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“Whatever helps you sleep at night.” He winks at me and then turns his attention to Clara. “Your daddy is such a grumpy pants, which is why he’ll never let me babysit you even though I’ve offered over and over again.” He taps the tip of her nose, and she giggles, already falling in love with the man. “Fuck, she’s the spitting image of you,” he says, regarding Alex.
“Please watch the language,” Alex murmurs, rubbing his temple. “Knowing my luck, she’ll repeat that by her next birthday.”
Caine laughs darkly. “There are worse things she could be saying. Believe me. I know them all.” He hooks a finger gently beneath Clara’s chin. “You can call me Uncle Caine.”
Clara lights up. “Can, Can!”
He shrugs. “Works for me.” He eyes me. “Alex has explained your…situation.”
Heat crawls up my neck, and humiliation twists through me, mixing with the lingering fear in my chest.
“I never liked that guy,” he states firmly, crossing his burly arms over his chest.
“That makes two of us,” Alex affirms.
Caine nods once. “You’re safe here.” His voice drops lower, edged with something lethal. “Anyone who says otherwise answers to us.” He slips his hands inside his pockets. “And while you’re here, you’re welcome to explore anywhere along the island.”
“Thank you.” I adjust Clara against my hip as she twists a strand of my hair around her tiny fingers.
Caine checks the time on his watch. “We should go. Marco is expecting you for dinner.” He turns around, heads toward the waiting SUV, and slides into the driver’s seat.
“Sorry,” Alex says, motioning after him. “He’s…a lot.”
I glance toward the vehicle where Caine is already lighting a cigarette, tattoos disappearing beneath the cuff of his black shirt.
A small smile pulls at my lips despite myself. “He’s fine.”
Alex studies me for a long moment before his gaze shifts to Clara in my arms. Something in his expression softens instantly as she curls her fingers around mine and babbles happily.
Then his eyes return to me.
“Thank you for coming with me.” He drags a hand through his hair, tension pulling at his features. “I’m not quite ready to take such a far trip without her yet.”
The confession catches me off guard. The love this man has for his little girl is unlike anything I’ve ever witnessed.
Unlike anything I’ve ever experienced myself.
Clara squeezes my finger tighter, completely unaware of the storm of emotions swirling around her.
“I understand.” I brush my nose with hers, causing an eruption of giggles to spill out of her. “How could anyone ever want to leave you? Huh?”
The second the words leave my mouth, Alex goes rigid beside me. His jaw tightens, and his eyes darken, disappearing somewhere far away.
Because someone did leave her.
Her own mother.
Guilt crashes into me hard and fast.
“I wasn’t thinking.” Anxiety twists through my chest. “I shouldn’t have said that.”
“No.” Alex exhales slowly, his shoulders dropping just slightly. “It’s okay.” He reaches for Clara, lifting her from my arms and pulling her against his chest. “It’s her loss.”
My chest aches as he presses his lips to the top of Clara’s head, holding her so tightly it looks unbreakable, as though he’d tear this entire world apart before letting its darkness taint her.
My throat tightens as heat burns behind my eyes.
He glances at me, catching my gaze. His lips part like he’s about to say something—
