So Wrong (Heart of Hope 3)

“Maisie.” I held her. “I missed you a million times.”

Her arms held my neck, and for the first time in two days, I felt like maybe my world would tilt back to right.

“I missed you more.”

Veronica’s driver opened her door and she slipped out. Leo wasn’t with her. I walked over to the driver who was opening the trunk for Maisie’s bag. Along with the bag I’d sent with her were two other bags and a shit-load of toys.

I looked at Veronica. “We were going to keep them at my house, but she insisted she wanted to show them to you.”

“I got lots of pretty dresses, Daddy.”

“I can’t wait to see them,” I said.

While Maisie went to her room to try on a dress to show me, I offered Veronica a drink. I wanted to send her on her way, but she said she wanted to talk to me.

She toyed with her glass and wouldn’t look at me, which gave me a bad feeling.

“What’s going on, Veronica?” I took my drink and sat on the couch, ignoring the memory of having Tessa on it just two nights before.

She let out a long breath. “Leo and I are filing for custody of Maisie.”

My heart stopped. “What do you mean? I’ve never stopped Maisie from seeing you. That won’t change.”

She took a long gulp of her drink. “I want her to live with me now.”

“No.”

The nervous expression evaporated, replaced by anger. “I knew you wouldn’t let her, so we’re filing for custody.”

I laughed derisively. “Do you really think a judge is going to take her from the only parent who’s been there since the day she was born and give her to the one who couldn’t be bothered to see her for nearly a year? Who missed her birthday?”

Her jaw tightened. “I’m in New York full time now. I’m ready to be a mom. Leo and I can offer her things you can’t.”

Fuck you, I thought but didn’t say, as Maisie was in the other room. “And what would that be?”

“The best schools. Opportunities. We have the resources—”

“Just because I don’t live like a king doesn’t mean I don’t have money.”

“We can offer her two parents.”

I shot up. “He’s not her parent. So, help me, Veronica, if you try to take her from me—”

“I don’t want to take her from you, Dylan. We just switch the plan. She lives with me and visits you.”

“What do you think, Daddy?”

I turned to see Maisie coming into the living room. She looked tentatively at Veronica and then me.

“You’re lovely, baby.” I smiled, even though the dress looked like something a doll would wear with a million frills.

“It’s scratchy. Can I show you another one?”

“I’d like that.”

She rushed off and I turned back to Veronica. “I’m not going to let you take her full time. She has a life here.”

“We can offer her more.”