who took major surprises like meeting her dad in her stride.
It had softened his stance towards Tash to the point he’d found himself teasing her. Her blush about his bath comment had catapulted him straight back to the time they’d first met and she’d blush at the slightest innuendo. Her innocence had been a huge turn-on and he’d loved unveiling her hidden sensuality. But that couldn’t be his intention now. He had more important things to worry about, like getting to know his daughter and figuring out how he’d let his mates down if he ultimately couldn’t return to his role as front man of Rock Hard Place.
‘So are you two … getting reacquainted?’
Kody snorted. ‘Not in the way you’re implying. I’m too bloody furious with her for keeping Isla from me all these years.’
‘Why did she?’
‘Protecting the kid, mostly.’
‘From you?’
‘No—more from the lifestyle, I guess. And not wanting me drifting in and out of Isla’s life while the band was travelling constantly and doing so well.’
‘That wasn’t her decision to make.’ Yanni’s lips flattened in disapproval. ‘You’re a father, for fuck’s sake, you should’ve had the chance to see your daughter grow up.’
For a second Kody wished he’d never told Yanni about Isla. But he valued his friend’s opinion and had to tell someone the truth. ‘Yeah, I know, but I’m moving past the bitterness for the sake of Isla. Tash and I are bound now, so no use alienating her when it’s easier if we work together for the sake of Isla.’
Yanni deflated a tad. ‘Yeah, you’re right. Ignore this grumpy old man.’
‘You’re my age, dickhead, and we’re not that old.’
Yanni laughed. ‘Want me to come up there and hang out for a few days?’
‘No!’ Kody yelled, earning another laugh. ‘Thanks for the offer, but the whole point of me being up here is to get my shit together.’
‘That was before you discovered you had a daughter, though. You sure?’
‘Yeah.’ Kody made a grand show of looking at his watch. ‘Gotta go.’
‘Hot date?’
He flipped his middle finger in response, before smiling and hitting the disconnect button. He’d done the right thing in calling Yanni. Telling him about Isla and Tash made him feel lighter somehow, but as his gaze fell on the guitar again, the band of anxiety around his chest constricted. Revealing he had a daughter to his mate was easy compared with telling him the rest: that he feared he’d never play music again.
A loud banging on the back door roused Kody. He had no idea how long he’d been asleep—the last thing he remembered was drifting off to the sounds of a raucous kookaburra, but as he hobbled to the door he noticed dusk had descended.
As the banging intensified he called out, ‘Hold your horses,’ glad for the increased mobility of the walking boot but wishing he didn’t need anything at all. The doc said he’d be in this damn boot for at least six weeks, but because the fracture in his fibula was hairline he could ditch the crutches. He reached the door and flung it open, to find Tash on the other side holding a casserole dish.
‘Isla made you dinner,’ she said, holding it out like an offering. ‘She would’ve loved to share it with you but she had dance class.’
Through his sleep-clogged mind, he wondered if Isla sending Tash over with a meal was her version of matchmaking, before dispelling the thought. He already knew Isla enough to guess this was a genuine attempt to look after him.
‘She’s a good kid,’ he said, opening the door further. ‘Come in.’
Tash hesitated before stepping in. ‘Were you asleep?’
‘Guilty as charged.’ He dragged a hand through his hair in a half-hearted effort to tidy it. ‘What gave it away? My bleary eyes or the tousled do?’
She smiled and something deep inside twanged when it had no right to. ‘You look pretty rumpled.’
‘I wasn’t expecting company.’ He eyed the casserole dish and his stomach rumbled loudly, making her laugh.
‘It’s mac and cheese, Isla’s speciality.’ She moved around the kitchen as if it were the most natural thing in the world to bring him dinner. ‘I’ll dish up for you then get out of your way.’
‘Stay,’ he said, the invitation slipping from his lips before he had a chance to suppress it.
She paused, plate in one hand, ladle in the other, fixing him with a curious stare. ‘You sure? Because you were already stuck with me in the car earlier, then at the café. I’m fine to