen, they were putting in the cabinets and appliances.
The guys stood in a circle around the stove. “The measurements were off. It doesn’t fit.”
