The Good Father

“El? I promise I’d stay out of your way.” Brett was talking faster than normal.

This really meant a lot to him.

Which told her he thought it would work.

And since it meant him having to spend time with her, he must think it was the only thing that would work.

“Jeff has agreed to leave her alone,” he said, meeting her gaze. “That means he’s not going to come off looking like a stalker.”

He knew where she hurt. And how to work her.

He’d said he didn’t want to hurt her ever again. He’d had tears in his eyes at the time. The night he’d told her he was walking away from their marriage forever.

She’d believed him then. And believed him now, too.

A weekend in his company.

She didn’t know if she could handle it.

She loved the man. Always had. And knew now that she always would.

But he wasn’t good for her.

“El, will you talk to Chloe? At least see what she thinks about the idea?”

She didn’t feel as though she had any other choice.

“Okay,” she said.

And drank her wine so she didn’t have to look at him again. Make eye contact. Feel that special connection between them.

How could she, and take care of herself?

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

A CABIN IN the woods, with private lagoon access, a dock, pontoon and speed boats and a fire pit in a huge backyard, had seemed like a good idea at the time.

Private enough that if Chloe and Jeff had it out, there wouldn’t be outside witnesses, and yet with enough to do to keep them all occupied for the one day and two nights they’d be spending together.

Because the soonest they could all get together was on a Friday night, and to give Chloe and Jeff an entire day together without long drives eating into that time, Brett had agreed to the two nights. The night of the arrival, Saturday together with the birthday dinner that evening, followed by a quick departure on Sunday morning. The itinerary wasn’t ideal, but Jeff was happy and everyone else was satisfied.

They’d arrived, Brett and Jeff in his car, Chloe and Cody with Ella in hers, at almost the same time.

The place had come stocked with linens and kitchen essentials. They’d had to bring the rest.

He and Jeff had been in charge of beverages.

Ella and Chloe had been in charge of food.

The guys took one room, with Cody sleeping with Jeff to give his father time with him. The girls took the other.

And it all could have worked out just fine if Jeff and Chloe had actually needed Ella and Brett there.

As it was, the couple spent all day Saturday together, with their son, talking, laughing, going from speed boat to pontoon to playing croquet on the lawn, while Ella and Brett tagged along, trying to stay out of each other’s way.

He and Ella had barely spoken, which was good and bad. It was good...great...that he wasn’t engaging with her.

But bad that it left him far too much time to notice how those curves of hers hadn’t changed in four years’ time, nor had her penchant for bikinis.