Page 6 of Stick Move

As if reading my mind he asks, “What about the family estate out back?”

I try not to show a reaction even though my stomach is in knots. “Are you thinking of living in it?”

“That would make sense, wouldn’t it? I have an apartment in the city, but I think a house would be better for Camryn.”

“Yes, I’m sure it would be. She’s a really sweet girl, Noah. You’re a great father.”

Do not ask if he has a woman in his life, someone to mother little Camryn.

His face tightens, and I go still at his sudden sadness. “Just not a great mother,” he murmurs. Before I can say anything, and really, what do I say, he continues, “She liked you.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, I liked her too. You’re doing a great job.”

He nods, but there’s skepticism in his dark brown eyes. I can only guess Camryn got her big blue eyes from her mother. “I get a lot of help from my mother. She just…let’s just say she’s not been well, and I need to make some new childcare arrangements.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” No need to let him know I heard about his mom’s illness through the grapevine.

“Thanks, and I’m sorry about your father, Brighton.” The warm sincerity in his eyes nearly steals the air from my lungs. Honest to God, I don’t deserve sympathy from him. “I know none of this has been easy on you.”

“It’s okay,” I say, as my heart squeezes tight. Trying to stay strong, as I have since his death months ago, I fight off tears. Noah watches me carefully as I work hard to keep it together, but I sense he can see just how distraught I really am about…everything.

A moment of silence as a frown mars his features. “Anyway, I’ve been thinking about moving for a while, and I’d like to get her into the Sparrow Springs school district. They have award winning programs, and I guess no matter what school she’s in, there will always be bullies. I just hope she doesn’t fall victim.”

My gaze moves over his face as my blood runs cold. But I don’t see hatred for me there, and I’m not even sure he’s making a point about our past. Maybe he is, and maybe he’s just a great actor. I take a breath, as my lungs constrict, and hug my purse to my chest.

“Noah,” I begin slowly. “About high school?—”

He holds his hand up and cuts me off. “Brighton. Let’s leave the past in the past, okay?”

I take in the warmth of his dark eyes, but there’s something else there too. Hurt. Pain. Little boy lost. I nod, my heart aching for the teen with bad acne. He was a nice kid, and mainly kept to himself. He always ignored the verbal abuse, but not the physical. He got pushed around in our junior year, but he always fought back, even if the guys picking on him were bigger. I always admired that about him.

It was in our senior year when he really filled out, and the guys started backing off. Too little too late, because the psychological damage had been done, I’m sure. No one walks away from high school bullying unscathed. I wasn’t bullied, but watching it and doing nothing to stop it, has seriously scarred me for life. Guilt by association. I wring my dirty hands together, and note the grease under my fingernails. Ugh.

“Hey,” he says, making a fist and giving my chin a light nudge. “Gotta admire a girl who can change her own tire.”

I laugh at his joke, as I appreciate his attempt to lighten the mood. “I guess I’m not totally useless.” I sweep my arms wide to take in the lobby. “I might have made a mess of this place, but I can change a tire. Not that that in any way redeems me for what’s happening here.”

He angles his head. “You made a mess of this place?”

I give a humorless laugh. “I have a degree in business management and tourism, and here I am selling the resort because I failed to save it.”

His hand lands on my arm, and a wave of heat races through me. I stare into his dark eyes, which are brimming with concern. “Brighton, it wasn’t your fault.”

My stomach clenches so tight, I fear I’m going to lose my lunch. As Noah watches me, his hand still on my arm, the room spins around me. Within six months, I’ve lost my father, my boyfriend—because apparently, I’m only appealing when I’m rich—and now, the resort that’s been in my family for generations. Cripes, I haven’t even had a chance to breathe, let alone grieve my father’s death, or the loss of the only home I’ve ever known.

“Noah,” I begin and shake my head under his watchful eyes. I can’t talk about this. I’m a failure and he’s just being nice, and everything about that confuses me.

Why would Noah ever be nice to you, Brighton?

“Let’s get on with the tour.” Before I can help myself and a part of me just wants to know for sure, I add, “I’m sure you’re missing your daughter, and…” Oh, God Brighton. Way to be subtle.

“Just my daughter.” His hand falls from my arm, and his body stiffens as I walk away. My shoes click on the floor as I lead him into the restaurant, which is quiet midafternoon. “I’ve never been in here,” he says as he glances around and it once again reminds me of our childhood social status differences. He was the hired help. I was the owner’s little princess. Although I did help out at the resort. It wasn’t a hardship playing games with the kids in the pool, ocean and tennis court.

“The food is great. There are chicken nuggets on the menu are a favorite with children. I’m sure Camryn would love them.” That brings a smile to his face. It’s clear he loves his daughter with all his heart, and that warms me from the inside out, especially knowing she doesn’t have a mother. I almost snort out a sad laugh, because Camryn and I have such a deep loss in common. It hurts my heart to think her mother ran out on her, too.

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