watching her. Do you really think that either one of us would let anything happen to her?”
“I suppose you are right.” He reluctantly placed Lily on the ground and she tugged him down after her, putting Bobo on his lap.
“Dada, stay,” she ordered as she began inspecting the rocks, shooting frequent suspicious glances at him over her shoulder.
“Will you join me?” he asked.
He held up a hand to Jade, and once again she delighted him by letting him assist her as she sat down next to him. They sat in silence, watching his—her daughter playing.
“I have an idea,” he said finally.
“Yes?” She gave him a suspicious look.
“I know you do not have any credits—”
“If you think for one second that I would ever sell you my daughter—” she began, her tone furious.
“No, of course not. I was just thinking about the fact that without credits you may find it difficult to arrange for living quarters.”
She twisted the ring on her finger she always wore, the one with the stone that matched her eyes. “I thought maybe I could sell this.”
“But you said that your grandmother gave it to you and that it had great value.”
She shrugged, but he could see the pain on her face.
“Hana is more important to me than any piece of jewelry.” Then she sighed. “But maybe I should get used to calling her Lily. If that’s the name she’s comfortable with, then that’s what really matters.”
“Did the name you gave her have significance?”
“It was my grandmother’s name.” But then she looked up at him, eyes flashing green fire. “But whether I change her name or not, she’s still my daughter.”
“I recognize that, Jade. I would never try to keep you from your daughter.” He reached out and took her hand. “But in every way except birth, she is my daughter too.” She started to draw away and he firmed his grip, not hurting her, but not letting her go either. “I wondered if it would be possible for us to share her.”
“Share her? You mean like joint custody?” Her head tilted as she considered him, and he hoped it was a good sign that she had not immediately rejected his offer.
“I am unfamiliar with that term. I thought that perhaps we could have a mating contract drawn up and you and Lily could live with me.”
“A mate contract?” Her eyes widened. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
“I believe that is the term that Abby uses.” She was still staring at him so he hurried on. “I would assert no claim over you, but you would have a place to live and I could continue to see Lily—I mean, Hana, every day.”
“What if it didn’t work out? What if I wanted to leave? Would you try to keep—” she hesitated, her eyes darting to the little girl picking up rocks “—Lily?”
I would try and keep both of you. But he suspected she was not ready to hear that.
“I would not use it as an attempt to keep her from you,” he said finally.
“Look, Dada.” Lily came up and dumped a handful of sandy rocks in his lap. He dutifully admired them and then suggested gently, “Why don’t you show them to Mama?”
Lily scowled. He thought she was about to refuse, but then she picked over the small handful and pulled out a green one. She offered it to Jade, although she kept her hand on his knee the whole time.
“Eyes.”
“Yes, baby. It does match my eyes. Thank you very much.”
Lily nodded a few times before she was overcome by a giant yawn, and she climbed up into Inzen’s lap.
“Are you sleepy, little one?”
“Nap,” she said and started to put her dirty thumb in her mouth.
Appalled, he pulled out one of the cleansing cloths he always carried and cleaned it thoroughly before letting her continue. Used to his ways, she didn’t protest but simply popped it in her mouth as soon as he was through and settled back against him. He looked up to find Jade studying him.
“What?”
“Nothing. I’m just surprised.”
“At what?”
She didn’t answer him, her gaze going back to the water sparkling across the rocks.
“Very well,” she said finally. “I’ll agree to this mating contract.”
Satisfaction roared through him and his tail immediately circled her waist, pulling her closer. He would like to have kissed her, but he didn’t want to take any chances on her changing her mind. Once she was his, he would have all the time he needed to show her how he felt.