making a big mistake, one that could potentially hurt her daughter?
No. She wasn’t sure at all.
“I’m sure.” She forced a smile. “It’s only for a few weeks. And what Eddie said was true. Neil has the right to spend time with his daughter.”
As long as that’s all he had the right to, she could handle it, she assured herself. Neil had never wanted more than the opportunity to see Bree several times a year. Just because he thought he wanted to play dad for the next few weeks didn’t mean any of that had changed. Bree still belonged with Maddie. Belonged to her.
Only her.
* * *
BREE WAS LAUGHING.
The sound, light and cheerful, innocent and pure, washed over Neil like the evening breeze. Warm. Comforting. He stood at the end of Maddie’s driveway, the door to his rental car still open, and just listened. She giggled louder and his mouth twitched. He’d started to wonder if he’d ever hear that sound again.
Hadn’t realized how much he’d missed it until now.
It almost didn’t even matter that she hadn’t so much as cracked a smile at him since he’d been in town.
Almost.
The sun had dipped behind the tree-covered hills, staining the sky in pinks and golds. Still, Neil reached back into his car for his sunglasses, slammed the door shut then put them on before walking toward the back porch.
Toward the sound of that laughter. Toward his daughter.
He crossed to the porch, frowned at the scene before him. Bree, Maddie and James Montesano at the table playing cards. Smiling. Laughing.
Bree noticed him first, her laughter, then her smile dying away.
“Neil,” Maddie said, following their daughter’s gaze, her tone wary as she slowly stood. “Something we can do for you?”
He wasn’t sure. He’d come there for a reason, but seeing this little cozy, domestic scene made him feel edgy and anxious, as if his skin was too tight. As if he couldn’t take a full breath. Bree sidled closer to James and he put his arm around her. She leaned into him, laid her head on his shoulder.
It was like taking an elbow to the gut.
He was jealous.
Him. One of the best hockey players in the league. He’d accomplished every goal he’d set from the time he was sixteen, had amassed wealth, success and security for himself and his family. And still jealousy gnawed at him. Sharp and ruthless, it pushed him to storm onto the porch, grab his daughter. Demand that she look at him that way. Smile at him.
Want to be with him like she used to.
“I didn’t mean to interrupt your game,” Neil said, hating how stiff and pissed-off he sounded. Hating that they were a unit. A family. That he was the one out of place.
Hating that it bothered him.
“Actually, we were just finishing up,” Maddie said. “And you still haven’t mentioned what you’re doing here.”
He’d come to see Bree. Had just gotten out of the shower when he’d realized he hadn’t spoken to her since dropping her off at Big Leo’s that morning. That he should have at least called her to see how she was. Tried to spend more time with her.
But he hadn’t known he needed a reason to want to see her.
“I thought,” he said to Bree, trying to come up with a plausible excuse, “that since you missed soccer practice, we could go to the park. Kick the ball around.”
Bree stared at the table. Clearly being with him wasn’t her idea of fun.
“It’s late,” Maddie said.
“Not too late for a card game. Or company,” he added quietly, nodding at James, who watched him steadily. Studying him, as if trying to figure out what Neil was doing there, what he wanted from his niece. And his sister.
Neil wasn’t sure he knew himself.
But unlike Leo, James had never treated Neil with any outward animosity, and Neil had nothing against him.
“It’s too late for Bree to play soccer,” Maddie said. “She’s already had her shower.”
Only now did he notice Bree was in her pajamas, her feet bare.
“Uncle James,” she asked, her head still on his shoulder, “can we play another game?”
Neil had nothing against James. Until now.
“Sure,” James said. “But why don’t we take it inside?”
Bree gathered the cards, never once so much as glancing Neil’s way. James collected the cups then straightened. He touched his sister’s shoulder. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me,” he told her.
Keeping her eyes on Neil, Maddie nodded.
Bree slipped her hand into her uncle’s and they walked inside. She didn’t