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“If only. And a piece of advice...”
“What?”
“You don’t need to tell her how rotten her mother is. She already knows, and it breaks her heart.”
Nate knew Cody was right. He didn’t want to put Summer in the middle of his and Jessica’s fight. He wanted Summer to be happy.
“Are you interested in my daughter?” Nate blurted out the question because he’d never seen Cody like this. Cody had certainly never spoken to Natalie the way he did tonight, defending Summer.
“I’d like to evade the question, because I don’t want there to be any kind of strain between us. But I’ve never lied to you. And I won’t start now, or give you some vague answer.” Cody turned and looked at him. “She’s different, Nate. There’s something inside me that is drawn to her. Every time I look at her, I want to make her happy.”
Nate thought about Cody dating his daughter. He guessed if he was going to choose a man for her, he couldn’t do much better than Cody.
Of course, Summer could make up her own mind, but he felt better knowing that Cody wouldn’t hurt her if he could help it. Cody might have spent the last several years casually dating women, but he was never hurtful.
Nate would watch and wait to see if something actually developed between the two of them.
“I’m going to make it clear to Summer that this is her home. She has a place here now and every day in the future. No matter what happens in her life.”
Cody nodded and met Nate’s gaze again. “I understand what’s at stake.” Possibly Cody’s place here if things turned sour between him and Summer. “I know what I want and what this could be for us. I didn’t expect this, but I’m ready for it.” Cody had finally found someone worth letting go of his past and trying to build a future with.
Shock came first. Then Nate thought about how often he’d wanted Cody to find a partner like Nate had in Miranda. Though Cody had dated often, he never seemed to connect with any of the women. Not in a way that didn’t leave him free to walk away without a second thought.
Summer clearly had his full attention and devotion, if the way he’d put Natalie in her place said anything.
This could be a really good thing for the both of them.
Or turn into a disaster that left them both broken.
Nate had always been a glass–half-full kind of man, and he’d give them both his support and encouragement, because finding someone who looked at you the way he’d seen them look at each other was rare. And he didn’t know two people who deserved it more.
“Just promise me one thing.” Nate held Cody’s earnest gaze. “If you don’t feel for her, what she deserves someone to feel for her in a relationship, you’ll let her down easy.”
Cody nodded. “I know she’ll do the same for me. But I’m hoping we’ll have a hell of a lot more of the good stuff than the bad, and that will turn into something worth holding on to.”
Nate stood and slapped his hand down on Cody’s shoulder. “Then I’ll keep my nose out of it and go make it clear to Summer that, unlike her mother, who breaks every pretty promise she makes, I’m a man of my word. I love her, and she can stay here as long as she wants, and this is and will always be her home.”
Chapter Ten
Summer stood in front of the beautiful pool. The sprawling patio and lawn were just behind her, the stars were sparkling overhead, and the ocean waves crashed in the distance out beyond the darkest part of the yard. The beat of the waves echoed in her aching chest.
She wrapped her arms around her and tried to stay warm as the swift breeze blew in from the sea, giving a cold bite and salty smell and taste to the air.
She should have gone to her room, but she’d always preferred wide open spaces to think. In retrospect, she should have taken a little time before she came barging in here.
Of course her father had questions about her wants and expectations. Anyone would. Especially if they personally knew her mother.
She just never expected her father to think she wanted anything from him but a chance to get to know him. Her stepmother probably wasn’t excited about a surprise stepdaughter upsetting her kid.
Summer thought having two new sisters would make them instant best friends, but she should have known better. Look at how many husbands her mother had—men with their own kids. They’d all come and gone from her life. And while they were in it, there had always been some tension and jealousy.
Why would this time be any different?
She’d taken her father’s attention away from Natalie and Haley. While Haley seemed open to being friends, Natalie remained cautious and questioning, wary of the stranger in her house. Summer wondered if Natalie wanted to protect her dad and family, or if her obvious feelings for Cody made her act out that way.
Either way, it didn’t matter. Right now, Summer’s future with her father seemed tenuous at best.
What was she thinking, leaving her home and job and jumping on a plane with no plan? How were they going to overcome twenty-five years of separation?
