Page 22 of The Cold Ride

“No. Nothing was salvageable, not even the washers and dryers. I’m going to have to buy new on everything, which is why I’m doing it myself.”

Rolling up his sleeves, Wyatt nodded. “Got it. We can get this stuff taken care of this morning. And then we can figure out what to start on next when it’s done.”

“Good enough. I appreciate the help. Truly. Lunch is at noon. I’ve got soup and sandwiches.”

“You don’t have to keep feeding us.” Aiden put a comforting hand on my shoulder.

“Y’all are saving me from having to hire movers to get this stuff up and out of here. The least I can do is feed you.”

“Hell, yeah.” Lucas grinned like he’d hit the jackpot. “You won’t see me turning down your cooking.”

Was he flirting with me? I smiled at his charming antics, only to glance at James and nearly blanch at his stony glare. He looked like he wanted to thrash me. Like he was worried I was about to take up with one of his friends.

If only he knew the truth. Because the only man I wanted was him. From the moment we met, he’d ruined me for other men.

A few years ago, I forced myself into the dating world. And I did it while chiding myself over the torch I carried for James. Calling myself a fool for mooning over a man who wanted nothing to do with me. But out of the fifteen first dates I went on during that year, not a single one made it to a second date.

Because they weren’t James.

11

Icouldn’t remember the last time I watched the clock this intently. Rory told me Amelia was usually home from school by three. At noon, I skipped out on lunch to shower and then headed to the store. I wasn’t going to be introduced to my daughter for the first time without having a gift of some kind. And I went a little overboard, but she’d never gotten a present from me. I even had the sales lady gift wrap the stuff for me.

Thank fuck I had the small trailer hitched to the back of my bike. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have anywhere to store this stuff on the drive back.

I reached the inn with less than thirty minutes to spare. And I’d never been so nervous in my entire life. I’d infiltrated enemy lines, survived fights with Taliban and ISIS insurgents, jumped out of airplanes, and repelled out of a helicopter into enemy territory. But none of it had terrified me as much as this moment.

“Why don’t you have a seat in the living room? I’ll bring her back once she’s off the bus. And we can tell her together.”

“Good plan. Lead the way.” With my arms laden with presents, I followed Rory back to her section of the inn.

“You didn’t have to buy her presents. She’s going to love you no matter what you give her.”

“I have a lot of birthdays and Christmases to make up for,” I replied with more venom in my voice than I’d intended.

Dark storm clouds entered her eyes. “Those weren’t your fault. They were mine. Have a seat. She should be home any minute.”

Rory left me in her living room without another word. I suspected the upcoming introduction was as hard for her as it was for me. Would Amelia be glad that I was her father? Would she reject me once she knew? Would she be angry and ask me why I hadn’t come to see her before now?

I didn’t have an answer to those questions.

Rory and I hadn’t discussed what my response should be if those questions came up. And I knew I was counting chickens before they hatched. But in my experience, it was better to be prepared because the chicken you didn’t want to hatch usually did.

Rory’s living room was warm and welcoming. The furniture was on the older side, but had been lovingly cared for and maintained. There was a mix of framed photos on the tan walls. A combination of candid and posed shots of the two of them. If nothing else, Rory had given our daughter a comfortable, safe place to grow up, and I couldn’t fault her for it. I wanted to, but that was my anger speaking.

The door to their quarters shut with a loud thump.

I went ramrod straight in my seat on the checkered couch. Sweat rolled down my back. This felt worse than waiting on the enemy to strike. At least I knew how to deal with that. But I was totally out of my depth here.

“And then, Mom, Carly laughed so hard milk came out her nose.” Amelia’s young, musical voice had my heart clenching.

“That must have been quite a sight,” Rory replied, her words tight, as they entered the living room.

Amelia spotted me on the couch first and frowned in confusion. “Mom, why is your friend on our couch?”

“Come have a seat, baby.” Rory steered her over to the couch and had her sit beside me so that she was between us.

And fuck, I hoped that my expression was calm and friendly when I felt anything but. Hell, give me insurgents any day of the week. Because I had no idea how to tell this beautiful creature I was her father.

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