We were both rough around the edges, although she hid it much better than I did.
Nathan was still hanging over us like a dark cloud, still capable of ruining lives and destroying our peace.
But we'd pretend that we were better off than we were.
That was just the way we did things.
"But you're right - it'll be good for us and it'll make Cary feel a whole lot better, even if he can only get a mani and pedi."
"I'll make the arrangements.
I can't wait!" My mother flashed her signature megawatt smile - - which is what my dad was hit with when I opened the front door.
He stood on the threshold with Cary's keys in his hand, having been caught just about to slide one into the lock.
He was dressed in running shorts and athletic shoes, his sweat-soaked shirt tossed carelessly over his shoulder.
Still breathing a little quickly and glistening with sweat over tanned skin and rippling muscles, Victor Reyes was one hot hunk of a man.
And he was staring at my mom in a way that was totally indecent.
Tearing my gaze away from my seriously smokin' dad to look at my glamorous mother, I was shocked to see her looking at my father the same way he was looking at her.
Of all the times to realize my parents were in love with each other.
Well, I'd suspected my dad was heartbroken over my mom, but I thought she'd been embarrassed about him, as if he were a big mistake and error in judgment in her past.
"Monica."
My dad's voice was lower and deeper than I'd ever heard it, and more obviously flavored with an accent.
"Victor."
My mom was breathless.
"What are you doing here?" One of his brows rose.
"Visiting our daughter."
"And now Mom has to go," I prodded, torn between the novelty of seeing my parents together and a loyalty to Stanton, who was exactly what my mother needed.
"I'll call you later, Mom."
My dad didn't move for a moment, his gaze sliding down the length of my mom from head to toe, then gliding back up again.
Then he took a deep breath and stepped aside.
My mom stepped out into the hallway and turned toward the elevator, and then at the last minute she turned back.
She placed her palm over my dad's heart and lifted onto her tiptoes, kissing one of his cheeks and then the other.
"Good-bye," she breathed.
I watched her walk unsteadily to the elevator and push the button, her back to us.
My dad didn't look away until the car doors closed behind her.
He exhaled in a rush and came into my apartment.
I shut the door.
"How is it that I didn't know you two are crazy in love with each other?" The look in his eyes was painful to witness.
The raw agony was like an open wound.
"Because it doesn't mean anything."
"I don't believe that.
Love means everything."
"It doesn't conquer all like they say."
He snorted.
"Can you see your mother being a cop's wife?" I winced.
"Right," he said dryly, wiping his forehead with his shirt.
"Sometimes love isn't enough.
And if it's not enough, what good is it?" The bitterness I heard in his words was something I knew very well myself.
I passed him and went into the kitchen.
My dad followed me.
"Are you in love with Gideon Cross?" "Isn't it obvious?" "Is he in love with you?" Because I just didn't have the energy, I dumped my mug in the sink and pulled out new ones for me and my dad.
"I don't know.
I know he wants me, and sometimes he needs me.
I think he'd do anything he could for me if I asked, because I've gotten under his skin a bit."
But he couldn't tell me that he loved me.
He wouldn't tell me about his past.
And he couldn't, apparently, live with the evidence of my past.
"You've got a good head on your shoulders."
I pulled coffee beans out of the freezer to make a fresh pot.
"That's seriously debatable, Dad."
"You're honest with yourself.
That's a good trait to have."
He gave me a tight smile when I looked over my shoulder at him.
"I used your tablet earlier to check my e-mail.
It was on the coffee table.
I hope you don't mind."
I shook my head.
"Help yourself."
"I surfed the Internet while I was on there.
Wanted to see what popped up about Cross."
My heart sank a little.
"You don't like him."
"I'm withholding judgment."
My dad's voice faded as he moved into the living room, then strengthened again as he returned with my tablet in hand.
As I ground the beans, he flipped open the tablet's protective