"Can I get a cookie?"
"Just one. Grandma is planning on taking you out for pizza after."
"Yay." She started to race away but turned back and flung her arms around her mother's waist.
Letting go, she flashed a smile at Cade before dashing off.
Wiping her moist palms on her thighs, she took a deep breath. "Why did you come?"
He gave her an incredulous look. "Is this what we're doing? Let's talk, shall we?"
"I can't..." She shook her head when he opened his mouth. "I'm not trying to avoid you, but I have a meeting, and I cannot miss it."
"Then meet me..."
"Tomorrow."
"Tonight." His expression was forbidding. "Here..."
"No." She pressed her lips together. "At Paradise Park. It's..."
"I know where it is. What time?" He snapped it out, not in the mood to be charitable.
"Seven."
He nodded curtly. "If you're not there..."
"I will be."
"I will find you." He continued as if she had not interrupted.
Without another word, he turned on his heels and left.
Leaning against the wall, Abigail closed her eyes in despair, realizing that her world had just imploded.
Chapter 5
He arrived at the designated place fifteen minutes early and completely missed the charm of the park.
He paced along the winding path, his nerves coiled tight in his chest. A couple's laughter floated on the breeze, blending with the distant scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers. Cade barely registered any of it, his gaze scanning each passerby, anger and anxiety warring within him as he waited for Abigail to arrive.
He had spent the time after leaving the bookstore just driving aimlessly around. He had planned on going back to the publishing house to wrap up a few things and then head on to the corporate office for a meeting but had done none of those things.
He was angry. Hoping to take the knife edge off the anger, he was here, pacing. Sticking to the entrance of the park where several benches were grouped together, he paced restlessly. He had a daughter. One he never knew existed. Yes, he had used protection that night, always had, mostly because it had been drummed in his and Kevin's head to be careful.
But that little girl looked too much like him not to be his.
And she had kept it from him.
Granted, she had called him a couple of times after, but if he recalled correctly, that had been a week after they had been together and too soon for her to know she was with child. Unless she was bloody psychic.
Four years old, he thought bitterly as he jammed his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket. The wind whipped at his hair as he made the journey from the sparkling fountain dripping with clear water to the benches.
A few committed joggers went by him, but he barely noticed them. His thoughts were jumbled, anger burning his lungs. She had no right!
And when she got here... He spun around as the headlights cut through the shadows. The car slid to a stop. He stood where he was and watched her sitting behind the wheel as if contemplating whether to approach or simply take off.
He would follow her, he decided grimly. If he had to run her to ground, that's what would happen, so she'd bloody well come out and face him. She had a lot of explaining to do.
