Page 88 of Broken Daddy

Giving in, I turn in his arms and stare up at his eyes, now dark again.

“I was going to get you something.” His voice is rough, as if he just woke up, even though we’ve both been sleepless.

“What?”

Like, something for the baby, or—?

“I was going to get you something, a gift, to make up for…” His Adam’s apple bobs. He’s so close, I could stand on the tip of my toes and brush my lips over the stubble on his jaw. “For being an ass at dinner.”

My brows knit. A little surge of annoyance shivers up my spine.

“A gift? I don’t need anything, Nathan—”

“I know, I just…” His face goes stoney for a moment. “I’m just not good at apologizing.”

I let the words hang between us. He seems partly relieved to get that out until he realizes I’m not going to respond.

The moment drags on…and on…

“I’m sorry.”

It’s a murmured apology, but one that sounds genuine. His body folds in toward me as he says it, shoulders dropping. Unthinkingly, I reach out and fiddle with the hem of his shirt.

A taunt flashes through my mind.What if I just pull it up a little bit…just enough to get a peek of that tan body…

Now that he’s apologized, it feels like water under the bridge.

No,the stronger part of me argues.It isn’t. You can forgive him, but don’t forget. This isyourlife. Yours to make choices and decide your future.

Germany.

I swallow and glance up at him. I’m not sure what the expression on my face looks like, but Nate takes it some kind of way and leans in. I don’t move, letting his lips ghost over mine.

And then the truth spills out between us.

“I got the job in Germany, Nate. I’m going to take it.”

Chapter36

Nathan

Getting home from work, I walk in to be greeted by Brutus. My biggest fan, apparently, since both my daughter and the mother of my unborn child are missing.

The big dog stares up at me with adoring eyes. His tail thumps on the ground.

“Brutus. How was your day.”

I have to admit, I’ve found a soft spot for the beast. Mostly because he follows Eva around so loyally. But sometimes, when I’m working from the home office, he’ll nudge the door open and come nap under my desk. I should find it annoying. Instead, the big brute is a welcome reminder that my entire life doesn’t begin and end with Ironside.

If only I’d figured that out sooner. Maybe Gen wouldn’t be leaving the country in less than a month.

Leaving my bag at the staircase, a bad habit that’s been sticking lately, I peel off my suit jacket and meander through the house.

It’s quiet. No girls whispering conspiratorially, no predinner ice cream bowls, no TV on with Gen writing up the week’s shopping list.

Movement flickers outside and catches my attention.

My first thought, as I glance at the dog, isthe stalker.

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