“Well, it’s the truth, isn’t it? And what the fuck’s up with you sending my daughter off with another dude?” His face was a mask of anger as he spoke. “You said she had a fuckin’ playdate.”
“Itwasa playdate! Steve’s daughter is in Liddy’s daycare class. And don’t change the subject. You had no right to tell her that!”
Our argument continued in hushed voices as he stated, “I had every right. I’m her dad and you agreed, Gwen. Andyoustop avoiding the issue here. Did that limp dick ask you on a date? Who is this fucker?”
“He’s not a fucker! He’s a perfectly nice guy. And it’s none of your business if he asked me out or not. And I only agreed to move in with you under duress!”
Garrett’s eyes narrowed in a glare as he eased in closer. “You’re not actually going out with that guy, are you?”
“Damn it, Garrett!” I cried out quietly. “Stop changing the subject! This just proves my point. Us living under the same roof would be a disaster!”
He shrugged like it was all the same to him. “Too late to back out now. You made a deal, and I made my little girl a promise.You gonna make me a liar because you’re scared? I took you for tougher than that, sweetness.”
“Stop. Calling. Me.Sweetness,” I bit through clenched teeth. “And I’m not scared.”
“Then prove it.” His face and body echoed his challenge, and my stupid pride wouldn’t allow me to be cowed.
A low growl vibrated through my chest. “God, you’resucha prick.”
Garrett puffed his chest out and smiled widely, preening with the knowledge that he’d won this round.
Liddy came running back into the room, her arms overloaded with stuffed animals and dolls that she dropped unceremoniously on the floor at our feet. “Mommy! Since we gonna live in Daddy’s big house, can we gets a puppy? Please! Pleasepleasepleaseplease!” She’d been on a puppy kick for a while now, but I’d been using the excuse of our place being too small to keep from having to be responsible for another living being. Liddy was too little to take care of a pet on her own, and I didn’t have the time, inclination, or energy to do it myself.
“We’ll see,” I answered vaguely. I used to hate when my mother gave me those standard parent non-answers, but now that I was in her shoes I totally got it.
As expected, her tiny toddler mind couldn’t hold attention on one subject for long, and she turned to Garrett and shouted, “Daddy, come play with me!”
He lowered his big body onto the floor next to her and picked up one of Liddy’s dolls. It looked so strange in his tattooed hands. But instead of appearing uncomfortable, Garrett stretched his legs out and got into it, no problem.
I scooped my laptop off the couch and carried it into my bedroom where I sat for the next hour, working on my manuscript while Garrett and Liddy played in the living room. I needed time away from him to clear my head. I’d spent so manyyears avoiding any unnecessary interaction with Garrett, but these past few days he’d practically forced his way into private aspects of my life that I kept separate from our connection with our daughter. And the deeper he slithered in, the harder it became to dig him out from beneath my skin.
I worked while they laughed and chattered away, losing myself in my words like I normally did, so I didn’t notice Garrett in the doorway of my bedroom until he spoke.
“What are you doing?”
“Shit!” I placed my hand to my chest. “How can a guy as big as you move so quietly.”
He leaned against the doorframe, his soft chuckle sending tremors from my belly straight between my legs.The bastard. “Just one of my many talents.”
I rolled my eyes, choosing to ignore the innuendo, and closed my laptop. “You two finished?”
“Yeah. We have a radio interview at five, so I need to head to the station.” He moved into the room, taking in the miniscule space. “And you haven’t answered my question.” He tipped his head toward my computer. “What were you working on?”
Unease prickled at my consciousness. The only one I’d ever talked to about my writing was Corrie. She was aware of what I was doing, but had no idea what my story was about. The idea of letting anyone read my work before it was perfected scared the ever-loving hell out of me. “It’s nothing,” I lied. “Just playing around online so you and Liddy could have some time to yourselves.”
He nodded and crossed his arms as that jade gaze moved back to mine. “I’ll make some calls when I get home and set the movers up for tomorrow.”
My back went stiff as I sat up straighter on my bed. “What? Tomorrow? Garrett, I have to work. I thought maybe in a week or two—”
“You got a spare set of keys?” he cut in, ignoring my rising apprehension.
“Huh?”
“A spare set of keys, babe. I’ll meet the movers here, have them pack your shit up, and get it over to my place while you’re working.”
“But… but… I have a lease. I can’t just—”
The jerk cut me off again. “I’ll take care of it. You’ll be set by the end of the day tomorrow.”
