Page 124 of Sweet Thing

“Because I’m not a good guy.”

“Fuck that. Tell me the real reason.”

Another adjustment of the ice pack, this time to make it hurt a little more. Focus my thinking.

My life was imploding. Adeline was everywhere, haunting my senses and spring-loading my dick. She had a crush on me and who’s gonna say no to that? Once I had my fill, it was time to end it.

Except I couldn’t say any of that. Not because it was about this man’s precious daughter, but because it wasn’t remotely true.

“All the stuff you said about taking advantage of her, how I should have been the adult, the guy with all the experience, burrowed inside my head. That was all true. At least, I felt it to be. Once Elle confronted me, I got to thinking about the mistakes I’ve made. The poor decisions. The reckless choices. Vicki. MacFarlane. Adeline.” Especially Adeline. “Here I was, getting in between the two of you, dragging her down to my level. A sneak. A liar. And for what? Because I’m selfish, like Sven. I saw her. I wanted her. I made her mine.” For a short while, and how glorious was that? But it was time to pay the piper. “I knew it would hurt her now, but she’d be free,” I finished.

“You think you’re like your dad?”

“It’s crossed my mind.”

Theo’s brow crimped into furious lines. “You know I’ve had issues with my dad. Sure, we get along—now—but I hope to God no one ever thinks I take after him. Do you really think I would give you the time of day if I thought you were an asshole like your father?” Obviously rhetorical, because he plowed on. “Look, I said you were a user like your dad. That was a low blow and I’m sorry. Here’s the thing: I welcomed you into my home, my family, my life. I don’t do that for just anyone, y’know. You had this great thing going as a bit player in my blessed existence, and then you go and sabotage it by seducing my daughter!”

“Maybe I just wanted Adeline more.”

It wasn’t as if I could have both. And now I had neither.

His mouth twitched. He liked that.

“You were willing to fuck it all up to be with her?”

“Crazy, right? There was something so strong between us, a spark so real that it couldn’t be denied. And I know you think that as the older, supposedly wiser person here, I should have known better, but you’re not giving your daughter enough credit. She knows her own mind. I might be more experienced, but I’m a complete novice when it comes to the heart. Adeline knows how to give it her all. How to be open and generous and loving. She gets that from you. From how you raised her.”

A flicker of pride lit up his expression. “Suck up.”

“Is it working?”

“Not in the slightest.” He inhaled a deep breath. “I just want her to have what Ellie and I have. Can you give her that?”

The Great Love Story? Damn right I could. “Why is everything a fucking competition with you?”

“You’re the one who seems to think you’re not good enough for her.”

“Doesn’t every guy think that at some point?” Maybe every guy but Theo Kershaw. “I might not be now, but I’d like to spend the rest of my life working on it. She owns me, Theo. My heart, my soul, every cell in my body. She’s the strongest person I know. She thinks she’s the weak link in your family when really, she’s the lynchpin. The soft power. Does that make sense?”

He nodded. “I keep trying to tell her, but she won’t listen to her dear old dad. Maybe you can do a better job of it.”

“Excuse me?”

“I give you my blessing to try and fix things with my daughter.”

“Don’t need it.”

He nodded sagely. “You have it anyway.”

I growled.

“You’re welcome, NyQuil.”

Thisasshole. I was so damn lucky to have him as a friend. “There’s something else I need to tell you.”

His good humor vanished in an instant. “If you’re about to say you’ve knocked her up with your super sperm?—”

“Christ, no!” I blew out a breath. “Some fucker mugged her in Greece.”

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