Page 34 of Raw Deal

“But you aren’t a child anymore, and Mia loves this house. The two of you would be happy here. Let me buy it for you.”

“No. You are being so manipulative right now. I see the apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?”

She folded her arms across her chest. “Your mother could teach a masterclass in pulling strings and making people dance around like little puppets. Guess you learned from the best.”

“Hey, I’m just trying to provide a home for my daughter.”

“You are doing way more than that and you know it!”

He slowly shook his head. “Stop being so paranoid. I just want to make sure Mia is safe and happy while I’m in Vegas.”

“How often do you plan to visit?”

Was he trying to put them in a nice house to assuage his guilt?

Mia burst through the back door before he was forced to answer. For the moment, they would have to table the discussion. Chloe burned with curiosity and dread. She silently vowed to stand her ground with Nik and refuse to let him manipulate them. If he thought he could buy her with nice things, he was in a for a rude awakening.

Later that night, after Mia was finally asleep, Chloe and Nik retired to the living room for a glass of wine. By the time she entered with a glass in each hand, he had a fire roaring in her stone hearth. They sat on the floor in front of the couch even though she didn’t want the setting or mood to turn intimate. They needed to have a serious conversation.

She took one sip of liquid courage and launched into a prepared speech. “I am so happy that Mia has taken to you so quickly and obviously loves you—”

“But?” His jaw tightened. “You’ve had her to yourself for nearly six years, and you don’t want to share.”

“That isn’t true.” She shot him a sideways glare. “I just want to make sure you understand the ground rules.”

His eyebrows shot up. “Ground rules?”

“You told me not to worry about you trying to take her from me. Remember that? You told me that I can call the shots. Did you just say those things to get me to drop my guard?”

“No. You are her mother, and I would never try to take her from you.”

“Good.”

He sighed. “The thing is, I am her father. That’s just as important as your role as her mother. She needs both of us.”

Chloe’s throat tightened with emotion. How could she argue with that? She wasn’t trying to keep Nik from his daughter, but she needed to know his true plans for her.

“I can’t believe you want to buy us a huge house just so you can feel better about not being a hands-on-father. It isn’t necessary. I agreed to you giving us some money so I can give her everything she needs, but I do not agree to you buying us a house when we already have a perfectly good one.”

For a moment, he looked hurt by the accusation. His expression changed so quickly she thought she must have imagined it. Nik didn’t get hurt that easily. He was usually the one with the sharp tongue. Verbal attacks were more his style than hers.

“Do you think I am a devious person?” he asked.

Caught off guard, she blinked at him. “Of course not.”

“Seriously. Tell me the truth. Do you think I am a devious person?”

“No, Nikolas.” His mother was a deceitful shrew, but he usually took a straight path with people. “That’s why I’m asking you to your face what you have in mind for my daughter.”

“Our daughter. Let’s not forget I’m her father.”

How could she possibly forget when he never ceased to remind her?

Fuming, she turned on him and almost spilled her wine on his denim covered thigh. “You still haven’t answered the question. What are your plans? How often do you want Mia with you?”

“Day and night.”

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