Page 141 of Fierce-Colson

“I wanted to know.”

“She has a right to know who you are,” he said.

“So that’s it?” Bella said. “You were young and didn’t want me. Nothing more. No other excuses you are going to come up with?”

“Sounds like your father and Colson have been filling your head with things,” Holly said. “So it doesn’t matter what I say. I made a lot of mistakes in my life. We all do. We have a right to turn things around.”

He didn’t believe for one second that was what Holly was doing.

“So you’re saying that you’re clean now? That you want to get to know me?”

The server came over, Holly ordered a large meal, he and Bella got something quick. He didn’t want to drag this out, but would let Bella pave her own way for the moment.

Holly picked up her soda and drained it. “I’d like that.”

“Why did it take you so long to reach out again from the last time you talked to Colson?”

“He didn’t contact me,” Holly argued.

“Don’t,” he said. “Don’t even go there. Don’t put the blame on me for your actions.”

“Colson is right. If you wanted to see me bad enough then you would have kept going back.”

“Maybe I was scared,” Holly said.

“Of what?” Bella asked.

He hated how Holly dropped her head in shame. As if she was hoping to play some thirteen-year-old girl to feel sorry for her.

“That you’d turn me away. That you wouldn’t give me a second chance.”

Bella turned to him, then back to her mother. “I don’t know what I want to do. Maybe I think you need to prove to me you’re staying. Do you have a job? Or a place to stay? How about a way to communicate with me other than meeting in person?”

Damn. She sounded like a pint-sized Marly right now. Riding the witness and making them squirm.

He held his smile back, but he’d let Bella know how proud he was of her the minute they left.

“I have a phone,” Holly said. “I can give you my number. I’d like to talk more. Find out what is going on in your life. Maybe you want to get to know me more.”

“I’m not sure yet,” Bella said honestly. “I feel as if you have to prove yourself to me. That you won’t just leave again.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” Holly said. “I swear. I’m trying to get a job. I’m trying to get on my feet. I’ve been interviewing. Once I get some money, then I can get a car. It’s hard doing it all on my own. I’m sure you got money when your father died.”

He ground his teeth. Right there. That was it.

She was looking for life insurance money.

“Holly. You were divorced. I can tell you right now, nothing was left to you or in your name and what Dad had was little. He had debts to be paid for and funeral services. End of story.”

Holly put her hand up. “I didn’t mean it that way. I know we were divorced. And if he had anything, it’d go to you for Bella. Just like I’m sure you get help with Bella.”

“I support Bella,” he said firmly. “Me.”

She’d used her time wisely to look into things. He knew her motivation.

“Colson is great,” Bella jumped in to say. “He’s better and nicer than Dad ever was. And he’s around when you weren’t. Don’t say things like that to him.”

“You don’t need to defend me,” he said.