fridge.”
“How hospitable of you,” she muttered on her way to the fridge. “It’s a wonder you don’t have company banging on your door every night with those manners.”
He clenched his jaw to keep from pointing out it was a wonder she didn’t have wings with that holier-than-thou attitude.
“Nice to see some color in your house,” she said conversationally, looking in a drawer for a measuring scoop.
Really? She wanted to have a conversation? Deidre opened her mouth; passive aggressive criticism came out. He never heard anything else from her. Some coffee would be nice equaled you’re a terrible host. Nice to see some color in your house equaled took you long enough to decorate like a civilized person. He’d never been one to ignore a jab. He didn’t have it in his DNA. But he couldn’t unleash on her with Haley in the house.
He blew out a breath, trying to ignore the tightening between his ribs. “Yup,” he agreed, but the word popped with pent-up frustration. He winced, knowing he was in for it.
“Christ, Derek.” She kept her voice low. “You don’t have to be an ass. I’m trying to help you out, here.”
He shut the cupboard so hard the glasses inside rattled. “I didn’t ask for your help.”
“No. Haley did.” She filled the coffeemaker with water. “She wants us to spend some time together. Can’t you see that? Can’t you come out there and be social? She just wants to see her mom and dad get along.”
“Fat chance.”
She measured out the coffee. Somehow she managed to infuse the sound of grounds hissing into the filter with irritation. She flicked the switch, then turned to him with hands on her hips. “Why are you always on such a short fuse with me? We fight more now than we did when we were married. I hope you rein in that temper when you’re with Haley. If anyone knows the damage an angry father can cause, it’s you.”
The pressure in his lungs spiked. He couldn’t contain it any more. Keeping his back to her so he didn’t really lose it and start yelling, he gripped the counter. “If you think I would ever raise a hand to my daughter, you’re out of your mind. Yeah, I’ve got anger issues. But I’m not my fucking father.”
“I didn’t say you were. God, Derek, I just meant anger has a strong effect on kids. I don’t want Haley growing up with that kind of emotional baggage.”
“Stop. Just fucking stop.”
“Derek.” Her quiet, calm voice took his rage to the next level.
His knuckles turned white as his hands curled into fists on the counter. “No. Stop treating me like a goddamned idiot. I might not be the world’s best father, but I’m sick of you implying that I’m the worst. You fucking judgmental bitch.”
“Derek.” Her voice was sharp enough to make him turn around.
Haley stood in the kitchen doorway. Her big eyes filled with tears while he watched.
“Haley-girl.”
She spun and ran for her room.
“I tried to tell you she was there.”
He pointed at Deidre. “Don’t.” He shook with fury and shame. Even though he’d let the rage out, he still had that tight-lungs feeling. “Don’t say a fucking word.” He’d made his Haley-girl cry and his fucking ex-wife had baited him into it.
Deidre narrowed her eyes at him. “You step outside and cool off. I’ll go calm her down. And then you are going to apologize and tell your daughter there is no excuse for that kind of language.”
Always fucking telling him what to do. Never a fucking hair out of place, never a fucking ruffled feather in those perfect fucking wings.
He didn’t trust himself to speak. He went outside, but not because she told him to. He got in his truck and drove away.
Chapter 6
Dream girl. It was the closest thing she had to a name. DG for short. She’d take it and be thankful she had any identity at all. Someone knew her. And liked her. Even if he only liked her in a carnal sense, it meant something.
Actually, it meant everything. He was
“How hospitable of you,” she muttered on her way to the fridge. “It’s a wonder you don’t have company banging on your door every night with those manners.”
He clenched his jaw to keep from pointing out it was a wonder she didn’t have wings with that holier-than-thou attitude.
“Nice to see some color in your house,” she said conversationally, looking in a drawer for a measuring scoop.
Really? She wanted to have a conversation? Deidre opened her mouth; passive aggressive criticism came out. He never heard anything else from her. Some coffee would be nice equaled you’re a terrible host. Nice to see some color in your house equaled took you long enough to decorate like a civilized person. He’d never been one to ignore a jab. He didn’t have it in his DNA. But he couldn’t unleash on her with Haley in the house.
He blew out a breath, trying to ignore the tightening between his ribs. “Yup,” he agreed, but the word popped with pent-up frustration. He winced, knowing he was in for it.
“Christ, Derek.” She kept her voice low. “You don’t have to be an ass. I’m trying to help you out, here.”
He shut the cupboard so hard the glasses inside rattled. “I didn’t ask for your help.”
“No. Haley did.” She filled the coffeemaker with water. “She wants us to spend some time together. Can’t you see that? Can’t you come out there and be social? She just wants to see her mom and dad get along.”
“Fat chance.”
She measured out the coffee. Somehow she managed to infuse the sound of grounds hissing into the filter with irritation. She flicked the switch, then turned to him with hands on her hips. “Why are you always on such a short fuse with me? We fight more now than we did when we were married. I hope you rein in that temper when you’re with Haley. If anyone knows the damage an angry father can cause, it’s you.”
The pressure in his lungs spiked. He couldn’t contain it any more. Keeping his back to her so he didn’t really lose it and start yelling, he gripped the counter. “If you think I would ever raise a hand to my daughter, you’re out of your mind. Yeah, I’ve got anger issues. But I’m not my fucking father.”
“I didn’t say you were. God, Derek, I just meant anger has a strong effect on kids. I don’t want Haley growing up with that kind of emotional baggage.”
“Stop. Just fucking stop.”
“Derek.” Her quiet, calm voice took his rage to the next level.
His knuckles turned white as his hands curled into fists on the counter. “No. Stop treating me like a goddamned idiot. I might not be the world’s best father, but I’m sick of you implying that I’m the worst. You fucking judgmental bitch.”
“Derek.” Her voice was sharp enough to make him turn around.
Haley stood in the kitchen doorway. Her big eyes filled with tears while he watched.
“Haley-girl.”
She spun and ran for her room.
“I tried to tell you she was there.”
He pointed at Deidre. “Don’t.” He shook with fury and shame. Even though he’d let the rage out, he still had that tight-lungs feeling. “Don’t say a fucking word.” He’d made his Haley-girl cry and his fucking ex-wife had baited him into it.
Deidre narrowed her eyes at him. “You step outside and cool off. I’ll go calm her down. And then you are going to apologize and tell your daughter there is no excuse for that kind of language.”
Always fucking telling him what to do. Never a fucking hair out of place, never a fucking ruffled feather in those perfect fucking wings.
He didn’t trust himself to speak. He went outside, but not because she told him to. He got in his truck and drove away.
Chapter 6
Dream girl. It was the closest thing she had to a name. DG for short. She’d take it and be thankful she had any identity at all. Someone knew her. And liked her. Even if he only liked her in a carnal sense, it meant something.
Actually, it meant everything. He was
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