I’d laugh if I weren’t so disgusted. Not at what’s happening in the photo. But at what a decent man like Cole Hartly is ready to do just to win. “You’re using your visit with your granddaughter to threaten us?”
“It’s not a threat. It’s proof you two are a sham.”
“It’s abachelorparty. That’s what happens at these things. And any judge looking at that will know that Dallas clearly wanted no part in it.”
Dallas’s head dips sideways to me. But I keep my eyes fixed on Cole. His tired, kind, green eyes. He clearly hates all of this.
His pain is almost a look into what Dallas went through not all that long ago. And if I screw this up—he’ll lose his daughter too.
Cole puts his phone away. “That’s just one. There’re others of you last night at The Blue Branch. Glenda’s got it all.”
“Then she should be sending them to my lawyer. Not sending you here to taunt us.”
Cole frowns at the word. It’s just as I thought. He’s not evil. But he is hurting and letting a ruthless attorney get in his head.
“What makes you think I’m going to honor your request to spend time with Ellie on your own tomorrow now?”
“The request was a courtesy. She’s still legally—”
“Until our first hearing she’s still staying here. With us.”
“I just want to take her out for ice cream after school. I’ll have her home by six.”
“She has her paint class tomorrow at the cottage with Rose.”
“Tuesday then. I’m just trying to not be the estranged man in the corner of the page.”
“You put yourself there. Now get off my property.”
“Dallas,” I warn again. Because despite his coolness and threats, I feel for this man.
He merely glances at me, then walks back into the house.
I give Cole a tentative smile. “Maybe leading with the photo wasn’t a good idea. But I’ll talk to him about taking her out for ice cream. I think she’d love that.”
Cole runs a hand down his face. “Don’t you think I know how this story ends? You two are going to like playing house a little too much and I’m going to lose my little girl.”
His words make my heart ache and break all at once.
“She’s also Dallas’s little girl. And no one is losing anyone. It’s not too late to call this off.”
He smirks. “I’m willing to bet that if I do, you’ll be straight back to where you came from. And my granddaughter is going to be raised by that man and that man alone. With all his lap dances, bar fights, and .?.?.” his eyes dip down, “grief.” The last word trails off like he can hear the hypocrisy in it.
I stare at him for a moment, trying to will the anger, but it doesn’t seem to come. This man means no harm. He’s just scared to be alone. “We’ll see you next Sunday, Mr. Hartly,” I say softly, then turn toward the house.
“I’m not coming to the wedding.”
Confused, I flip my head back. “What?”
His brows shoot up. “Oh, you meant the visit. Well, that’s interesting. Never met a bride who forgot her own wedding day.” He tips his hat. “Have a good evening.”
I close the dishwasher, eyes scanning the marble counter for any speck of dust or crumbs. I hear Dallas’s footsteps above as he shuts Ellie’s door softly and heads down.
One look at me and his brows come together. “What’s wrong?”
“Am I pouting again?”
He smiles, dims the lights in the kitchen, and comes around the counter. “Yes, but this time I don’t have to resist wiping it off your face.”
