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His tone was wholly convincing.
But those eyes…
They churned and roiled.
Magic eyes.
That’s what I’d always called Maci’s.
Enchanting.
Mesmerizing.
But I was sure his could glamour and mask.
Cast a curse.
Because I felt some sickness come on when he suddenly stood, itching and antsy, those hands shoved into the pockets of his jeans that were still completely drenched. “I need to go. I have somewhere I need to be at four.”
Disbelief burst out of me on a scoff, and I shook my head. I didn’t even know why I was upset.
It was the plan. The way I wanted it. The way it needed to be.
But the thought of him walking away like this, after I’d just shared one of the most traumatic parts of my life, sent a razor raking across the raw, abraded parts of my spirit.
He started around the far side of the table, and I thought he was going to walk straight to the parking lot where I’d seen his motorcycle when we pulled in.
Only he stopped, facing that way, his being vibrating with intensity.
I jumped when he suddenly whirled in my direction.
A storm that came within an inch of me.
Towering.
Intimidating.
His breath hot and intoxicating. That distinct cedar and clove scent making my head spin.
He leaned in close, and I prepared for his goodbye.
I could already feel the regret pouring from his body.
“Know you’re going to hate me for this, Emery.” His voice scraped low. “And the last thing I want to do is hurt you more than you’re already hurting. But that’s my daughter, and I can’t turn my back on that.”
Cold slicked down my spine, and I jerked back. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’m her father. It means she stole my heart the second I saw her. It means I have every intention of raising her. Meet me at Twisted Moon at nine, and we can discuss the details.”
Horror pinned my feet to the ground, the shouts and rejections and denials trapped in my hemorrhaging throat as I watched him turn without saying anything else and stride through the park and over to the playground.
I was unable to move as I watched him lean down in front of Maci.
She giggled and laughed at whatever he said, then he touched her chin and ruffled his fingers through her hair as he stood.
I couldn’t look away as he strode the rest of the way to the parking lot and climbed onto his bike.
The roar of the engine echoed through the air like a thunderclap.