Page 20 of Haunted
“I’m glad, baby. Papaw loves you,” I whisper, my chest feeling so tight that it hurts to breathe.
“Will you pway it with me?” she mumbles against me.
“Absolutely,” I say at once. I have no idea what it is, but I’d do anything for this kid.Absolutely anything.
Chapter 16
Daphne
I stare downat the plate I’m drying, but I’m not really seeing it. I’m mostly reliving the day. Despite Dane and Serena causing issues, it turned out to be a really great one. Mom left really early, but Dad is still in the family room, playing with Cammie. For the first time in a long time, I’m content.
“Your mom left pretty quickly,” Eli points out, getting my attention. I smile over at him.
“She always does. Still, she tries in her own way. Her husband doesn’t really like her visiting what he refers to as her life before him,” I laugh dryly.
“Sounds like a prince of a guy,” Eli mutters.
“That’s one way to describe him. Still, he’s good to Mom. She’s changed a lot, though. So, I can’t be sure she’s happy. I think she’s busy trying to make herself be what she thinks Nathan expects from her.”
“That sounds like a miserable life,” Eli points out.
“Tell me about it. It’s one that I tried to live with Dane. I guess I have Serena to thank for yanking me out of that nightmare—”No matter how much it hurt at the time.
“You have jack-shit to thank that bitch for,” he grumbles.
“Be still my heart. Is there a man alive that didn’t fall for Serena Aden’s charms?” I fake gasp, holding my hand over my heart.
“If by charms you mean her tits she kept trying to shove against me, then definitely.”
I lean against the counter, turning to face Eli and stare at him for a minute. He really is a beautiful man. He also has no idea how truly special he is. “Thank you for today, Eli. You really made not only Cammie’s day, but mine as well.”
“I didn’t do anything,” he grumbles, not really looking at me.
“Bullshit,” I grumble, making him laugh.
“Little ears, Skittles. Little ears.”
I roll my eyes. “She can’t hear me over her Papaw’s heavy breathing as he tries to dance on that damn dance mat.” Eli starts laughing and I find myself giggling. “Did you buy it for that reason?”
“I didn’t buy it, your dad did,” he says, not meeting my eyes.
“Don’t lie. Dad will definitely pay you back, but he didnotbuy a gift.”
“Your dad …” He stops for a minute as if he’s trying to choose his words. “Something in him is broken. I recognize it in him, because I’ve been there. He was drowning and just needed someone to help pull him out of it.”
I study him for a minute. “I don’t know whether to hug you or be jealous of the woman that you loved so much that she deserved that kind of devotion,” I say quietly.
“Who says it was a woman?” he asks, looking at me funny.
“You did. You told me that she cheated on you with your friend. Remember?”
“That hurt,” he admits.
“Trust me I know,” I return, giving him a half smile.
He reaches out and tucks a stray piece of hair behind my ear. Nora isn’t the one who broke me. This happened way before her,and maybe I ended up with Nora because I didn’t think I was worth anyone better than her,” he says so quietly that I have to strain to hear it.
“Well now you’re just talking bullshit. You’re an amazing man. Any woman would fall down on her knees and thank God you were hers, Eli.”
