The Closer You Come (The Original Heartbreakers, #1)(104)

Should she go?

The back door slid open. In strode the little girl. She’d looked uncomfortable and nervous last night, but that wasn’t the case today. Happiness radiated through her pores.

Jase came in behind her, wearing a soft, tender expression. Seeing him with his daughter only made her fall deeper in love with him—but when he spotted Brook Lynn, he frowned.

Perspiration dotted her palms. She was suddenly transported back to her childhood, before she’d gotten the implants. Jessie Kay would drag her out of the house to play with other kids, only to have those other kids run away, not wanting anything to do with Earmuff Girl.

“Brook Lynn,” he said in greeting, his voice tempered, revealing zero hint of his emotions.

Back to square one.

“This is Hope. Hope, this is Brook Lynn.”

Again, he left off the girlfriend identifier. “Hello.”

“Hi. I guess.” The girl certainly had her mother’s unwelcoming attitude. But she’d inherited more than Jase’s eyes and mouth, Brook Lynn realized. She had inherited the shape of his face. They were like carbon copies of each other, and a pang tore through her chest.

“Don’t be rude,” Daphne admonished, surprising her.

Hope glared up at Brook Lynn as if she was the enemy. “She started it! We’re having a family day, and she’s not family.”

Translation: go home. “Don’t worry. I’m not staying,” Brook Lynn croaked.

Jase tousled Hope’s dark hair, earning a grin from her, before he claimed Brook Lynn’s hand. “Excuse us for a moment.” He ushered her out of the kitchen, into his bedroom, where he released her to scrub a hand down his face.

“I’m sorry,” he said. He plopped on the end of the bed.

Both sides were mussed, both pillows flat and well used.

“They stayed the night,” Brook Lynn said hollowly.

“Of course.” He sounded mildly offended, as if she’d just accused him of throwing the pair into the street.

“Daphne slept in here,” she said. A statement, not a question.

Understanding dawned, and he snapped, “With Hope. Not me. I crashed in West’s room. Both he and Beck stayed out all night.”

She exhaled a breath she felt like she’d been holding all her life. Okay. All right. “I’m sorry. I don’t know who I am anymore. This situation is just so...”

“Screwed up. I get it.” A tense pause before he added, “But it’s about to get even more so. Daphne and Hope are going to stay for a few weeks.”

The jealousy she felt now made a mockery of the jealousy she’d felt only seconds before, though she tried not to show it. “I’m glad you’ll have a chance to get to know your daughter.” That was the truth.

“She is...perfect,” he said, and Brook Lynn would have sworn there were stars in his eyes.

It warmed her heart to see the deep love he’d already developed for the girl. “Why is Daphne just now telling you about her?”

“Because I was in prison.”

“That’s an excuse.”

A sardonic flash of teeth. “Really? Because I seem to recall you wanting nothing to do with me for that very reason.”

Ouch. “Do you still want to be with me?” she asked quietly.

“I do,” he said without hesitation. “I wasn’t kidding when I told you I loved you.”

Relief was like the first rain after a long drought. “But...why didn’t you tell Daphne I’m your girlfriend?”

“Honey, the last I heard from you, you were giving me time. I didn’t know you were accepting me back as your boyfriend.”

“I—”

A light tap sounded at the door.

“—want you,” she finished. “I want everything from you.”

He reached for her, only to fist his hands just before contact as another knock sounded. His arms fell to his sides. “The door,” he said.

“Right.” Trembling, she turned the knob.

Hope stepped inside, wide-eyed, a plate of food in hand. “Um, hi.” She glanced between them.

“Hey, sweetheart,” Jase said, his tone gentling.

Hope unveiled a devastating smile, preening under his attention. “Momma wanted you to have your breakfast while it was still hot.”

Well, wasn’t that nice. Too nice?

Had Daphne come here hoping to win Jase back?

Brook Lynn’s knees nearly gave out. If she were to war against Daphne, she would lose. Daphne had the ace.

Be that as it may, Brook Lynn wasn’t giving up without a fight. Not this time. She’d walked away once already, and it had brought her nothing but heartache. Jase deserved better. He deserved her best, and that’s what she would give him. I’m coming at you guns blazing, Mr. Hollister.

“Eat your breakfast.” She strutted over, kissed him on the forehead and whispered, “Your days belong to your daughter, and I’m glad about that, I really am, but your nights are mine.”

*

JASE GLANCED AT the clock. 10:07 flashed in bold red numbers. Hope had been asleep for an hour. And for the entirety of that hour he’d wanted to go to Brook Lynn.

But Daphne sat on the couch, telling West and Beck what she’d told him last night—her story since they’d last seen each other. Neither interrupted her. Neither accused her of lying about Hope’s paternity.