"Cade."
"Hmm?" He was busy pouring coffee into a bright blue mug. "I don't know how you take it."
"One cream, one sugar." She straightened her shoulders.
"I see I'm going to have to educate you on the merits of not doctoring a perfect brew." He placed the cup in front of her and turned to rescue the omelet.
"Toast?"
"Yes. Thanks." She was nervous. Upstairs, she had been disappointed that he had left. Now, she was uncertain how to react. He was in her kitchen, cooking her breakfast. And had spent most of last night driving her to insanity. She could still feel his mouth on her body.
"It's not going to work."
Ignoring the ice that slid through him at her words, he passed her the plate.
"Of course it will."
"We're different." Pushing the plate aside, she picked up the cup and knew it was a prop. Her throat felt closed off and dry as dust. "You're, you're..." She waved a hand helplessly. "I'm not your usual type and at the risk of raising your ire, I think you're doing this to ensure that you're part of your daughter's life."
The ice turned to fury and pain in a heartbeat. Steadying himself, he poured more coffee into his cup and kept his back to her.
"Let me see if I understand this." He strode over to sit across from her, his face like flint. "I made love to you, declared my love for you all because I want to make you hand over my daughter. Did I get it right?"
She had the grace to be ashamed.
"You're mad."
"What gave it away?" He asked tightly. "Do you want me on my knees Abigail?" Putting the cup down, he slid off the stool and to her shock and distress, went on his knees. "What else? Want me to grovel?" Bitterness rose and spilled over into his voice.
"Stop it!" Putting her cup down, she rushed around to kneel in front of him. "Please."
"What can I do? Tell me, damn you. What can I do?"
With tears streaming down her cheeks, she wrapped her arms around him and buried her face on his shoulder.
Chapter 14
He wore her down. He liked to think that he had finally gotten under her defenses, the many doubts and fears as well as the insecurities and got her to agree to start seeing him socially. The first thing they did was run it by their daughter.
Zoe had lots of questions, of course, but she was so excited that she now had a mom and a dad, she was ready to burst and tell everyone at school, starting with her best friend Melissa.
As soon as Cade got the go ahead, he set things in motion. He took her to meet his family.
"I don't think it's time--"
"As soon as we start going out together, it's going to be all out there. I would not want them to find out second hand. I already met your family." He pointed out in a reasonable tone.
He was so reasonable and calm about everything, taking over. She was not used to that. She had become accustomed to running her own life.
But he was determined to prove to her that he had changed, that he wanted her in his life. He showered her with attention, popping up at the bookstore just to say hi and taking hersandwiches, the loaded subs she told him she liked. He sent her flowers, her favorites, daisies and daffodils, and a few red roses in the mix.
He was courting her and everyone knew it. They started to call him 'her gorgeous young man'. He spent several minutes charming an old wealthy widow into purchasing an entire first edition of Shakespearean work.
He was attentive to Zoe, who loved having 'her daddy' around. He did not miss a recital or a meeting at the school. He was firmly worming himself into the fabric of their lives.
She refused to have him staying the night.
"I want to set a good example for Zoe." She told him firmly.
