Had Daphne come here hoping to win Jase back?

Brook Lynn’s knees nearly gave out. If she were to war against Daphne, she would lose. Daphne had the ace.

Be that as it may, Brook Lynn wasn’t giving up without a fight. Not this time. She’d walked away once already, and it had brought her nothing but heartache. Jase deserved better. He deserved her best, and that’s what she would give him. I’m coming at you guns blazing, Mr. Hollister.

“Eat your breakfast.” She strutted over, kissed him on the forehead and whispered, “Your days belong to your daughter, and I’m glad about that, I really am, but your nights are mine.”

* * *

JASE GLANCED AT the clock. 10:07 flashed in bold red numbers. Hope had been asleep for an hour. And for the entirety of that hour he’d wanted to go to Brook Lynn.

But Daphne sat on the couch, telling West and Beck what she’d told him last night—her story since they’d last seen each other. Neither interrupted her. Neither accused her of lying about Hope’s paternity.

Jase didn’t need a DNA test. In his heart, he knew the truth. Break out the pink cigars. I’m a dad.

He was scared as hell he’d do a bad job with Hope, maybe scar her emotionally because he had no idea how to love a kid, and she’d have to spend a few decades in therapy, but he did love her. Just a few minutes alone with her had sealed the deal.

You’re really my dad?

I am.

I’m glad. I’ve been dreaming of you my whole life.

He’d toppled head over heels then and there. And yeah, for a guy who’d professed to never want kids, he’d sure fallen for this one fast and hard. But then, he hadn’t known what he’d been missing.

“I found out I was pregnant the day before Jase’s sentence,” Daphne said. “I was scared, but I thought I could find another guy and everything would be okay. Jase had no money, no prospects and no future. I wanted someone who had those things. But the one I picked stuck around only until I began showing. I got a job as a receptionist at a law firm and went to night school to become a court stenographer, knowing I’d need a way to support the baby on my own. And I did it. I finished, was making something of my life, but Jase was still in prison. I just...I didn’t want Hope to see him behind bars.”

Good call. But if he’d known about her, at the very least, he could have been there for her, providing money, a home, food, clothes. Anything she’d needed, everything she’d wanted.

“Where does she think he’s been?” Beck asked.

Daphne plucked a piece of lint from her shirtsleeve. “In another country, helping starving children.”

A saint rather than a sinner. Of course. “I’ll be telling her the truth,” Jase said. “Soon.” The thought of his own daughter fearing him caused him to break out in a cold sweat, but he wasn’t going to lie to her or risk someone else telling her. He also wasn’t going to allow her to think he’d put other kids before her.

“He’s been out for over six months,” West said, anger tightening his voice. “You’ve had plenty of time to create another lie about her dad’s return.” The wound on his forehead had begun to heal, but the wounds in his soul had begun to leak their poison.

He once again smelled of the most potent alcohol.

“Well,” she said, casting Jase a look filled with remorse. “I thought about it, I did, but I wasn’t sure how Jase would feel, if he would care. But I was just fooling myself. I see that now. I was scared. I’ve been in a stable, loving relationship for almost three years now, and I didn’t want to screw that up. But Tyler is in the military. The army. He’s currently overseas, left last week, and he’ll be gone for six months. That’s why I decided to answer Beck’s email.”

“Is he good to Hope?” Beck asked.

It was a question Jase had asked, as well.

“Very. He loves her like she’s his own.”

But she’s not his. She’s mine. And he adored that little girl with every fiber of his being.

“You’ll have to tell him about me, Daph.” Jase pinned her with a hard stare. “I’m going to be a part of Hope’s life.” Now and forever.

“I know,” she said, surprising him. “If he’s able, he’s going to video chat with me later tonight. I plan to tell him then.”

“And that’s going to make everything better?” West exploded. “You left without a word, hid a secret for nine years and think you can come back as if you’ve done nothing wrong?”

Daphne stiffened.

“West,” Jase said. “I love you, man, but I won’t let you talk to her like that.”

“Someone has to look out for you.” West’s gaze practically spewed fire as it landed on Jase. “I didn’t before, but I will now.”

He closed his eyes for a moment, drew in a breath. This was what guilt did, he realized. Tore down. Left you in a rut. Unable to move forward. And Jase didn’t want to live like that any longer. He didn’t want his friends to live like that.

He stood, walked to the couch where West and Beck sat and eased onto the coffee table in front of them, his attention remaining on West. “Let it go,” he said softly. “It’s time. The past is a noose around your neck, and it’s choking the life out of you.” He looked to Beck. “You, too. You just hide it better.”

Both men focused on something other than Jase and remained silent.