Tiana (Starkis Family #3) by Cheryl Douglas

angelic face in my hands. “For God’s sake, woman, would you focus? Where is Damon, and when is he coming back?”
    Mia grinned, pointing at my sweat-soaked chest. “Ha, I knew it. You’re as crazy about him as he is about you. Admit it, girl. My future brother-in-law could be the man you’ve been waiting for all your life.”
    “Yeah, my real-life Prince Charming,” I said sarcastically. If I hadn’t yet convinced her that I relished the idea of being a horny cougar someday, she’d never get the message. “He even kisses like—”
    “You kissed him?” Mia squealed, tearing my hands away from her face as she squeezed them.
    “Ssshhh.” I blushed when I caught a cute guy on the leg press smiling at me. “Are we tweens or what? He’s not the first guy I’ve kissed.”
    “Yeah, but I was beginning to think it was never gonna happen. Talk about moving slow. You’ve known each other for, like, eight months. That’s seven months longer than you normally date a guy before you go to bed with him.”
    She wasn’t wrong, but I didn’t appreciate the implication I was easy. I wasn’t. I just happened to prefer sex with real men to a quickie with my battery operated standby. Call me crazy. “Yeah, but Damon and I aren’t dating. We’re just friends.”
    “I wonder why he backed off so suddenly?” Mia asked, leading the way to the changing room. “Remember when you first met? He was coming on so strong for the first few weeks, then it was like he…”
    “Lost interest?” I knew Mia would never say that, even if it was what she was thinking. “Yeah, I’ve wondered about that too. Well, you know what? I’ve wasted enough time speculating about what his deal is. If he doesn’t want me, I’m sure I can find someone who does.”
    “Speaking of which, you haven’t told me who your plus one will be for the wedding. Can I assume it’ll be Miles?”
    I’d been leaving my options open in case Damon found his manhood again, but given the fact he’d left town with his tail between his legs after leaving me high and dry, I was beginning to suspect he’d never find it. “Yeah, I guess that’s a safe assumption.”

 
     

Chapter Five
    Damon
     
    I wasn’t surprised they’d asked me to come to their house while Dalia was at school, but that didn’t mean I would leave without catching a glimpse of my daughter. I’d come all this way. I couldn’t leave until I’d looked into those big brown eyes again.
    “Thank you for coming.” Andra stepped back, gesturing for me to enter.
    I took in my surroundings, thinking how different my daughter’s life would be if her mother weren’t so stubborn. The house was tiny and old with a couple of piecemeal additions jutting out the back. There was a fenced backyard, but judging by the questionable neighborhood, it wouldn’t be prudent to let kids go outside without supervision.
    “I was surprised you called.” I followed her into the small living room, noting that it looked tidy, though worn and a little tired. Zeroing in on the framed photos cluttering the tables, I picked up one. My daughter. My heart clenched at the sight of her frilly pink dress and matching socks.
    “She was about six months old in that picture,” Andra said softly. “She was such a good baby.”
    That I’d missed out on so many years with her pained me. First steps. First words. I would never get those back, and I felt an overwhelming urge to punish the woman who’d taken that opportunity from me. “I want to provide for my daughter, so we can do this the easy way or the hard way. You decide.”
    “I suppose you think your money will buy you the right to see her?”
    I turned to see a man who mirrored me in coloring and stature lingering in the small foyer leading to the living room. “You must be my daughter’s stepfather.” I didn’t offer my hand, knowing he probably wouldn’t accept it.
    “I am Dalia’s father,” he said, taking a step closer. “Make no mistake about