Page 63 of At the Edge of Surrender

Eyes slanting between her and her mother, both of them fighting it with everything they had, but clearly losing the battle.

Grief so thick they were choking on it.

I turned back to Maci. “Yeah, Maci, I think I’d like to be your friend.”

Emery cleared her throat. “Kane, this is my mother, Wendy. Wendy Voss.”

I tore my attention from the child and forced myself to standing.

The older woman on the other side of Maci stirred, no doubt in discomfort, because there was something about this that was highly fucking uncomfortable.

You know, considering I’d had a kid with her dead daughter, and I had no clue who she was.

I roughed a flustered hand through my hair, a thousand words locked in my throat.

Apologies and sympathies that I hadn’t earned the right to offer.

“Good to meet you,” I finally managed.

“It’s nice to meet you, too, Kane.” Her smile was small but genuine.

Maci stole my attention when she pulled her hands free of their hold and bounced her way over to me, little arms flying in the air in excitement.

“Well, Ifinkit’s a very good choice that you want to be my friend, Mr. Kane, because havin’ fun is my specialty.” She stretched a tiny hand out in front of her, clearly wanting me to shake it. “So, what d’ya say? Best friends?”

Amusement wound with the heavy emotion.

This kid was adorable.

Beautiful and sweet and filled with this eagerness and light that chased off the shadows that lurked around me.

My hand shook out of control as I slowly reached out to shake hers, her tiny hand disappearing in my tattooed grasp, though there was no question she was the one who had her clutch on me.

Warmth streaking far and wide as she cast me the brightest smile as she pumped her little arm up and down.

“Deal! That’s a best friend pact, and you’re not allowed to break it,” she gushed, not stopping for a breath when she flipped right into another subject. “You wanna go swimmin’ now?”

A soft chuckle rolled out.

Tiny tot was a whirlwind.

“Well, I didn’t quite come prepared.”

I gestured to my jeans and motorcycle boots.

Appalled, her green eyes bugged out. “What? You don’t got abavin’suit? Well, you better hurry it up and go to the store.”

Emery’s hand was suddenly on the child’s shoulder. “It’s okay, Maci. Maybe he can go swimming with you another time.”

Except I wasn’t supposed to have that.

Another time.

Every damned cell in my body revolted at the notion.

Pure fucking mutiny.

“But that’s not even fun.” Maci gave a little pout.

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