What the devil was wrong with her?
She hadn't been around Tyree for two decades. What right did she have to insert herself into his life in any way, even in her own fantasies?
This time, Tyree cleared his throat. "Listen, I get the hesitancy to let me into your room. But I would like to talk. The bar downstairs is quiet. Have a drink with me? It's neutral ground."
She glanced down at her robe. "I'm not exactly dressed for it."
"I bet there's something stunning in that duffel bag of yours."
She laughed out loud at that. "Yeah, I crammed some fabulous designer wear into that thing." She drew in a breath. "Listen, thanks for handling it well with Elena."
He cocked his head as he grinned, the combination so familiar that her stomach did a flip-flop. "How do you know I did?"
"She wouldn't have given you my room number if you'd been an ass."
"I was an ass," he said. "But then I backtracked."
This time she bit back the laugh before an unattractive snort emerged. "Glad to hear it." She licked her lips as she gathered her words, because it was important she got it right. And, frankly, it was hard to concentrate with him so close and her so naked under the robe.
"The thing is," she began, "I know Elena's a grown woman now, but she has this image of you. You're practically a superhero. A romantic figure who went off to battle and was killed in action. You were her daddy, and everything she heard filtered through the lens of awesomeness."
"And for you?"
Her smile came easily. "I felt the same. But this isn't about me. I want you to understand her. She's smart, and she goes after what she wants. But there's still a young girl inside her who believes in fairy tale endings. And you coming back from the dead is just going to cement that."
She wiped her palms on the robe, then nodded at a couple who walked past the room and the open door, their heads turned just enough to make clear they were curious about the conversation on the threshold.
When they were gone, she continued. "I'm rambling, but the point is that whether you wanted her or not, she's yours. You don't have to love her. You don't have to want her. But please don't hurt her."
Something hard flickered on his face. "Do you really think I would?"
"Twenty years ago, no. Now?" She lifted a shoulder. "The truth is I don't know you at all."
"Then get to know me again. Come downstairs. Give me a chance to apologize for being an ass earlier. And let me convince you that I won't hurt our daughter."
Our daughter.
The words curled around her, tempting her. But at the same time reminding her of her priorities. Elena might be 23, but where finding her daddy was concerned, she was still a little girl. Hell, she'd always be Eva's little girl, and that came first. That had to come first.
And, honestly, Tyree needed time, too.
Not that she expected that a drink in the bar would lead to a wild tryst. She didn't. As attracted to him as she might still be, there were too many years under the bridge.
More than that, though, right now she needed to behave like a grownup, not like the nineteen-year-old she used to be, floating a foot off the ground because she was so full of love.
"Maybe tomorrow," she said.
"Tomorrow?" He did that delicious head tilt again, his eyes narrowing as he looked at her. "Is that a promise?"
But she just smiled. "Goodnight, Tyree," she said, then closed the door.
Sometimes it really sucked to be a grownup.
Chapter Seven
After Eva shut him down, Tyree knew he should head back to The Fix and put in a few more hours. He wasn't officially on the schedule tonight--Reece was the manager in charge through the rest of the week--but there was always work to be done, and most nights Tyree was eager to do it.
Not tonight though. Tonight, he felt off.