Legacy (Steel Brothers Saga #14) - Helen Hardt Page 0,3

understand what you’re feeling.”

The urge to do Jonathan Wade physical harm hadn’t lessened, but I forced my fists to unclench. “I’m not sure you do.”

“You’ve fallen in love. First-time love is quick and powerful. It’s almost magic. It’s what I had with Larry’s mother. Of course, you see that Larry’s mother and I are no longer together. We divorced when Larry was just a toddler.”

Rage swept through me once more, but I vowed to keep it in check. If I showed my anger, I’d only be proving to him that I was young. Young and hotheaded. “Daphne and I are different.”

“I believe you. That is, I believe that’s what you think. I thought the same about Lisa, and we were older than you two are.”

I shook my head. “You’re wrong. I felt something different for Daphne the first time I saw her, and she says the same. She says fate brought us together.”

“You believe in that?”

“I never did before, but I do now.”

Jonathan sighed. “My daughter is an old soul. She’s always found pleasure in the small things, even more so since her hospitalization. When she was little, she insisted a nest of fairies lived outside her room, that they came to her and sang to her at night. She’s one of a kind, an almost ethereal spirit. It’s that spirit that has gotten her through the rough times.”

His choice of words made sense to me. Ethereal meant light and delicate in a way that was almost too perfect for this world.

That was Daphne to a T.

Jonathan continued, “Somehow, she’s able to pick anything apart and find the good, no matter how minute it is, even if it means tossing everything else aside. It doesn’t surprise me to hear that she used the word fate.”

Again, Daphne to a T. She found the beauty in a simple sunrise, a yellow tulip. Was it any wonder I loved her?

“I’ve told you before that I believe your intentions are honorable, Brad. I know you love my daughter. I see it in your eyes when you look at her.”

“Still, you think it’s just puppy love.”

“I don’t know, son. But I’ll find out.”

“How exactly can you do that?”

The bartender set his second drink in front of him. “I’ll find out in the next few minutes. After I tell you the rest of Daphne’s story.”

Chapter Four

Daphne

I loved my father. He was a good man, and he took care of my mother and me. He’d never treat my mother the way Brad’s dad treated his mom. He’d never treat Brad badly, either.

So why were my nerves jumping on trampolines under my skin?

Getting to know each other.

My mother’s words had seemed ominous, but why shouldn’t they get to know each other? Brad was going to be his son-in-law, the father of his grandchild. Of course they should get to know each other.

Mom had finished her second drink and had gone to her bedroom.

I now sat on my bed—a bed that was still home to Puppy, my stuffed cocker spaniel I’d slept with since I could remember. His golden fur was matted down, and his nose had fallen off years ago, but I loved him. I hadn’t taken Puppy to college. Now I snuggled him, wishing he were real so he could give me doggy kisses like Ebony had at Brad’s ranch house. My mom was allergic to dogs, so I’d never had one. I’d named Puppy when I was a kid. I’d thought many times about renaming him to something a little more original, but I never did. He’d always be Puppy to me.

I lay down, still snuggling him. My favorite pillow was at school, and the one Mom had replaced it with wasn’t nearly as fluffy and comfy. My bed was, though. So much better than the dorm bed.

I closed my eyes.

I remembered the most comfortable bed I’d ever slept in—the one in the guesthouse on Brad’s ranch.

The one where we’d made love.

I touched my abdomen.

The bed where we’d created our baby.

Was it the bed that was so comfortable? Or was it being with Brad?

Probably both.

“Hello in there,” I said to my belly. “It’s me. Your mama. You’re a boy, aren’t you? I’ll love you no matter what, but I really think you’re a boy. You’re like a peaceful dove that flew into me to save me. I have to be okay now, because you need me.”

Not that I thought I wasn’t okay. I’d proved I was strong. I’d gotten through the hell that was junior year,