Steele (Arizona Vengeance 9)

“But you and Mom aren’t together,” she points out bitterly. “And I miss having you at home.”

“I know, kiddo,” I murmur gently and then push her back slightly so she can see my face. “It’s killing me, too. But you never know what the future holds, right?”

“I guess,” she says glumly.

I could tell Lucy I’m gunning for her mom, but I don’t want to get her hopes up in case I’m not successful in convincing Ella to give me another try.

The most I can do is assure her, “Your mom and I love you, and we still care for each other. We might not be living together, but we’re still a family unit, okay?”

“Okay.” Tone still glum.

Totally not acceptable.

“Puppy in just ten days,” I drawl as if I’m dangling a carrot over her head.

It does the trick, and light filters back into her baby blues. Her mouth breaks into a wide grin.

She throws herself at me one more time. “Thanks for figuring out a solution and letting me have a shot at this, Dad.”

“It was your mom, too,” I say, making sure she knows so Ella gets the credit, too.

Lucy nods, kisses my cheek, and opens the Rover’s door. Before she shuts it, I carry out Ella’s last request. “And your mom said to remind you that she’ll be here at ten tomorrow to pick you up.”

“Aye-aye, Captain,” she says, giving a salute and I about bust my gut laughing. She is completely my kid.

I wait until Lucy is securely in the house, waving through the window at the parent who opens the door. I don’t know them, but Ella does, and she approved this overnight stay.

When the door closes, I take off.

I have several things to do before I put my big move into play tonight. If all goes well, I hope Ella understands I’m serious about this at the very least.

I’m in it for the long haul.CHAPTER 7EllaWe walk slowly from the driveway, along my sidewalk, and toward my porch—arms hooked at the elbow. David treated me to another lovely dinner, followed by an outdoor documentary film.

“Thank you for a great evening,” I murmur as we ascend the four porch steps. I disconnect our arms so I can grab my keys from my purse.

The minute my fingers wrap around them, David is putting his hands to my face and kissing me. It’s far more direct and forward than he’s ever been. Still, I suspect he’s making a statement after Jim strutted his stuff all over my home in a blatant display to David that he wasn’t going anywhere.

I try to open up to the kiss, desperately wanting to give this man a chance because he is good, kind, and thoughtful.

But the minute his tongue touches mine, it feels incredibly wrong and I can’t help but pull back.

David’s face falls, and he looks crestfallen.

“I’m sorry,” I mumble, my expression pleading with him to understand how difficult this has become for me to manage the competing feelings I’m having.

“It’s fine,” he says, but his tone tells a different story. He steps closer, taking my hands. “Look… I’m crazily attracted to you in all respects. We’ve been going out for several weeks now, and I like you. I want to move further, but if you’re not on the same page, I need to know.”

“It’s complicated,” I reply, knowing that’s a cop-out.

“It’s really not.” His voice is kind, but it’s slightly patronizing. “I’m just going to ask you to think about what you want. Either push forward with me or pull back because your feelings for your husband are holding you back. It’s one or the other.”

Because I don’t want to hurt him, my heart feels compelled to argue with him about my feelings for Jim, but it would be a lie. I can’t do that. So, I quietly admit, “I know.”

David raises one of my hands and kisses the knuckles. His expression is sad, without any hope. I think in his mind we’re over, and for some reason, that loosens the tightness in my chest.

“Let me know what you decide,” he says softly, turning sideways and releasing his hold on me. He takes one step down, peering up. “Unless you already know?”

I shake my head. Because while I might mostly know, I still have some conflicting feelings I need to reason out with myself. “I’d like a day or so to think about it.”

There’s a small light flaring back in his eyes, and I hope I’m not leading him on. Would it be kinder to kill it now? But no, damn it. I do like David. If Jim had kept his damn nose out of my business, we would be progressing.

Ugh.

Still, I give him a reassuring smile. “I’ll talk to you soon, okay?”

“Goodnight,” he replies with a nod.

I watch David descend the steps before turning to let myself in the house. Lucy left the foyer light on, and I put my purse and keys on the table. After I set the alarm, I move through the semi-darkened house toward my bedroom.