Irresistible (Cloverleigh Farms #1)(77)

*



It didn’t occur to me that I hadn’t changed my shirt until I was parking the car across the street from Coffee Darling. I turned off the engine, looked down, and groaned.

“What?” Millie asked from the back seat.

“I should have changed my clothes. I’m wearing …” I pulled the shirt away from my chest. “Pink glitter.”

“Zip up your coat all the way,” Felicity suggested.

“No!” Millie was adamant. “The shirt is a statement about love and healing hearts. Plus Frannie helped make it. He should show her that he’s proud to wear it.”

I glanced back at her. “You’re pretty smart for eleven.”

She smiled. “I’m almost twelve.”

I closed my eyes and exhaled. “Don’t remind me. Okay, let’s do this.”

“Daddy, what are you going to say?” Winnie asked, her hand in mine as we crossed the street.

“I have no idea.”

“I think you should tell her you’re sorry for being a big fat jerk,” Felicity offered as we reached the curb.

I gave her a dirty look. “Thanks.”

“And maybe you should beg for her forgiveness,” Millie suggested. “On your knees or something. That’s what they do in the movies.”

“I think I’ll stay on my feet.”

“Tell her she’s pretty,” Winnie said.

“Tell her she’s perfect!” Felicity shouted.

“Tell her you love her.” Millie grasped the door handle to Coffee Darling. “That’s important. She needs to hear you say that.”

I shook my head. “I’m going to die.”

Winnie giggled. “Not, you’re not.”

Millie looked me right in the eye. “You’re not going to die. You’re going to fix this and get her back—for all of us.”

She pulled on the door handle. It didn’t open. She yanked again, more vehemently, putting two hands into it. “Daddy, it’s locked.”

“We’re too late,” Winnie moaned.

“The hell we are.” Seeing someone with a broom moving around inside, I pounded on the glass with my fists.

I wasn’t leaving here without making this right.





Frannie





“Frannie? There’s someone here to see you. Several people, actually.”

I looked up from my batter to see Natalie’s husband Miles in the doorway to the kitchen, broom in his hand and amused expression on his face.

“To see me?”

“That’s what they said. A guy and some kids.” His mouth hooked up on one side. “And the guy is wearing some kind of sparkly T-shirt. You better come up front.”

Sparkly T-shirt? Something jumped around in my stomach. It had to be Mack and the girls. What were they doing here?

With my hands over my fluttering belly, I followed Miles out to the shop and stopped behind the counter. Sure enough, Mack and the kids stood on the other side of it talking to Natalie, and Mack’s open coat revealed the shirt Millie had made for the fashion show.

“Hi,” I said warily.

“Hi.” Mack took a step forward, then stopped. Opened his mouth and closed it again. He met my eyes, and I saw in them the apology I wanted. The warmth I craved. The fear that he’d messed this up too much already, and it was too late to get me back.

But I wasn’t going to save him. He had to go after what he wanted. He had to save himself.

Seconds ticked by.

Miles stood off to one side with his hands atop the broom handle and his chin on his hands, watching the drama unfold. As the tension grew thicker, Natalie looked from Mack to me and back again—I’d confided in her enough this week that she had to know what was going on.

“Dad,” muttered Millie under her breath from behind him. “Say something.”

“I’m trying.” Mack cleared his throat. “This isn’t easy. Give me a second.”

“Take your time,” Miles said.

“Miles, maybe we should give them some privacy?” Natalie gave her husband a look and jerked her head toward the kitchen.

“But Nat, something good is about to happen,” said Miles. “I can tell. A dude doesn’t wear a glittery T-shirt for nothing. This is big.”

Mack looked down at his shirt and winced. “Um.”

“Dad.” Felicity moved forward and gave Mack a push in my direction. “Come on, already.”

“Okay.” Mack recovered his balance and stood with his feet apart, hands fisted at his sides, chest forward. He took a breath. “Frannie, I came here today to tell you something—well several things. First, that I’m sorry. I know I hurt you, and I’m so sorry. This is all my fault.”

Miles nodded appreciatively. “Taking all the blame. Nice move.”

“Miles!” Natalie hissed from across the room.

“What? He needs encouragement,” Miles said. He looked at Mack. “Go on, man. You’re doing fine.”

Mack nodded. “Thanks,” he said, tentatively moving a little closer to me. “Not only did I hurt you, but you were right: I did it for a stupid reason—I was afraid.” He shook his head. “Fuck, I’m still afraid. I feel like there’s no way I can do this, be the best father possible and be the guy you want. There’s only one of me, and half the time, I have no fucking idea what I’m doing.”