6. Brighton

"That was absolutely the best pizza I've ever eaten," Noah announces, and I arch a disbelieving brow.

"Oh, really?"

"Yup. Fresh meats, veggies, and despite the sauce coming from a can…" he says, a big grin on his handsome face. "...much better than what comes in a box. What do you think, Bean?"

"I liked it, Daddy." I bite back a laugh as Camryn wipes the back of her mouth, spreading sauce across her face. But who am I to laugh? I have sauce all over my clothes, and probably on my face too. I guess I should just accept the fact that I'm going to be dirty during this stint.

Dirty…

Don't go there, girl.

I wipe the corners of my mouth and hand Camryn a napkin as her eyes grow heavy. Noah stands, and even though my kitchen is big, his body overwhelms the place…and my senses.

He grabs his plate and mine. "Since you cooked, I'll do the dishes."

"Noah," I say quietly. "I think someone needs to go to bed."

His entire body stiffens, and if I'm not mistaken, heat just shot into his eyes. "What?" he asks and swallows. I nod toward Camryn and he stares at me for a second, balancing a plate in each hand as he slowly turns toward his daughter. "Right." He glances at the dirty dishes—there's that word again. "I wanted to do the cleaning. It's only fair."

"Like anything in life is fair," I say with a half laugh, half snort. "Don't worry about it. I don't mind washing up. Go ahead and put Camryn to bed. It's been a big day for her and she needs her daddy."

Maybe you need her daddy, too.

I work to shut down that inner voice, because we can't go there. No matter how much my body might want me to, no matter how much Melanie urged me to go for it, it's wrong on so many levels, and everything about us is complicated.

Uncomplicate it.

I stand quickly, nearly knocking my chair backward and Noah's head rears back as I hastily take the plates out of his hands. "I've got this." A beat of silence as I hurry to the dishwasher, like I must have a hundred bees stinging at my behind, and drop the plates in. I try to keep myself together as I walk back to the table for the rest. Noah stands there, watching me carefully. Lord, he must be wondering what the hell is wrong with me.

"You'll let me make it up to you?" he asks.

"Sure." I'm about to walk away when Camryn slaps her hands on the table.

"No." We both turn to Camryn as she pouts. "I want Ms. Brighton to tuck me and Charlie in."

Noah frowns. "Honey?—"

"It's okay," I say quickly. "I don't mind. It's been a day," I quietly explain to Noah.

"Are you sure?"

"I might as well start now. It's what I'll be doing every night when you're away, right?"

He nods. "Okay, Ms. Brighton can tuck you in tonight."

"Peachy," Camryn giggles and I cock my head, a chuckle bubbling out of my throat.

"What?"

Noah rolls his eyes. "Just something her grandmother says."

"We'll still need to go over the rules," I remind him and when he nods again, I continue with, "Looks like you can do those dishes after all."

"Peachy." I laugh and he angles his head. "Wait, were you two conspiring when I was in the shower?"

Don't think about Noah in the shower.

"What's conspiring, Daddy?" Camryn asks sleepily, and I hold my hand out to her. "Come on, Bean."

Camryn slaps her hand against her forehead. "I don't like beans!"

Shoot, that's Noah's special name for her. My gaze cuts to Noah, and when I catch him smiling I relax a bit. "I probably shouldn't have."

"It's okay." He winks. "I actually think she might like it when you call her that." I glance down to find Camryn smiling up at me and my heart wobbles a little in my chest.

"You know what I think," I begin.

"What?" she asks.

"The only good bean is a jellybean." She giggles. "You want to be my jellybean?" She nods, emphatically and I brush her mess of hair from her forehead. I'm not even sure it got combed after her swim. I catch the warm smile on Noah's face and it messes with my insides. "I'll go get her tucked in."

She blinks up at me. "Will you read to me?"

"Of course, I will." We start toward the door and glance back to find Noah staring at my ass, his expression far different than it was moments ago. Oh, okay then. But seriously, could Melanie be right? Could he be interested in…something? "You really don't have to do clean-up."

His head lifts quickly, and he blinks like he's trying to figure out what I just said. I'm about to repeat, but he speaks. "I don't mind."

I don't press—yeah, I'm as tired as Camryn and it's actually kind of nice to have someone help me out—and walk her across the hall to her big bedroom in what was my father's old wing. I feel his presence all around me, but the place looks different now with Noah and Camryn's belongings and I can't help but think that's a good thing. I walk her to the bathroom, and she hops up on her stool. Little Miss Independent puts toothpaste on her brush and proceeds to clean her teeth as I grab a cloth to wash her face.

Sleepy blue eyes meet mine in the mirror. "My mommy had blue eyes like ours."

"Oh really?" I glance over my shoulder, searching for Noah, even though I know he's not there. But I have a feeling this conversation is going to be a hard one.

She puts one hand on her cheek and leans in to check herself out in the mirror. "Daddy said I'm pretty, like her."

I gulp as my heart skips a beat. I never once considered the fact that Noah might still be in love with Camryn's mother. From what I understand, it was Shayla who ran out after Camryn was born. God, does he still love her?

"You are very beautiful, Camryn."

She beams at that, but a second later, her smile flatlines. "Ms. Brighton."

I take in her very serious expression. "What is it, Jellybean?" She sets her toothbrush down into the cup holder and I wash the sauce from her face.

"Sometimes when people love you, they still leave."

Okay, now my heart is jumping into my throat, and it's all I can do to keep the tears pressing against the back of my eyes from spilling. This poor little girl, far too wise for her age, has been through a lot and she's just turning five. I want to say something in response, console her, but as old hurts rise up, my words get lodged in my throat and the truth is she's wrong. People don't leave if they love you. My mother left because I wasn't enough, and at the end of the day, Allan didn't love me.

"Daddy said he'd never leave, though."

I put my arms around her and give her a hug. "Your daddy will always be there for you, Jellybean." She nods, and I hold her gaze in the mirror. "How about we get you into your pajamas and go find a book?" She jumps off the stool, and I follow her to her room. She hurries inside, stands still for one second, her shoulders tight, and then suddenly she's running to her bed.

"Charlie." She hugs Charlie, and I follow her to her bed, my heart a little wobbly at the way her father spent time making it homey for her. Reflective stars on the ceiling provide light above her canopy bed, and there are pillows and blankets and toys in boxes.

"Your room is so cozy, Camryn. I like it a lot."

She hugs Charlie. "Charlie says he likes being back here too."

"That makes me so happy." I walk to her bookshelf and scan it. "Why don't you find your pajamas. I bet your dad packed them in your dresser." She rushes across the room and drawers open and close as she searches her dresser. I turn back around to find her tugging on a nightgown with sparkles. She's quite the independent little girl and in so many ways reminds me of myself as a child. "How about this one?" I pull out The Sweetest Pancake, and she giggles.

"They make a huge pancake," she says and holds her arms wide open. "Then everyone has to take a nap."

"Ooh, I love pancakes." I wink. "And I love naps." Although I can't remember the last time I've taken a nap.

She crinkles her nose. "I don't like naps. Sometimes Daddy still makes me take them. I like when he naps with me, though." Warmth erupts inside me as I picture the two of them snuggled up. I never really had that with my own dad. He was busy working and I was busy trying to impress him.

I sit beside her on the bed and adjust the pillow behind me. "How about I make pancakes in the morning, and then we can explore the beach?"

"Can Daddy come too?"

"Of course, he can." Dammit, I probably should have checked with Noah before making any promises to Camryn. I'm not her full-time caregiver just yet. "If he wants to, and if you both can. Your daddy might have other plans, but I'll check with him to see if we can do that, okay?" She nods and I read the story to her. When I'm done, I shift, and fix the blankets around her as she struggles to keep her eyes open.

"Sweet dreams, Jellybean."

"Will you stay with me until I fall asleep? Sometimes Daddy does that. So does Grandma." My heart lurches. The Jones' are a close-knit family and I can't even imagine what life will be like for them when Grandma's disease progresses. I hate the thoughts of little Jellybean losing another person she's close to.

I slide in beside her and she snuggles in close. I lightly rub her back as she closes her eyes, and I close my eyes too. The next thing I know, a yelping sound reaches my ears and my eyes open. For the briefest of seconds, I think I'm a child again, with my dad sleeping in the room across the hall, but then reality sinks in and as my eyes adjust, I spot a big figure hopping around the room.

"Noah?" I ask as he mumbles curses under his breath. I sit up. "What's going on?"

"I stubbed my damn toe on the end of the bed. I'm not used to the arrangement of the furniture." He holds his foot as he continues to hop and there's nothing I can do to stifle a laugh. "It's not funny."

"I know, I'm sorry." I pat the end of the bed. "Come sit." He hops over and drops down onto the bottom of the mattress, and it's all I can do to hold back a chuckle, not because he's hurt, but because of the hopping and cursing.

He shakes his head at me. "You're still laughing."

"No, I'm not." I bite my lip to get myself together. "Do you think you broke your toe?"

"Yes!"

"Can I see?"

"No."

"Can you bend it?"

He pulls his sock off and we both watch as he wiggles his toes. "Probably just badly bruised. I can call for the resort's doctor if you think you need it checked."

He growls at me, and I turn my head so he can't see my grin. "They can't do anything for a broken toe anyway."

I turn back to him. "They can bandage it to a buddy toe."

He glares at me and I can't hold back my laugh. "It's not funny."

Ohmigod, this big strong, athletic tough guy has been taken out by a bruised toe. On the ice he's fearless, tough as nails. Yes, I watch him all the time, but the corner of the bedpost has become his undoing.

My quiet laughter dies down and as he sets his foot back on the floor and as his leg brushes against mine, the atmosphere in the room changes. Our eyes hold and lock for a second, and when Camryn stirs, breaking the moment, I push to my feet.

"I guess I should get going. Thanks for doing the dishes."

"Thanks for dinner, and for tucking Camryn in." He stands with me, his big body hovering, crowding, overwhelming all my senses.

Go for it, girl.

What if he rejects me?

What if he doesn't?

But he might still be in love with is ex.

Is it love you're looking for?

As my internal debate battles on, he angles his head—no doubt once again thinking I'm losing my mind—but it prompts me into action.

"See you in the morning." I practically run from Camryn's room and dart toward the door leading to the hall.

"Before you go."

At the door, I turn back around at the sound of his voice. "Yeah?"

"You said something about a weighted blanket."

"Right."

"Come on." He walks toward me, and gives me nudge to set me into motion. We head down the hall to the living room. He snatches his laptop from the coffee table. "I wouldn't mind getting one for Camryn, and guess it wouldn't hurt to get myself one, either. Do you have any recommendations?"

"Oh, yeah, I actually do."

He drops down onto the sofa and pats the cushion beside him.

"They come in different sizes and weights, and you can get ones that are heating or cooling."

He looks over my body. Why is he doing that? Is he considering what my weight might feel like on his body? I gulp and try not to shift under his scrutiny as I consider the exact same thing.

"They go from fifteen pounds up to thirty," I ramble on. "Camryn would need a children's blanket, which of course isn't as heavy. I actually have a twenty-pound adult one."

"Yeah?" He scrunches up his face as he considers that. "You're not very big, Brighton. That must restrain you."

"It's the restraint I like."

Oh, dear God, what did I just say, and why is he shifting like he's now the uncomfortable one? Wait, does that mean he likes or dislikes the idea of me being restrained under something heavy?

He clears his throat and boots up his computer. Needing a reprieve, and to take my foot out of my mouth, I jerk my thumb over my shoulder. "I can go get it." He opens his mouth, and shifts forward. I assume he's going to want to help so I hold my hand up. "Wait here, and I'll bring it over. You can try it to see how it feels."

He settles back into the sofa and reaches for his laptop on the coffee table. "Sure."

I hurry across the hall and go to my closet—I don't use the blanket in the summer—and gather it up. That's when I remember how hard it is to carry a twenty-pound blanket. I try to toss it over my shoulder as I struggle to lug it back across the hall, wondering what the hell my life has become as I reach his door and try not to appear breathless.

"Here it is."

His head lifts and my knees wobble. "Jesus," he mutters, and sets his laptop down. The next thing I know he's in front of me, and I'm trying to toss him the blanket. Only problem is, I'm also stepping on it, which results in me falling forward, the blanket around my shoulders giving me extra weight.

Noah tumbles with me, and we fall onto the hardwood floor with an undignified thud. Unlike his, my landing is soft, well relatively speaking. The man is, after all, two hundred pounds of rock-solid muscle.

"Noah," I mumble quickly, heat flushing my face as well as other body parts I don't want to think about—especially if Melanie was wrong about his interest. "I'm so sorry." I wiggle and shift and struggle to get the blanket off so I can get the hell up.

But that's when I notice something else is…up.

Ohmigod.

I don't think Melanie was wrong.

But isn't this all about revenge?

So, what if it is, girl? You might as well get something out of it.

We don't have a future together. Heck, I don't want one. But we do have tonight and sex isn't going to change anything between us.

I stop moving as he removes the restraining blanket from my back, the heat in his eyes as they latch onto mine hits like the weight of a whole choir singing hallelujah between my legs.

"Um…" I begin for lack of anything else, doing my very best not to wiggle.

Too bad my very best isn't good enough.

He groans, grips my hips and holds me still on his body. "The blanket. Twenty pounds…" What am I even saying? I lift my head and meet his gaze.

"I kind of like the weight of you on me better," he murmurs and when I don't say anything, he rolls me until I'm beneath all six feet of him, his hard body pinning me to the floor. "But I think you might prefer this position."

Oh boy.