Jenny took him to a small room at the back of the house, decorated in shades of purple with posters of ponies on the wall. Maybe he could get her one for Christmas. Or maybe not. Rory had showered him with presents when he’d first gone to live with him; it hadn’t made things easier.
Once on her own territory, Jenny started talking non-stop, pointing at things, explaining what they were. He lost track, just collapsed on the bed and listened to the sound of her voice. He guessed she was as terrified as he was. He wished there was some way to put her at ease, but he was new to this and had no clue. “Jenny,” he said when she paused for a moment. “Are you okay with me being here?”
She peeked at him shyly and gave a quick nod.
“Good. You know,” he continued, “I didn’t know my dad until I was your age.”
She’d been replacing a book on the shelf—her favorite apparently—and she turned to him, eyes wide. “You didn’t?”
“He and my mum didn’t get on. I’m just saying, I know how hard this is for you. But I want you to feel free to talk to me, to ask me anything.”
She thought for a moment; he could almost see her mind working. “Do you and mum not get along? Is that why you haven’t been around?”
He thought about his answer and blew out a breath. Honesty was a bitch. “No. That was my fault. I got in a…bit of trouble soon after we met, and we lost touch. Your mum and me—we don’t really know each other.”
“But you’re going to?”
“Of course. And so are we. So…favorite food?”
She grinned “Pizza.”
“Me, too. Hey, we must be related.”
She giggled. At that moment, Abby called up the stairs that lunch was ready. This time Jenny’s hand slid into his easily, and something melted deep inside him. He’d never been good at relationships, but somehow he had to make this work.
At the table, Abby seated him next to Jenny and opposite her mother.
Throughout lunch, Jenny kept up a constant buzz of conversation as though she couldn’t switch off. Abby and Rachel added the odd comment when they could get a word in, but they didn’t try and slow her; maybe they realized she needed to get it out of her system. Taking their lead, he ate his meal almost in silence. When he’d finished eating, he pushed his chair back and relaxed, watching her as she chatted. Finally, she ran out of breath.
“Why don’t you come and help me get some more drinks, Jenny?” Rachel asked, rising to her feet. Jenny gave Logan a reluctant glance but followed her out of the room.
Logan shook his head. “Is she always this…intense?”
“No,” Abby said. “She’s normally a little more relaxed.”
He gave her a wry smile “Me, too.”
“You’re doing great. She already likes you.”
He blew out his breath and ran a hand through his hair. “She does?”
“I can tell.”
He sagged in his chair as some of the tension drained from him. “I don’t think I have ever been so shit-scared in my life. I wanted to bring her something, and then I remembered all the times I accused Rory of trying to buy me off.”
“No, you did the right thing.”
He glanced to the door where they could hear Jenny talking in the kitchen. “I’m surprised you’re not in a constant state of exhaustion.”
“She’ll crash soon. She’s running on nervous energy.”
He gave her a long look, studying her face, seeing the lines of strain etched around her mouth. This meeting hadn’t been easy for any of them. “Then maybe I should go. I’ve a lot to think about. But she’s wonderful. You did a good job, and I know it can’t have been easy.”
She bit her lip and glanced away. “Thanks.”
He stood up as the other two came back from the kitchen. Crossing the room to his daughter, he bent down and kissed her on the forehead. He thought quickly about what to say; he didn’t want to pressure her but he needed to leave her in no doubt that he would see her again. “It’s been lovely to meet you, Jenny. Maybe next time I can take you out somewhere.”
Jenny beamed.
Hell, he’d got it right.
He shook hands with Rachel and turned to Abby. “Will you see me out?”
Something flickered in her eyes—maybe she didn’t want to be alone with him—but she pushed back her chair and rose to her feet, leading him out into the hall. He pulled the door closed behind him and followed her to the front door.
“Wait a second,” he said. He needed one more thing before he left.
She turned to face him, eyes widening when she found his so close. He glanced back at the closed door before taking the final step closer, which brought his lean length flush against her body. His hand came out and slid under the hair at the nape of her neck. He tugged her closer as his mouth came down, and he delivered a swift, hard kiss before pulling back.
His fear had drowned out his anger for a while. Now it came roaring back to life. “I can’t believe I have a daughter. I can’t believe she’s ten years old and I know nothing about her.” A tic twitched in his cheek, and he gritted his teeth to not say more. They had to work this out, and him blowing up would not help. All the same, he needed to make one thing perfectly clear. “I won’t be kept out of her life.”