He didn’t deserve any more than a grunt for that lame explanation.
Josh said, “What? Don’t you believe people can change?”
She’d changed since becoming a mother, not that anyone believed her. But people only changed if they had a good reason and made the painful effort to follow through. She didn’t want to risk giving him a second chance and possibly having Haley’s heart broken too.
“So some deep thinking taught you all that, huh? Well, maybe you should go try out those new skills on someone else. Because I’m not interested.”
When Josh closed his eyes and ran a hand through his thick blond hair in frustration, just like her father always did, it suddenly occurred to her that she’d ended up loving a man as emotionally remote as her dad.
Way to go, Meg!
“I don’t want to go the legal route. I want you to want me around. How about we make a deal?”
Legal route? Her stomach dropped. Maybe she’d have to talk to Casey’s divorce lawyer. But how would she pay for that? Josh could afford the best lawyers and keep them in court a lot longer than she could afford to fight. And what if Josh’s high-powered attorney found a way for him to share custody with her? Haley might have to spend half of her life with a man not capable of being a committed parent.
That wasn’t acceptable.
She slowly turned and met his challenging gaze, daring to hope she had a chance to win whatever bargain he’d propose and be rid of him. “What did you have in mind?”
“Understand that I’m going to be a father to Haley no matter where I end up living. How about I promise to leave town at the end of the summer if you still want me to, but in return, you have to give me a fair chance to make things up to you and Haley?”
“Haley is not going to be part of any negotiation. Ever!”
“Fine. You give me a chance and then I get to see Haley when you think she’s ready.”
Because she’d been stupid enough to hope Josh would change his mind and come back after she’d had Haley, she’d put his name on the birth certificate and sent him a copy. Legally, he probably had every right to see their daughter.
Mucked that one up good.
His proposal might be her only option to get him to leave and keep Haley where she belonged. With Meg, a parent Haley could rely on. Even better, maybe once he figured out it wasn’t so easy being a parent, he’d bolt again. It’d just be a few months, then he’d probably leave anyway. He wasn’t the sticking kind.
She held her hand out. “Deal.”
He sent her that smile that used to make her knees go weak, then curled his big hand around hers. “Thank you. I guarantee you’ll see a different man from the one you knew before.”
“Doubt it.” She yanked her hand from his, ignoring the familiar tingle his touch always sent up her spine as she prepared to make their descent behind the clinic.
After they touched down and she killed the engine, she slowly pulled her headphones off and hung them up, spent.
She’d have to keep her guard up and ignore Josh’s soulful eyes.
Just as she reached for the door handle, Josh placed his rough hands along the sides of her face and pulled her close. “I do know what your favorite color is, Meg. It’s blue. And your favorite pie is chocolate mousse. Your favorite food group is anything chocolate.”
Then he kissed her.
Overwhelming desire that had been hibernating for three long years roared to life.
She’d kissed a few guys goodnight after dates since Josh, but it was as if the beast had been lying in wait and only he could awaken it. No one kissed like he did.
She placed her hands on his hard chest, intending to push him away. Instead, her hands fisted in his soft shirt and pulled him closer. A moan escaped as his tongue moved in a sensual, familiar dance with hers, immersing her completely under the Josh spell. But when the cockpit door swung open and a big hand slipped around Josh’s arm, tugging him out and into the parking lot, reality came crashing back.
Her father.
And he was furious.
She jumped from the copter and raced around to the other side. “Dad, stop!”
Dad’s fist hovered in front of Josh’s face. “Is this the little pissant who doesn’t support his own child?”
She maneuvered between Josh and her father. Placing her hands on her hips, she wished for another foot or two of height. “This is Josh Granger, Haley’s father. But—”
Dad nudged her aside and then punched Josh in the face. “No one takes advantage of an Anderson without paying the price!”
Of course that’s all her dad cared about. That an Anderson was made to look bad. Not that Josh had hurt his daughter and granddaughter.