Page 37 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

Hazel nodded. “No sharp objects?”

“Not tonight.” I’d have to start a new project, because I wouldn’t be working on my spoon nest either. Blowtorches didn’t mix well with vodka.

Hazel pushed out of her seat and went to the cupboard where we kept the glasses. “At least drink out of this.” She handed me a tumbler. “Classy women don’t drink from the bottle.”

“On the classy spectrum, I’m near the trash end.”

She frowned. “One day, I’m going to wash your mouth out with soap when you use that word. Don’t run yourself down.”

I gave her a sad smile. “I’m not saying that to run myself down. Honest. I’m just being real.” I’d climbed far from where my life had begun, but we all had limits. Even birds knew when to stop flying higher. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Then I walked out the door, leaving the tumbler behind.

I escaped Thea’s as fast as possible, hustling through their house, only to pick up the pace when I hit the sidewalk. My strides were long and fast, putting as many yards and trees and houses between Thea and me as possible.

Christ, I almost kissed her.

I hadn’t had that strong of an urge to kiss a woman since . . . well, Thea. I’d forgotten how magnetic she was. How fast she’d pulled me under in that hotel bar. Not even Emmeline had stirred that kind of raw, primitive desire.

I wanted Thea. I wanted to taste her again and feel her thighs wrapped around my hips while my hand fisted her hair. I wanted to give into the heat and get lost in a long night of sweaty, hard, mind-numbing sex.

So it was a damn good thing she’d stepped away when she had because I’d been seconds from smashing my lips to hers. I’d almost kissed Thea when I should have been thinking about Charlie.

My focus needed to be on my daughter. If I got lost in Thea, I had the potential to hurt us all.

And if we caused Charlie pain, we’d both regret it.

Maybe it was because my confidence was shaken. Maybe it was because of what had happened with Emmeline. But I had no faith in my ability to manage a long-distance relationship with my daughter, let alone a girlfriend.

So like I’d done last night, I walked the streets of Lark Cove without paying much attention. I was too busy chastising myself to notice street signs or landmarks. When I finally took in my surroundings, I chuckled.

My feet had carried me to the same dirt road I’d been on last night. The one surrounded by large vacation homes.

“At least I know where I am this time,” I told the lake.

Behind me stood the house I’d admired last night. The big one with all the windows and cedar shingles. The windows were all dark, like they’d been last night. And there wasn’t a car in the driveway.

Maybe I should buy it.

I had ideas like that pop in and out of my head all the time, but this one stuck. Maybe I should buy it. Thea had made it clear tonight that moving to New York was a last resort. Charlie hadn’t seemed too keen on the idea either. Which meant that for me to see my daughter, I’d be trekking to Montana.

At least if I bought this house, I’d have a place to stay other than the Lark Cove Motel.

“Gah!” My frustrated grunt echoed off the trees.

Why was Thea so against moving back to New York? That would make everything easier. They’d be close so I could see Charlie more. That was, if I got past the point of scaring her into complete silence.

I shoved a hand through my hair, pulling tight at the roots. My grandmother always said I worried too much. Well today, I hadn’t worried enough. Hour after hour I’d visualized worst-case scenarios. None of it had prepared me to face Charlie’s rejection.

I don’t want a dad anymore.

That. Fucking. Hurt.

My daughter didn’t like me at all.

And I honestly didn’t know what to do about it. I didn’t know how to fix this problem.

I’d been in Lark Cove for a day and my spirits were at an all-time low.