Page 36 of Raw Deal

She raced out the door and caught Nik as he was climbing into his second-hand truck. She called his name, desperate to stop him from leaving. He turned and rushed back to her, meeting her halfway. The pain in his eyes stole her breath.

“Am I a total bastard?” he asked. “I scared my little girl. She actually thought I was going to hurt you.”

“Mia is fine. She just isn’t used to hearing raised voices because we live alone, and I’ve never had a man over.”

“Never?”

Chloe rolled her eyes. “I’ve been concentrating on raising a child. That takes up every free second I have. After dealing with her all day, I don’t have the energy to date.”

“After what I did, I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t want me in her life. I have no idea what I’m doing here. The kid probably hates me.”

“Children get over stuff pretty quickly. I doubt she’ll remember it by tomorrow morning.”

He shook his head and blinked rapidly. “Am I a terrible father?”

“No, Nik. You’re not. You and I were just having a normal disagreement. All couples do. I’ll explain that to her tomorrow.”

“When you cheated on me... I mean, when I thought you cheated on me, I didn’t think anyone could hurt me more. But that in there.” He pointed at the house. “That was worse. I don’t want my only child to hate me.”

Chloe wrapped her arms around him and held him as tightly as she could. He returned the embrace with a desperation that made her heart ache in a way that probably matched his pain. They held each other for a long, drawn-out moment. Then he took a step back. They stared into each other’s eyes, and she instantly knew he wanted what she wanted.

She raised up on her toes. Her hand went to the back of his neck, and she pulled him far enough down so her mouth could touch his. He was a skyscraper, and she usually saw that as a plus. Sometimes it got in the way. Like now.

His hands went to her waist, and he lifted her slightly off the ground. She pressed her lips to his. The kiss was soft and sweet and over way too soon.

When they were done, he set her down.

They both mumbled.

“Mia is waiting,” she said.

“I need to go,” he said.

Before walking away, she grasped his large hand. “Mia loves you, Nik, and that won’t change. Come back for breakfast in the morning. I’ll talk to her. It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”

Chapter Twenty

The next day, Nik arrived at her house while she was still in her robe. She hadn’t started the biscuits yet. Fortunately, Mia always woke at dawn, so she’d already talked to her about last night. Mia seemed to accept the explanation. Chloe told her sometimes adults talk with raised voices. It wasn’t a bad thing and didn’t mean anything. Nik wouldn’t hurt either one of them.

She threw the door open now, ready to give him a verbal tongue lashing for arriving too early. One look at his face stopped her. With disheveled hair and rumpled clothing, it was obvious he hadn’t slept. He hadn’t shaved either. The shadow on the lower half of his face reminded her of how he looked when they first met.

“What’s wrong?” Chloe asked, heart in her throat.

He took a deep breath. “My mom had a heart attack in Greece, and no one bothered to tell me.”

Shocked, Chloe covered her mouth with both hands. Part of her hated the woman for destroying her future with Nik, but she didn’t wish her dead. “I am so sorry, Nik. Are you okay?”

“Mom is in a Las Vegas hospital now. I talked to her for a few minutes. She says not to worry, that she’s fine, but I think she’s downplaying it. I need to go to Vegas and talk to her doctors in person.”

“Of course you do.” Chloe rubbed a hand up and down his arm. “Mia will understand.”

He sighed, and his shoulders dropped for a moment. “That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. My mother has wanted grandchildren since I turned eighteen, and I think meeting Mia could give her the strength to keep going.”

For a moment, Chloe’s lungs refused to work. She couldn’t believe he would ask her to send her child into the lion’s den. It was her worst nightmare springing to life. How could he even suggest such a horrible thing?

She shook her head. “There is no way. You can’t ask me to send my little girl to Vegas to see your mother, not after what she did to me. Not after what she did to us.”

“I know it’s a lot to ask.”

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