Page 172 of At the Edge of Surrender

But I’d be a liar if I said it was the only reason.

“Stay with Maci. I’m sure she would be happy to swindle you into playing memory or something of the sort.”

A rough chuckle escaped him. “Doesn’t take too much convincing.”

No, it didn’t.

Because he was an amazing father.

A natural.

I’d accepted it.

I dipped my chin, needing to get out of there before staring at himconvincedme of something else.

“Good. It will give you two some time alone.”

“Think I can speak for both of us when I say we like it better when you’re with us.”

Another flush.

I swore, the man could set me aflame with a glance.

“Be careful,” he said when I didn’t respond.

“I will.” I pulled the door open and hurried out to the SUV sitting in front of the porch. The same expensive SUV we’d taken to River and Charleigh’s yesterday that Kane had insisted was mine for as long as I stayed here.

I clicked the fob to unlock it and slid into the driver’s seat. I pushed the button to start it and the engine purred to life.

I backed out, tires crunching on the gravel as I turned around in the circular drive and started down the dirt lane.

Rays of afternoon sunlight slanted through the leaves of the statuesque trees, sending flickering shadows across the windshield as I traveled beneath their shade.

I wound through the dense foliage, heading toward the main road that would lead into town.

I didn’t know what it was. What caused my attention to jerk to the left. But I caught a glimpse of something metallic glinting between the trees.

Slowing, I peered deeper into the woods as the hair at the nape of my neck lifted.

Spikes of awareness prickled through my consciousness.

That same sickly feeling I’d gotten for months gliding through my senses.

Paranoia fluttering along the fringes of my being.

God, why was I doing this?

Conjuring things?

I shook it off and accelerated.

It was time I stopped being ridiculous. Time I stopped allowing the beasts to rule my heart.

To rule my mind.

To rule my body.

It was time to allow myself to heal.

---