Barely Breathing(44)

I smiled at Cara, tears blurring my vision. “That’s it then? Any more strings?”

She shook her head. “No. I have her phone number and we’ve agreed that a neutral location is best.”

“Got it.”

Kane’s wide shoulders were shaking now. I met Cara’s gaze and she got up from her desk and slipped out of the room, closing the door behind her.

I blinked and let my tears escape, brushing them away with my fingers. Kane was breathing deeply when I got to my knees in front of him, his chest rising and falling with each inhale and exhale. I put my hands on his forearms, needing to touch him.

“It’s happening,” I said. “You get to meet her.”

His big body shook with the effort of holding back a sob. I pulled his hands away from his face and kissed the tears on his cheeks that hadn’t disappeared into his beard yet. He wrapped his arms around me and pulled me to him, holding me fiercely close. I rubbed a hand over his back as he buried his face in my neck and cried.

I was in love with him. The realization hit me hard and sure. This was one of the best moments of my life, sharing something so deep and emotional with him.

“Fuck.” His voice was muffled by my hair. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize for this. It’s a huge thing, Kane. You’re meeting Brooklyn.”

He tightened his grip on me again. “I can’t believe it. I never expected this. I wanted to be able to say I tried, like you said, but . . . I can’t believe this is real.”

“It’s real. And I’m a complete puddle of feelings right now, too. I need you to come over tonight.”

“You know it. I have to make up for crying with some rough sex, baby.”

We both laughed and kept holding on. I wanted to tell him how much I loved him right now, but it didn’t feel like the right time. This moment was about him and Brooklyn.

Kane was haunted by his past. I’d never known what it meant to love someone so much that healing their pain was just as cathartic as healing your own. But right now, I felt light and free and hopeful. Kane was getting the chance he deserved.



Kane

My arms were locked around Viv and I couldn’t make myself let go. I closed my eyes and took in the warm, exotic scent of her perfume. She nestled against me and I buried my face in her soft hair.

“I’m so f*cking nervous,” I admitted.

“Of course you are. It’ll be okay, though, I promise.”

“I still can’t believe it’s happening. All because of you.”

“Not just me. You, too.”

I shook my head slightly. “No, Viv. It’s you. You make me believe in things. I never did before.”

“You make me believe in things, too.” She pulled back and smiled up at me. “Now go meet your little girl. And call me as soon as you can.”

I kissed her and went to the door of her apartment, looking over my shoulder again before I walked out. Damn, she was so beautiful. Inside as much as out. I was one lucky bastard.

My stomach was in a knot the whole drive to the diner outside the city where I was meeting Cori and Brooklyn. I kept reminding myself this might not go well. Cori might be openly pissed off at me. Brooklyn might be scared of me. We might just look at each other in silence.

But even if all that happened, I’d still get to see her. I was about to see my daughter. My eyes welled with emotion at the thought.

By the time I pulled into the diner’s parking lot, I was almost shaking with nervousness. I laughed at myself. All the guys I’d roughed up in my life and a nine-year-old girl had me terrified. But this little girl meant everything to me.

I was early, so I sat in a booth and waited. I’d almost finished a cup of coffee when the front door swung open and Cori walked in. She had the same slender, petite build and long light brown hair. When she held the door open for someone else, my heart felt like it was about to pound right out of my chest.

I knew what Brooklyn looked like from the pictures, but still, seeing the resemblance in person knocked the wind out of me. She had glossy black hair that fell past her shoulders and dark eyes. And when those eyes turned on me, I had to swallow back the lump in my throat.

“Hi, Kane,” Cori said softly.

I got out of the booth and nodded at her. “Hey, Cori.” Then I bent down to my knees, putting myself at eye level with my daughter.

“Brook, this is your dad,” Cori said. “Can you say hi to him?”

“Hi,” Brooklyn said, edging closer to Cori.

“Hi.” I cleared my throat. “Thanks for coming. Both of you.”

The waitress flew over to the table, unaware of the emotional weight of the moment she was interrupting.

“Drinks, you two? And a kids’ menu?”

“Sure,” Cori said, letting Brooklyn slide into the booth. “Coffee and a Sprite.”

Brooklyn was looking at me. Taking in the details. I often wished I’d done a better job of memorizing my own father before he took off. I couldn’t for the life of me remember the details of what he’d looked like anymore.

“So.” I sighed deeply. “I just need to say thanks, Cori, for allowing this. It means so much to me.” I turned my attention to Brooklyn. “And I also need to say that the reason I missed out on being part of your life . . .” I cleared my throat, trying to keep myself under control. “It’s all my fault. It was never because of you.”