“Sorry. I didn’t think.” Tanner lowered his head. “Next time, I’ll—”
“Next time, don’t come.” Eve scooped Daisy into her arms. “You should leave. Immediately.”
Tanner reached out and took a step forward. Afraid that he might grab Daisy, appalled the thought might cross his mind, Eve took three steps backward and into the house. She shut the door and flipped the lock.
“Can’t I see her? For just a minute?” Tanner pleaded, raising his voice to be heard through the thick sheet of glass.
“Not while I have a breath left in my chest,” Eve muttered.
Without an ounce of sympathy for the man who so easily and callously seduced and abandoned her friend, Eve rushed up the stairs. In Daisy's room, she set the little girl down onto the pink rug.
Blue eyes, so like her mother’s, stared up at Eve with absolute trust.
“He doesn’t deserve a second chance.”
Eve knew she was right and yet, as she looked at Daisy, she knew that Ellie wouldn’t agree. Her friend wanted the man she loved so recklessly to meet his daughter. And, more than anything, she wanted her daughter to know her father.
Torn between what she believed was right and Ellie’s wishes, Eve acted before she could change her mind. Opening the sliding glass doors, she stepped onto the balcony off Daisy’s room. As she suspected, Tanner hadn’t moved from the deck below.
“You,” Eve called to him. When he looked up, she pinned him with her gaze. “Stay.”
Back inside, Eve called herself a fool and dialed Dylan’s number. He answered on the third ring.
“Where are you?” Eve asked before Dylan could speak.
“Just finished working out and I was about to get a bite to eat with Levi. Why?” Dylan paused. “Is something wrong?”
“Come home. Now.”
“What happened. Are you okay?” he demanded. “Is Daisy sick?”
“Your brother showed up.”
“Tanner is at the house? Now?” Dylan didn’t sound any happier than Eve felt.
“He’s on the back deck,” Eve said. “I locked him out.”
“Good. Smart move.”
Eve exhaled for the first time since Tanner’s unexpected arrival. Dylan’s reaction, the fact that he took her side over his brother’s, felt like a vindication for her actions.
“I told him to wait.” Eve sighed. “Ellie would want us to let him see Daisy. But I want you here the entire time. Okay?”
“I’ll be there in fifteen minutes. Ten if the cops don’t pull me over for speeding.”
“I swear if you get in an accident, I will hurt you.” Hearing the ridiculous threat come from her mouth, Eve had to smile. “Don’t rush. Daisy is safe and Tanner isn’t going anywhere.”
“What about you?” Dylan asked. “Did you hurt him?”
Eve suppressed a chuckle. The man knew her too well.
“Would you mind if I gave your brother a few bumps and bruises?”
“Past time someone kicked his ass,” Dylan said. “You didn’t touch him, not with Daisy around.”
Eve felt as though Dylan was inside the workings of her mind. The idea was both intriguing and unsettling.
“Come,” Eve said. “Soon.”
“I will,” Dylan promised. “And Eve?”
“Hm?”
“Thank you for loving Daisy.” Dylan paused. “Maybe one day—”
“Maybe one day…? What?” she asked.
“Never mind.” Dylan sighed. “I’ll see you soon.”
Eve lowered the phone. Talking to Dylan made her feel better. Knowing he was on his way allowed her to breathe easy.
When, Eve wondered, did she begin to trust him without thinking twice? Why didn’t the idea scare her silly? And what would she do without him when the time came for her to leave?
▲ ▼ ▲ ▼ ▲
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
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DYLAN PARKED HIS silver Maserati next to Tanner’s black Cadillac—or rather, his mother’s car. He walked past the luxury sedan he gave Sylvie on her last birthday, jogging the last few steps to the front door. Tapping the code into the keypad, he entered the house.
“You made good time.” Eve greeted him, relief wreathing her face. “Did you speed?”
“As per your instructions, I drove like a little old lady on her way to church.”
“Another time, I’d point out why your analogy is sexist—and ageist—twaddle,” Eve said with a wry twist of her lips. “I’ll save the enlightenment for some time when your brother isn’t lurking in the backyard.”
“I appreciate your restraint.” Dylan dumped his gym bag on the floor. “Tanner hasn’t moved?”
“See for yourself.” Eve nodded toward the French doors. “I’ll be upstairs with Daisy.”
Of all the people on the face of the earth, Dylan had the most experience dealing with his brother. His mother would say she did her best to keep her oldest son safe and happy. His friends were there to lead him astray—not that he needed any encouragement.
Dylan’s job—one he would gladly relinquish—was to pull Tanner’s ass out of the fire. Every time he swore never again, he let himself get dragged into his brother’s latest mess.
For the first time, Dylan had no regrets. Because of Tanner, there was Daisy, a bundle of pure sweetness and joy. Without Daisy, he never would have met Eve.
Dylan wouldn’t change a thing. However, he was not about to let Tanner off the hook. Wanting to see Daisy was understandable. As usual, his methods left a lot to be desired.
“What the fuck, Tanner,” Dylan said as walked onto the deck.
Tanner jumped to his feet and bowed his head.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t think.”
“God, I’m tired of hearing the same thing, over and over. To save time, you should tattoo the phrase on your forehead.” Dylan took some water from the mini fridge located in the custom-built outdoor kitchen. He handed a bottle to Tanner. “Here. Drink. Sit.”
“That woman told me to stay,” Tanner muttered, doing as Dylan directed. “You tell me to sit. What am I, a dog?”
“If you were a dog, I’d have you neutered.” Downing half the bottle of water in two gulps, Dylan let out a humorless chuckle. “Sounds like a plan. What do you say? Should I call the vet?”
“When did you get so vicious?” Tanner asked.
“Around the
