Page 44 of Tattered (Lark Cove 1)

I narrowed my eyes. “That’s none of your business.”

“That’s a yes.”

I didn’t have the time or energy to deal with this. “I’m leaving. We’ll see you later.”

Tossing my rag on the counter, I walked behind him and down the bar. But before I got to the hallway, I stopped and turned. “Charlie is having a hard time with this. I’m asking you, Uncle Jackson, not to be a dick to her dad.”

He shrugged. “We’ll see.”

“I’m warning you, if you make this hard for her, I’ll make sure that every one of those plastic out-of-staters you’re so fond of taking home after closing thinks you have crabs.”

We scowled at each other. He lasted a while, but just like always, he was the first to break.

His mouth stretched in a slow grin. “Fair enough.”

“Good.” I huffed and spun back around, grabbing my things from the office before stomping the three blocks home. I used my ten minutes of quiet time alone to sit on the couch and get my blood pressure back to normal.

I loved Jackson. He was my best friend and the closest thing I had to a brother. And I knew his heart was in the right place. He was just wary of strangers. We had that in common. Life had taught us that, more often than not, other people would let you down.

But having Charlie and leaving the city had softened me. I wasn’t constantly looking for ulterior motives with the people I met. Sure, I was on guard. But I wasn’t so untrusting that I never let anyone close.

Not Jackson.

He trusted two adults: me and Hazel. Everyone else was kept at arm’s length. He hooked up with out-of-staters so he could send them packing the next morning. He was “friends” with the regulars at the bar but didn’t see them outside of work.

Besides me and Hazel, his only other true emotional attachment was to my daughter. I had no doubt that if Logan broke Charlie’s heart, or mine, Jackson would dump his dead body in the middle of the lake.

Was I being too trusting with Logan? Over the last two days, I’d weighed every one of his words, assessing them for sincerity. They’d all seemed genuine. Were my feelings for him clouding my judgment? Had I gotten so caught up in his allure that I’d been blinded?

Okay, brain. You’re forgiven.

Last night, I’d tossed and turned in my drunken haze, pissed at my better judgment for not letting Logan kiss me. Now I was determined more than ever not to let that kiss happen. Logan had to prove that he was in this for Charlie, not for sex with me.

He had to prove that he was coming back for our daughter.

“Mommy!” Charlie called as she ran through the door with Hazel on her heels.

“Hi, honey.” I stood from the couch, giving her a hug. “How was your day?”

“Good.” She smiled over her shoulder at Hazel. “Gran made me and the other kids a huge tub of slime.”

“That sounds like fun.” And it explained why her normally dirt-covered cheeks were clean and her fingers were tinged with blue.

“It was something,” Hazel said and plopped into the spot on the couch I’d just vacated. “I’ve been cleaning up slime for an hour.”

“Are you coming to the game?”

She laughed. “Do I ever?”

“No.” I smiled. “But you know I always offer.”

Hazel had come to three of Charlie’s soccer games last year, then declared she was done. She said it was too hot and uncomfortable sitting on the grass. I’d offered to buy lawn chairs but she’d still refused.

Really, I think that after volunteering at the camp all day and playing with Charlie, Hazel was exhausted by the time she came home. Since Charlie didn’t seem to mind her missing the games, we left her to some peace and quiet.

“Come on, my love.” I took one of my daughter’s hands. “Let’s get

ready for your soccer game.”